Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-09-22

1,l.TuMMA lOyA1A
Ing what has been patent to every con-
sumner In the country for some time.
Few there are that seem to contend
that the people generally receive any
benefits under the terms Of the Payne
Aldrich bill.
The Tariff.
Senator Cummins on the evening OF
May 10, this year, in the meeting at
Des Moines. addressed by himself and
Senator Dolliver, said of the latter:
"You have heard tonight from the
man who knows more about the tariff
law than any other man within the
limits of the United States and more
truths in regard to 1t than ever be-
fore fell upon human ears"
The senator thus SO highly COM
mended to us told us that night In his
speech that "forty-two years ago q
stupid and fraudulent schedule OF
wool and woolens was prepared by
the parties interested outside Of con-
Rresu and enacted into law without
even changing the punctuation"
He further tells us that Senator
Sherman presented 1t to the senate
with the Recommendation that 1t had
been prepared by the parties who were
5irectly interested In the schedule.
And he also tells us that "for nearly
half century that schedule, unchanged
and immutable, has defled every EFFORT
OF the law making powers to mitigate
fts excuses" concede the senator
knows what he is talking about, for
he has helped rewrite the schedule
several times In his congressional
career. and It agrees exactly with the
idaa that we democrats have had Of all
the tariff bills prepared by the SEN
ator.
The senator on June 10 took sixteen
|nases OF congressional record to con-
vince his republican brethren that
there had been no substantial reduc-
ton OF the tariff by the Payne law, and
I am sure he need not have taken
nearly 80 much time as that to con-
vince MS democrats, "that SO for as the
public is concerned the tariff revision
In fact carries rates as high or higher
than the Dingley tariff law on most
articles of general use In their nm
ished condition"
The consideration shown the trusts
nv the republican leaders Is no better
| illustrated than In the case OF the
steel trust. We are told that during
the last nine years that that trust
has paid operating expenses, taxes,
interest on bonds, which represent
more money than the stockholders
ever actually paid in for the construc-
ton OF the various plants, and IN
addition setting aside millions Tor the
purpose Of cancelling the principal Of
the bonds, for repairs and betterments,
setting aside sixteen million dollars
for one year for extraordinary re-
placements. And after doing all OF
that. it's net profits to the stockholders
has been over six hundred and thirty
nine million dollars. And yet to help
this trust, congress thoughtfully pro-
yides for it by raising the tariff OF
structural steel that goes into our
buildings.
After the conference report was
agreed upon, the Des Moines Evening
Tribune, republican paper, tells us IN
its issue Of July 80, 1903, that the new
tariff was "a compromise arranged to
get the votes Of all the great industrial
trusts of the country. It has been
made by the sugar, oil, lumber, smelter
citrus fruit and steel group OF repre-
sentatives in congress"
Rsveridge Quoted, Too.
Is 1t any wonder in the face OF such
facts as these that Senator Beveridge
should tell his republican convention
that 1T was so dastitute Of justice, SO
burdensome and SO dangerous that
nothing can prevail upon me to give II
my support"
IL the great interests are intrenched
anywhere. 1t would seem to be IN the
United States senate. do not see now
we can hope to secure any genuine re-
form legislation until change Is ef-
fected in the manner OF the election OF
United States senators. To that end !
am most heartily in favor OF their
election by the direct vote Of the peo-
pie. While we are waiting for that re-
form, which will Of necessity require
time, even though the several states
were in favor Of 1t, the same result
can be reached In another way. The
state Of Oregon has to my mind the
remedy that should be adopted IN this
state. Il is not enough that the several
political parties shall select their re-
spectiye candidates in a party prim-
airy, but the names Of the parties so
selected in the primary should go on
the official ballot to be voted on at the
general election the same as any other
officer, and then to comply with the
constitution as 1t now is the legisla-
ture should elect. but the members IN
advance should be pledged to select
the person receiving the highest popu-
lar vote.
1t Is true that this might result in a
republican Legislature electing dem
ocratic senator as In Oregon, or a
democratic legislature electing q re-
publican. but IL the will OF the ma
iority Of the voters is to govern and is
what the people want. what can be the
objection? This plan practically re-
suits in the people electing directly
their senators, and also permits the
legislators to be chosen without re-
gard to the one vote they cast Of the
session for senator, but thus permit