The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1909-04-12
KANSAS COANENT
THE COST OF LIVING.

| Conoemnatfon of the tariff bill for
| raising the. cost of living is not a new
crlliclsm Of the tariff system Tariff
e.iLient mas always been divided into
eMo vieWs-one that the tariff support
ed industries kept men at work and
therefore round a market for home pro-
uuce' the other that the tariff imposed
.aA upon consumer, and was most
ulrectiy eIective in raising the cost of
living. The former view has always
appealed to the majority of peonie in
this country. s-
mere are many agencies at work in
iiAing the cost of living. and attempt
10 place all the responsibility upon the
I'LL errs through failure to view the
Whole question. Supply and demand
are the greatest factors in flying the
COST OF living. The fact that living
may De twice as high now as if was in
1oSu IS not OF Importance unless coupled
Win the TACT that three times as many
, ,nen are o aDie to pay the price now as
were IN 1880. Wheat 10 going skyward
cholce beef cuts are high. clothing and
ury goods command liberal prices
principally because employment is
pIenty any people have the price. More
people are eating white flour bread now
h tian ever pefore ate it in the country's
history. More people are choosing the
inner grades of flour than ever before
were able to choose it. More people are
buying stylishly made clothes and
treating themselves to other present
coifeIliehces that but a few years ago
were luxurles. And the sum total of all
these investments makes up the cost of
living.
Aside from all other considerations. 1t
is fact as certain as any other dem
onstratlon OF the law of cause and eff
rect, that when times are hard the cost
of living will fall. and that when times
are prosperous the cost of living will
rlse-through the operation of the rule
of supply and demand. The financial
reVerses of eighteen months ago were
met almost instantly by declines in
the staples, and the renewal Of conf
dence is featured by stiffening of
prices all along the line
Inose Who clamor against the cost
OF living chant popular song-but
Whlle people keep on working they will
keep on paying the price. The remedy
Is not within the province of ordinary
tariff laws, but in the prevention as far
as possible. of combinations and cor
ners" by which the poor mans neces-
stiles may be made the pawn in a gam
bler's game.-Ottawa Herald
%
AGED RULER OF MEXICO.
General Porfirio Diaz has ruled Mex
leo wisely and well since December 1,
1884, as president of the republic. The
reforms that have come to Mexico I'M
der his long administration have given
him international fame. He will be
79 years Of age but every indication
now points to his reelection to the Of
fee he has SO long held.
The Reelection club of Mexico held
its national convention in the City Of
Mexico on the 2Sth day of March. An
organization was, completed and the
700 delegates in the convention adjourn
ed to April z, today. when it is ex-
pected that Diaz will be renominated
for president. This reelection club is
said to represent the national political
party in Mexico.
If Diaz is renominated there will
not be any doubt of his reelection.
Under his rule the frequency of revo-
buttons has given place to stable gov
eminent; His policy Of educating the
masses has made Mexico a nation Of
readers, and the people will
know what they are voting for when
the vote for the reelection of Diaz.
They will be voting for the continu-
ance of stable government.-Wichita
Eagle.