The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1909-07-15


for conference. After all the FUSS and
bother what has congress accom-
plished? l would like to ask these
frantic tariff reformers II the people
OF this country, from one end to the
other, show any special signs OF pow
erty as result OF the workings OF
the Dingley schedules, and II so. where
they are and In what manner they
show the burden, Is there man
anywhere who has dollar less than
he would have had II the schedules
had been according to the views they
hold? II anybody thinks the people
are poverty stricken. they ought to go
to some such place as country
Fourth Of il ly celebration, where a
couple OF thousand people gather. and
count twenty automobiles, At least
half of which are owned by farmers.
What are we about anyway? Did
many farmers show signs OF being
able to own luxuries like automobiles?
We were struggling along under
prices so low that the farmers were
seriously discussing whether or not
they would stop raising stock alto
gether, because they were losing mon
ey on every hog and steer they pre-
pared for market. and IL it had not
been for the hope, born OF the deter
mination to compel change OF
economic policies, that times would
change for the better. and better
prices prevail. they would have gone
out Of the stock business.
But they had determined to make
q change, because they had sense
enough to know that II they could
see the idle men to work. they would
buy the meat, butter, eggs and all
forms Of produce and so they kept on,
knowing perfectly well that when the
man who earns his living in the
sweat OF his face is out OF work he
cannot buy the necessaries OF life and
that while there is no demand for
farm produce the price will be low,
while II the laboring men work they
will buy, create demand, and prices
/ will advance.
| 1t is good plan to look backward
once in while, and be able to say:
| Il told you So History repeats it
self about every SO often on account
of the follies OF the people, and the
follies of the people result from ac-
cepting the heresies of men who want
office, even at the sacrifice of pros
porous times.
For years following the war the
Democrats had been yellinE tariff rob
berry, headed by Carlisle and Morri-
son, and finally the people listened to
4 the siren song Of demagoguery I'M
til they succeeded in getting legisla-
/ tive power enough to give US the Nor
rison horizontal tariff bill, and its re-
suits quickly followed.
/ Finally we elected Harrison, and
with him Republican congress, and
Mr.. Mckinley set to work at the head
OF the ways and means committee to
frame up tariff bill. It's results
4 were quickly seen, and under Harri-
son the country became so prosperous
that We piled up surplus in the
treasury that set the Democrats into
| financial hydrophobia. 1t was
| crime to levy duties that made a sur
plus. 1t took the money out of the
pockets Of the people and piled 1t up
In the treasury, and tempted congress
to extravaganza. Finally enough peo-
pie listened so they succeeded in elect
ing Mr.. Cleveland the second time, and
then they gave US such bill as they
had said for years taey would give
If they had chance, and we got the
! Wilson-G German monstrosity, and Its
results quickly followed. Business
was paralyzed, factories stopped and
closed down everywhere. The de
mands for all kinds OF produce began
Ito fall and kept going lower and low
Ter until finally soup houses had to be
Iopened to feed the people out of worl
and money. We were treated to the
lsight of Coxeys army marching
through the land with starvation ban
u ners. There was an abundance oil
money in the country. but it would
not circulate on account Of the whole
economic apparatus being paralyzed
Iby a disease called political folly
!. The land was as productive as ever;
the granaries were full, but the eat
I, ers were few; the factories had the
same productive capacity, but ths
machinery was still, the smoke Of the
chimneys disappeared AID the voics
LOT industry was stilled under the
!, blighting curse OF political folly.
We borrowed money for the ex
, penses of government. Finally We
elected Mckinley to the presidency
although but a few years before hi
Twas defeated for congress because he
!, dared to draft q tariff bill in keeping
with the doctrine of protection. Will
!, him was elected congress that came
/ from a people who had suffered Sc
much financial ruin that they had de
! iveloped a spinal column that was no
bent by every cat call Of tariff rob
lbery; neither would they believe tina
.tfree silver would cure all, or any, o
. the Ills OF the body polite. but the,
Z / aa+ rncnS,,fo1v 10 work RI remedy ftt