The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1910-08-25
Washington News Letter.

lnSJOn special correspondent OIL Inc
Reporter.)
WASHINGTON, Aug. 2O.-The
American people will recall that Sen
ator Henry Cabot Lodges price in
vestigating committe found that no
part of the 5S-per cent increase in
the cost of living in this country in
the last 10 years was due to the tar
if. Political economists all over the
land were sorely puzzled at the re-
port.
The phenomena can now be OK
planned. The report OF the minority
of the committee, just being publish
ed, shows that the Republicans made
no serious attempt to ascertain
whether the tariff was responsible
or not. Listen to this extract from
the minority report.
I'm examining witnesses we scarce
ly touched upon the territory of the
highly protected commodities.
Lodge, who helped frame the
Payne-Aldrich bill and takes the po-
sition that the consumer is a myth,
saw to it that the Investigations were
confined almost exclusively to food
stuffs and cotton, and to the pro-
duction, distribution and cost to the
consumer of wheat, corn, beef NUT
ton and hog products, of which COM
modities the United States produces
large per cent of the worlds pro-
duction, and which we export in enor-
nous quantities. AS to these ar
ticles it may be supposed that, when
freed from the influences of trusts
and monopolies, the tariff should not
cut large figure except that it in
@1,~ ~rt 81 ,o.,
Do you see the point, Mr.. Consum-
er? Lodge had been assigned by
Senator Aldrich to make a report,
obviously for campaign purposes,
which would absolve the tariff from
all blame in connection with the aw-
full increase in the cost of living
under our system of high protec-
ton. Lodge evidently concluded
the safest way to accomplish this end
would be to avoid asking any ques-
tons of witnesses concerning adj
yances in the prices of highly pro-
tected articles, such as the products
of the sugar trust, the steel trust,
tribute heavily to the Republican
campaign fund.
The Lodge report gave fifteen rea
sons for increased prices, and found
that the tariff was no material fact
or" This report is being used by
the men who voted for the Payne
Aldrich bill in the hope it will en-
able them to remain in public life.
Tariff Increases Prices.
Senators Johnston, of Alabama,
Clarke, of Arkansas, and Smith, of
South Carolina, the minority mem
bers of the Lodge committee, find the
three substantial causes for increas-
ed prices are:
1. Tariff
2. Trusts, combines and monopo-
lies.
3. Increased money supply.
Owing to the tactics of the Re-
publicans in avoiding highly protect
ed articles, the minority members
found themselves without sufficient
data to apportion the degree of re-
sponsibility between these three
causes, but that the two first are the
chief melefactors we have no doubt;
and they are Of our own creation
or permission"
1--WE believe" the report reads,
that the amount of the tariff is
added to the price and taxed to the
consumer; that but for the tariff
the commodities We buy would be
cheaper, approximately to the ex-
tent of the tariff
A Campaign Canard.
Taft will no longer cooperate
with Cannon, Aldrich, and Ballinger
is to be retired"
This is the gist of statements car
ried by the Associated Press, and OBJ
yiously inspired by Republican cam
paign managers.
The information may be accepted
as nothing more than a ruse. THE
Republican campaign managers play
ed the same trick on the public last
Presidential election The rumor
was quietly started that Candidate
Taft did not approve of Speaker Can
non The inference was strong that
Taft would not stand for Cannon as
speaker. This false rumor unmis-
takably helped Taft in the insurgent
districts.
Immediately after Taft was inau-
gurated an attempt was made to
defeat Cannon as speaker. The COM
blned Democrats and Insurgents
would have accomplished this end
had not the President used all the
resources at his command to perpet-
uate Cannon as speaker.
Taft is not going to read Aldrich
and Cannon out of the party, because
Aldrich and Cannon (and the spec
ial interests they represent) will not
permit the President to have the re-
nomination if he tries it. Mr.. Taft
knows which side his bread is but
tered on.
Furthermore, there is no reason
for diseord. Taft, Aldrich, and Can
non, and Ballinger, too, are all work
ing to the same end Their views
are in harmony on big questions.
No newspaper man can be here in
Washington and know his business,
and not know that Taft, Aldrich and
Cannon are consolidated in great
political firm, and that this oligarchy
has never had any serious dissension.
The three men are constantly pay
ing each other compliments. 1t was