Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1910-10-06
NOT THE CONSUMER!
CLASS UNJusTLY BLAMED FOR
TARIFF INlouiTlEs.
Known Facts Do Not Bear Up State
ment Made by Warren q. Harding
Of ohio-Another Gaze Of
Wolf and Lamb.

Those who have got the idea that
Senator Dick of Ohio Is a standpatter
above other standpatters cannot have
read the very remarkable speech de-
hyered by Warren G. Harding. Repub-
Lean candidate for governor Of Ohio.
1t is true that Mr.. Harding used some
of the progressive phrases, advocated
a tariff commission, etc., while Sena-
tor Dick urged that it was the duty Of
the party to stand by the Payne law,
which was, As he thought, wholly ad-
mirable. There is thus a slight diff
ference between the two men. But
consider these words of Mr.. Harding:
THE Republican party does not
claim ever to have enacted a perfect
tariff law. Every tariff enactment in
a hundred years has been marred by
the selflshness of greedy consumer or
designing importer, because Of the pre-
vailing legislative methods."
We think this statement is worthy
to be put alongside Of the declaration
Of Senator Lodge that the ultimate
consumer is "a myth" The idea that
"greedy consumers have spoiled u
tariffs Is distinctly novel. We had
been under the impression that the
consuming class was the mi class
that was not represented in the bust
ness Of tariff making. It Is certain
that there has never been a lobby Of
consumers at Washington opposing
the lobby Of protected manufacturers.
The Arkwright club, which helped
make the cotton schedule, was not OPP
posed by any club Of men and women
who yea cotton clothing. The Al
drich-Smoot combination which fixed
up the wooden schedule, which has
been pronounced "indefensible" by
the president of the United States,
was not "marred" by the selfshness
of greedy consumer or designing i'm
porter" For neither the consumer
nor the importer was considered at all.
The joker by which the duties on
structural iron were heavily increased,
was not put into the bill by the con-
sumers of structural iron.
1t Is, therefore, quite impossible to
accept the theory of Mr.. Harding. Tar
If laws have been "marred" not by
consumers, but by greedy manufac-
turers who insisted that they be al
lowed to write the schedules in their
own interest The consumer has had
mighty little show. And that is the
trouble. That is why he Is In revolt
at the present time. But why should
it be greedy" for the consumer to en-
deavor to take care of himself when
it Is held to be patriotic for the
manufacturer to take care OF himself?
If 1t Is greed that prompts the con-
sumner to fight for low duties and low
prices, how can 1t be patriotic for the
manufacturer to fight for high duties
and high prices? AS a matter of fact,
the consumer has humbly taken what
ever was handed out to him. Senator
TiUkwoufd have the law stand as 1t
is, while Mr.. Harding would, If he Is
true to his theory, change only those
parts that have been married by the
sel1shness Of greedy consumer or de-
signing importer" This seems to point
to a raising of duties, for the only
way in which greedy consumer or
designing importer could mar" a
tariff bill would be by making duties
too low.-Indianapolis News.