Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1910-07-08
HAS CAUSE
FOR ALARM

Nintn Distrlct I'm the present cam.
paign, that the Payne-Aldrich tariff
bill is IN measure responsible fol
the present high cost of LIVING.
II has erected keep Off the grass
signs all around the subject, and
every time Democratic papel
touches upon il, The News shouts
Stop, don't do that; il isn't fail. "
! Although there are other grave
problems involved in the campaign,
this one seems TO weigh most heavi-
ly upon the mind of the editor of
the News, pursuing him like q
threatening shadow by day, and
haunting his pillow like some dread
full apparition through the silent
hours OF the night. Awakinp from
his restless dreams, he frequently
seizes his pen and Eliminates upon
this important issue, and though he
denies in toto That tariff legislation
is even remotely responsible for pres
ent conditions, yet he never ventures
further into the deep waters of ex-
PLANTATION, than TO assign "a "proba-
BILE cause" for the trouble. We have
already had the benefit of several of
these, and now we are treated TO the
follow ing additional one, which ap-
peared in the News some days ago
We do not pretend To account for
the great rise i'm the Trice of COM
modlties which has taken place in
the last few years throughout the
entire commercial world, but the
best thinkers who have given much
attention to this question seem to be
agreed that ii has resulted chiefly
from the greatly increased produc-
tion OF gold"
Now this last "probabIe cause"
assigned by the News, may be taken
by the voters for what il is worth
but in passing, we wish TO warn the
editor in a perfectly friendly spirit,
that his apprehensions about the
Democrats pressing the high cost Of
living as an issue, and undertaking
to fix the responsibility therefor di-
rectiy upon his party are we'll found
ed, and that unless he can divert his
mind into other channels he may
as we'll resign himself to the fate of
many more sleepIess nights before
the campaign is over.
Damaging testimony has already
been voluntarily given on the sub
ject 10y 'standpat" Republicans Of
prominent, TO say nothing OF the
whitening charges and denunciations
made by eminent insurgents" of
that party, and nothing could be
easier than 10 make out clear case
upon the evidence of witnesses for
the defense.
Shortly after the crushing defeat
some months ago Of the "standpat'
Republican nominee for Congress in
the Fourteenth Massachusetts Dis
trict he gave out the following sig
nlciiant and striking interview:
IF the result served TO convince
the leaders at Washington that some
thing must be speedily done in the
way of lowering the cost Of living, |
shall feel that my defeat has not
been without value"
! In this a special election, which
was held TO fill vacancy occasioned
by the death OF Republican
'standpat" Congressman, Eugene
y. Foss, Dem. was chosen bv n
majority of over 5000 although the
district had in 1908, given the late
Judge Lowering, Rep. majority
OF 10, coo and had never before IN the
recollection of man. sent Democrat
to Congress
The issue In this contest was clear
cut, the Democrats charging the Re-
pubhcans with the responsibility for
the high cost of living, ana contend
ing that these unhappy conditions
had been brought about largely
through the tariff policies of the
dominant party.
This defeated "standpatter" evil
IDENTIFY felt what he was saying when
he gave out his famous interview.
lie had just passed through the
rites. His experience was Indeed a
bitter one. He has hardly gotten in.
TO the fight when he found he must
defend the Payne.Aldtich bill, and
deny that 1t had contrib uted to the
ever increasing cost of living. Be-
fore 1t was half over. he realized
that he was handicapped, as though
he had a mill stone about his
neck, land when the expected land
slide, overwhelmed him, he cried
out III bitter distress practically call
ing upon his party to take warning
at his political destruction, and rail-
~ TO the rescue of an oppressed and
outraged people, or prepare to meet
similar fate ut the polls In Novem-
Der.
According to thousands of the
ablest writer's and political leaders
OF both parties throughout the coun-
try, tariff legislation in recent wears
has had a most SiOpi Goo,t Ia.: