Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-08-02

| were naQ Dellnd clOSed uOOTS, IN With
no one was admitted but the republi
can members of the finance commit.
tee and the beneficiaries of the law
The bill as presented to the senate OF
the United States, instead of revising
the tariff downward, was revision up
ward. Then began debate in the son
ate of the United States in which those
elected to represent the people were
found united with those who have re.
gard for local interests, and instead OF
tariff tax being distributed equitably
it was parcelled out to meet the sug-
gestions or requirements Of interested
parties, irrespective Of it's effect upon
the nation at large.
So rapacious was the tariff baron,
the trust magnate, and those grown
rich by the despoiling of others that
even the advocates of high protection
blushed at their own audacity, and the
few who believed party pledges should
be maintained and that some regard
should be had for the wishes of those
who bore the burden, that in the few
instances members of the party In
power rebelled at the outrageous
propositions presented. In each in
stance the favored few, those who clus-
tered around the table that distributed
the wealth, became the recipients of
favored legislation and are today con-
trolling not alone the product but the
price at which the article may be dis
posed. 1t must be remembered that
those who refused to follow Rhode
Island, West Virginia and Utah in sup
porting the most unjust measure ever
offered to the people, did not do SO
by asking a reduction of the tax be-
low the Dingley rates, but to maintain
them; and thus is exhibited the specta-
Gle of those claiming to be tariff re-
formers not seeking to reduce the ex-
listing tariff. but to maintain it.
In the contest between existing law
md higher tariff we should offer our
regards to those who oppose the higher
taxation; but it should be remembered
that the question presented in the
campaign of 1908 was not to maintain
the existing tax, but to revise it down
ward. In the contest of 1908 the peo-
pie believed there would be reduction
of tariff duties. The democratic party
by direct. promise declared, If placed
in power. to reduce the tax on the nee
essaries of life. The republicans prom
ised to revise, and not an utterance
its speakers made in that campaign,
but declared that the revision be down
ward. William H. Taft, its nominee,
In speech in Milwaukee on September
"a, 1908, declared that the tariff tax
in many instances was too high, and
the republican party was pledged to
revise it downward. How we'll this
has been accomplished, we have but to
read the Payne-Adrich tariff act now
governing this nation.
The party of Aldrich, Lodge, Elkins
and Smoot is not the party of Lincoln,
Sumner and Chase. In that day II
stood for human rights; in this day
1t stands for vested rights, and its
every thought has been to take from
one man dollar and give 1t to an
other without compensation therefor.
Human rights are as sacred today as
at any period in the history of our
nation. Wealth may be at the door
Of a few, but hardship and high prices
are at the door of many. Some may
live in luxury. but the vast majority
of our people labor, and labor is not
on an equality with privilege. The
creating of this condition is traceable
directly to the party in power, and 1t
must bear the burden and answer the
question as to its correctness.
Against this proposition stands the
teaching OF ages, stands the democratic
principle Of equal rights and equal
opportunities. In the contest for hui
man rights democracy will not fail. 1t
should not have power, 1t should not
be trustee with the confidence of the
people, l. it fails to stand for the
principles of the fathers of our govern
ment, that equal rights and equal op-
portunities are more of necessity
among freeman than graft and greed.
A tariff is tax-this no one can
disputed. A tax in any form is a
hardship No more should be collected
than is necessary to administer the gov
eminent. A tax placed upon an ar
ticle should not be as tribute to an
other but to assist in defraying of
public expense. The cry that a tariff
tax stands for the protection of labor
has long since been exploded. The
full dinner pail of yesterday is not
used today. The proposition that the
foreigner pays the tax is in the same
category.
During the period in which the re-
publican party has been in unobstruct'
ed control of our government there has
been an increase in the cost of living,
ranging from so to 80 per cent. The
increase in the price OF labor has not
heen half that amount More trusts
lave been formed during this period
OF time than in any like period of our
l. ational existence. Combination has
been the order of the day, until not
thing that goes into domestic use that
is not controlled by trust.
Against this proposition the demo.
c,atic party must ever stand. If We be-
come forgetful of the position we oc
cupy, the place our party should have
in the growth and development of the
nation, then we are derelict in our duty
and not faithful followers of democ-
racy.
The increase in cost of Hping today
as compared with twelve years age,
when the trust formation period be-
nn, ir onnuoh To hrine, homo To orar.r |