The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1910-03-17
Washington Letter.
Facts About the Tariff and Prices.

resentative Mckinley of Illinois, chair
man of the Republican Congressional
Committee, has done the people of this
country a real service in presenting in
readable and handy form the truth about
the tariff and prices. Mr.. Mckinley
very appropriately calls this campaign
spike, and it certainly drives home con-
siderable Democratic Misrepresentation
and lying about the subject under con-
sideration
First presenting the tariff plank of the
last Republican National platform, Mr..
Mckinley in a few words shows that the
pledge made in the plank was fully kept,
and that the tariff was revised substan
TALLY in accordance with the promise
made at Chicago.
The question is then asked: Was the
tariff revised downward? And this ques
ton the Representative from Illinois an
swers in the affirmative in several ways,
showing that not only We're there three
times as many reductions of items as in
creases, but that considering the con-
sumption value of articles upon which
changes were made the decreases were
fully twenty times the increases.
Mr.. Mckinley however, does not stop
there in his argument, but mentions some
half a hundred articles of necessary every
day use upon which the tariff was re-
duced, and to clinch his claim quotes
President Taft and various Congressman
in substantiating his assertion that the
tariff was most materially and substan-
TALLY revised downward.
The next question which Mr.. McKin.
ley asks is: Was the tariff changed wise
ly and successfully? And this he an
sWers by saying that under the operation
of the new tariff law the revenues have
| increased by over S45, 800, 600, and while
there was much idleness and industrial
depression when the new law was passed,
now there is full! employment and I'M
usual record breaking industrial activity
in all parts of the country.
The question of high prices is then
taken up, and while no attempt is made
to give the real cause, or all of the causes,
for the present high prices, which Mr..
Mckinley shows are not confined to the
United States, but are world wide, and
particularly apparent in free trade Great
Britain, yet he does prove that these high
prices can in no way be attributed to the
new tariff law, but, on the contrary, if
prices were governed by the schedules
then they should be reduced in most cases
and not increased.
Various statistics concerning our agri-
culture and commerce are shown, which
are exceedingly interesting as giving a
comparison between the present volume
of production and preceding years.
Among the interesting points present
ed by Mr.. Mckinley are the facts that
whereas there were 100000 idle men
when the tariff bill was passed, there are
really none at present except the sick
and voluntary; whereas the number of
idle freight cars when the tariff bill was
passed was 200, 900, now there are none
whereas the Treasury deficit on Febru-
airy 81, 1909, was over $3.50, 900, 900, on
February q, 1910, it was only S23, 000,-
600.
There were fewer failures in 1909 than
in the preceding year, considering both
number and total liabilities; the value of
farms has increased during the last ten
years "a per cent, while the value of
farm products has increased 100 per cent.
during the last ten years; the bank clear
ings of 1909 amount to $165, 900, 900, 900,
considerable excess over any previous
year.
Ir his portion concerning high prices,
Mr.. Mckinley shows that there has been
an increase in per capita circulation of
money in Is years of almost so per cent.
and an increase of total circulation of
almost 100 per cent, while the increase
of the worlds production of gold in the
same period has been about 225 per cent,
all of which he thinks must have had
their effect in producing the present price
situation.
In this connection very interesting
quotation is given from an article by
Samuel Gompers in the American Fed
erationist of January, 1910, who says:
"How often do these people eat meat?"
is question the American in Europe
finds himself asking when looking about
among wage-workers. Meat is usually
from rs to 100 per cent. higher in price
than in the United States.
Mr.. McKinley's own concluding words
on the subject of high prices were:
"Higher prices, therefore, on any COM
modify cannot be attributed to the new
tariff law, and those who raise the price
and give the tariff as the reason are de-
ceiving their customers by classifying the
facts"
This speech of Mr.. Mckinley has been
put into little 16-page document in con-
venient form for carrying in the vest
pocket and for reading and it is estimated
that million or more copies will be dis
tributed within few days. All readers
OF this paper who desire copy can OBJ
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