The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-10-06
4 Clear-Out Explanation of Why
Prices Have Increased.
(By Clyde H. Tavenner.)


(By Clyde H. Tavenner.)
Washington, D. c., Oct. l.
lSpecial)-When the Payne-Aldrich
bill was before the Senate, blind
Senator Tom P. Gore, of Oklahoma,
staked his reputation that if the
measure was passed extreme high
prices would follow.
a,,. The prophecy was fulfilled. Aver
age prices rose more than II per
cent from June to December, 1909.
The prices of steel trust common
stock more than doubled in six
months in 1909.
1t is the history of all protection
iSt countries that tariff revision up
ward means increased prices. 1t is
not generally realized how rapidly
the prices of tariff protected articles
rose after the passage of the Dingley
law in 1897. From July 1897, to
January l, 1900, the first three years
following the Dingley law, the cost of
living advanc 81 per cent or at
the rate of 8 per cent year. More
trusts were formed during this than
during any other similar period in
our history.
The price of wire nails rose from
Sl.S6 key, in August, 1898, to
$3.50, in December, 1S99-16O per
cent in 16 months.
The price of barb wire rose from
$l.65 per 100 pounds, in August,
1897, to $3.50, in April, 19O1-175
per cent in four years.
The Dingley tariff made the trusts
and the trusts put up the prices.
But few, if any, trusts were formed
during the three years of the COM
paTatively low duties of the Wilson
bill.
When the German government in
troduced its tariff law of 1902, it
published an explanation which con-
tanned the frank statement that lin
land prices are raised, so far as
4 consideration of the circumstances of
the last ten years will allow us to
judge, in proportion to the duties
In France, Italy, and some other
European countries part of the
municipal revenue is raised by du-
ties on goods entering the towns
At the gates of such towns there is
an official who collects this tax, and
it is found that the difference in
prices of articles purchased outside
OF the towns and within the towns
IS in nearly every instance exactly
the amount of the duty. The same
happens in trade between nations
The reason the sugar trust, the
steel trust, the lumber trust and the
harvester trust are willing to con-
tribute large sums to the campaign
funds of President Taft and repub-
lican candidates for congress, and are
unwilling to contribute to the funds
y of democratic candidates fbot +bo
republican party is the party of ex-
cessive protection. Tariff revision
upward means increased prices, and
the tariff trusts know that they can
collect from the people in new pro-
hts whatever sums they may invest
In the republican campaign funds.
After Election.
The republicans promise to make
public the source of their campaign
contributions the November
congressional election.
The report of the standpat repub-
can members Of the Ballinger inves-
tigating committee is to be made
public-after the election.
Nothing further is to be said of
the $5,000,000 Taft-Humphrey ship
subsidy grab bill-until after cleo
tion.
The soft pedal is to be applied to
the Oklahoma Indian lands thievery
until after the November election.
Nothing is to be done with the
Lorimer investigation-unti after
election.
u No step is to be taken in the sugar
& trust-friar lands Philippine scandal
until after the November election.
And, last but not least from the
standpoint of relative Importance,
the National Monetary commission, of
which Senator Aldrich is chairman,
X will not make its report recommend
i ing a central government bank
until after the November election.
Another Case of Larceny.
The national republican platform
of 1892 contained the following
paragraph:
"We denounce the efforts of the
Democratic majority of the House
of Representatives to destroy our
tariff laws piecemeal, as manifested
by their attacks upon wool, lead, and
Ores
Times have changed. Republi-