Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1910-02-02

had instead that the tariff schedules
We're in nowise to be held accountable
for the upward trend of values. The
Georgian was not slow to emphasize
his views to the contrary and precip-
itated quite a lively discussion as a
result.
Senator Bacon declared that the
present prices were abnormally high
and mainly on account Of the protect
i've tariff system, which had raised
the cost of living to IAN artifcially
high level" Mr. Bacon aroused the
Republican side by charging that a
distinct issue had been raised by
himself and other Democrats when
the Tariff bill was under cOnsidera-
ton over the duty on beef. He read
the vote by which most of the Re
publicans had voted to raise the duty
on beef from 1 IL to cents a pound,
despite Democratic opposition.
Mr.. Bacon asserted that the Beef
Trust was selling meat from 4 to 3
cents cheaper abroad than in the
United States Mr.. Lodge demanded
that he produce the proof This led
to spirited collOquy.
Senator Gore said he understood
that Secretary Wilson had testified
before the House committee that
meat was selling cheaper abroad Mr.
Lodge said he understood just the OPP
DOsite. He had himself tried to get
such information from Secretary Viii
son, but had been informed that the
Department of Agriculture did not
possess it,
When Mr. Bacon, warming up.
said: What is the object of these
duties. What are we here for? What
is the Republican party here for?"
Mr. Lodge retoTted with some feeling,
i don't think the tariff has anything
to do with these prices, | believe a
combination in Chicago has artificial
ly raised the level of prices. / should
like to see that combination reached
under the law. Y on can't reach the
meat problem by making meat free
Of duty Only three countries-the
United States, Argentina and Austral-
Ia-are exporting meat. You have got
to reach this matter by dealing with
an artificial combination. There is
no use trying to humbug the people
by blaming it on the tariff. You may
remove the duty from meat, but that
does not affect the power of the Beef
Trust to raise the price, any more
than the removal Of the hides duty
has lowered the price of leather"
Senator Gallinger agreed to this,
saying that although the leather rates
had been lowered, F'for some inscrut-
able reason the price Of boots and
shoes has been raised" 81 think"
he added, that the remedy is to con
troll the combinations in control of
the cattle market"
Mr.. Lodge accused Mr.. Bacon of
finding fault with social figures.
You can't get away from this sit
uatjOn by quoting averages" Mr.. Ba-
con retOrted. when the people are
hungry and can't get meat, this cues
ton is bound to come up again"
The Democrats of both the House
and Senate can do nothing better for
their party, and the country as
whole, than avail themselves OF. every
opportunity that presents itself to
direct the public attention to the part
the Republican tariff system plays in
increasing the cost of living. 1t is
the one live, vital issue Of the day and
the efforts Of the Republicans to
thrust it into the background should
be persistently thwarted The Re
pubIicans are manifestly afraid to go
to the country on such an issue, but
by forcing the fight in Congress and
centering public attention upon it
the Democrats can once more make
tariff reform a genuine and eIaotiOn
winning issue.