The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-08-12
a monopoly ssor. an acknowledged
master in protected industry.

Then came a demand for q e7i-
sion OF the tariff. 1t originated in
the necessities of the people, aua
was founded upon the Fundamental.
instinct for justice. Deprived of the
safeguards which competition at
home had furnished them, the peo-
pie knew, without reasoning upon t,
that they had a right to an intelli-
gent REIMBURSEMENT of the tariff.
They felt the duties should be so
modified that the continued insist
enc upon unfair prices would ex-
pose u manufacturers to the cor
rection Of foreign competition.
standpatism Means Monopoly.
1t was then that the standpatter
adopted the name which he now
bears and his campaign cry was
Let we'll enough alone" The move
ment, however was irresistible AMI
the republican national convention
OF 1908 responding, not only with
unanimity but with enthusiasm to
the progressive sentiment of the
rank and file Of the party, not only
pledged the incoming congress to a
revision of the tariff, but defined
the doctrine of protection with a
care and precision unknown to IN
former platform. 1t SOlemnly pre-
scribed a rule with which to meas
ure import duties to the end that
both producer and consumer, bot'l
capital and labor, might share IN
our prosperity.
Upon this pledge, definition, AMI
rule we appealed to the country for
the election of a republican presi-
dent and a republican congress. Tie
country, believing profoundly in
maintaining u own industries, ana
reposing implicit faith in the pron.-
Use that export duties would, in the
revision to take place, be measured
between the cost Of production at
home and abroad elected a republi-
can president and a republican coll
gress.
There was a pledge hat it should
be revised so that the duties upon
protected commodities should be tne
difference between the cost of pro-
ducing things here and in other
countries, with a fair profit added,
and the intent, as everybody VIII
concede, was that out manufacture
ers should be able to enter Il
markets and sell their products a.
a fair price as against their foreign
competitors; and it was further in
tended that grossly excessive profits
growing out of abnormal prices
should be prevented by reducing
the duties to a point that would al
nit importations whenever our w
manufacturers raised their prices
above the levels of fairness and de.
cency.
The bill made many reductions
and many increases-but the reduc-
tons were of little avail for they
left the duties still far above the
difference in cost of production, and
therefore permits the protected MAN.
ufacturers not only to charge ex-
listing prices, but to lift them still
higher, and the increases were, n
nearly every instance, not only with
out reason in fact, but without de-
Tense in debate.
Some republicans, having done all
they could to make the bill what 1t
should have been finally voted for
it, and have no word of censure
for them, for they did what they
believed to be their duty. Some of
us voted against the bill, and We
make no apology for our votes.
1t is not a republican measure, al
though passed by republican votes,
for the men who are chiefly respon-
sible for it thought more of swelling
the overgrown fortunes Of their IT,
innate friends than they thought Of
party principles, the party pledge or
the welfare of a long suffering pei
pie.
1t is claimed that the average tar
upon dutiable imports is something
like one per centum less than Under
the Dingley act. This may be or
may not be so, for I have learned
to doubt the accuracy of tariff
statements, but granting the truth
of the statement, what a SUPER
showing it is.
We have revised che tariff in r.
Spouse to an overpowering republl
can sentiment, and have succeeded II
taking off ABOUT one forty-second o