The Irish standard., 1910-05-28

eign competition to destroy legitimate
production, but they do want fair COM
petition that will reduce prices to a
level that is fair to the producer and
consumer alike.
Minnesota Not Selfish.
While it may seem strange to polit-
ical statesmen in the east, the people
of the west object primarily to the
present tariff because they think it
Is morally wrong, an unjust burden
to themselves and Il greater burden
to millions of plain people in other
portions of the land that are less able
to bear the brunt of increasing prices
while wages and salaries remain the
same.
They also object because they come
from a thrifty stock and they deplore
billion dollar congresses, and the
Wholesale waste and extravaganza of
government that has to spend the
enormous sums collected by an unjust
tariff.
They observe that 1T costs $780,
100000 more a. year to run this gov
eminent today that it did ten years
ago with only slightly smaller popu-
lation.
If there are any s2OO,O00,OO0 of fluid
profits lying around amongst the peo-
pie of the United States they believe
in leaving it with the people who
earned it and not wasting it in the
colossal extravaganza that must take
place when all this ready money is at
hand to spend.
They object, Furthermore, because
they feel the future of the republic
Is imperiled by the vast accumulation
of unearned wealth in the hands of a
few who are unduy favored by this
unjust system. They object likewise
to the vulgar extravaganza and the
barbarous waste among the favored
newly rich who are setting an example
of bad morals and bad living to all the
people of the land
The people of the west do not object
because they think that plain citizens
are getting poorer, but they do OBJ
ject because they think that the av-
erage citizen is not getting his just
share of the great profits of industry
to which his common citizenship en-
titles him.
They do not object to the great for
tunes that men of talent and industry
are building up within the law. They
do object to the fortunes built under
a system that taxes the great mass for
the benefit of aafew.
... Instinct Of tho West.
Fundamentally the west objects to
the present SYSTEM. not because it
makes an unjust levy, on themselves
but because it's people wish wealth to
be distributed more evenly; that the
great general average of the people
will be able to maintain a republic
based upon average intelligence and
average wealth. 20
This may be heresy, but it is a nat
ural instinct Of men of our race who
love the republic, and in their rude
and laborious labors in field and for
est think much of the future of their
country and of their children yet to
come. %
This is the Thought and instinct of
many million people who now reside
in the great valley .of the continent.
The next census will probably show
that some sixty-five y out of nearly
now reside west and south of Pitts
burg.
Many of these people are so dull
and commonplace that they still talk
among themselves about the battle of
Lexington. In their night camps in
forests and upon the plains, old men
who fought upon both sides in the
civil war tell the younger generation
about the charge at Fredericksburg
and the slaughter in the Wilderness.
They believe in the republic, and
are still Americans who think seri-
ously of the future of the land. These
people face the future with enthusiasm
and hope and are not afraid. Deep in
their minds they know that the future
of the land is in great valley be-
tween the coasts. While they do not
analyze, they know that the economic
and moral salvation of the country lies
in the younger civilization where life
is free and honest and the people still
believe.
They expect and hope to keep their
social and moral life clean and pure,
that in some future day here will be
the leaven to purify the national life
in time of crisis
Economic Views Are Permanent.
The economic views of people in