Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1910-01-27
WASHING ON = T'TER

Washington, D. G. 81 prices con-
tinue to be the subject. Of general in
terest and the public Is fast learning
that the reason cannot be attributed
to the new tariff. In this connection
may not be amiss to chronicle an Incl.
dent which is one of many occurring
daily. "a few days ago a merchant;
from a fair-sized city of one Of the
middle Western States came to Wash
ington and called on his Congressman.
The merchant was an active Republic
can, and at onced warned his Con-
gresham that there was danger Of
losing his district aHoW's that z" ask
ed the interested Repre- tatiye.s
well, it's all due to the high prices, :.
responded the merchant.
But how do you connect me with
that o. the Congressman asked.
Well said the merchant, you
voted for the tariff, and of course the
tariff is the cause: Of all the higher
prices &,
Lets see about that. & responded
the Congressman. 81 have here the
new law. and can compare the rate
on every article with the rate in the
Dingley law. Now tell me some Of
the articles on which you have raised
the price,
So the merchant, who owns pretty
big department store. mentioned ar
ticle after article. and the Congress:
man in each and every case showed
him that the duty had either been re-
duced or left unchanged.
Now, said the Congressman, ego
back home and make all the money
you can, but when you charge more
for an article be honest about it and
don't lay it to the tariff. In fact you
ought to lower the price on nearly
everything you sell il the tariff
governs the price
Later in the day the merchant went
into a store to get a pair Of gloves.
He found lust what he was looking
for and asked the price.
"$2.75,'' answered the clerk.
But, said the visitor, Il bought a.
pair just like those here last year and
only paid $2..25.'
oh, that may be so, but the new
tariff has compelled us to raise the
price, = very calmly replied the clerk.
E But the Western merchant was now
taking his own medicine. and his talk
with his Congressman had given him
knowledge he went to the proprie-
tor and said, our clerk tells me the
new tariff has increased the duty on
mems gloves and for that reason asks
me $2.75 for a pair similar to those I
paid you s2.25 for last year. Now I
happen to know that the duty has not
been increased on mems gloves. =
sOh, we'll" interrupted the proprie-
tor, there must be some mistake
and he directed the clerk to accept
1925.
This sort of thing is going on all
over the country and the public
should be prepared for it. In the first
place it can be said that the tariff was
either reduced or left unchanged on
about every one Of the necessaries Of
life. In fact.so many reductions were
made that if prices are governed by
the tariff. then they should be very
substantially lowered on many arti-z
cles and left unchanged on many
others. It would be well for all pur-
chasers to find out exactly about the
rates. Any local editor knows, or
your Congressman would be very glad
to tell you. Don't submit to extor.s
ton and then blame the tariff. In
yestigate for yourself. Perhaps in
some cases the merchant is justified
for some reason or other IN raising
the price of an article, but if he says
the tariff is the cause. he should be
asked to give the old and new rate.
It is announced that the price OF
shoes is to be raised 10 to II per cent
is on the average about so
cents per pair. It may be necessary
to impose this increase. but not be-
cause Of the tarin or ! Republican
Congress Let IT be remembered that
hides were placed on the free list and
that the duty on shoes was reduced
go per cent, that is from IS per cent
to 10 per cent.
The tariff on soft coal was reduced
80 per cent, there being no duty on
hard coal. On nearly eyeryt thing the
farmer has to buy the duty was re-
duced. It was reduced on lumber ana
all iron and steel products. Again
the reader IS urged to look ! irto the
facts when he is con ronted with high