The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1910-11-17
THE DEMOCRATS BIG JOB.

1t is certain that the troubles OF
the democratic party are about to be-
gin. They have said through the
Campaign that the high cost of liv-
ling is chargeable to the republican
party. 1ney knew that was o so,
but they We're anxious to obtain the
Offices at any price. Now that they
have control of the House, it will be
up to them to offer some legislation
that will bring down the cost of liv-
ing. II they do not, their experience
in power will be as disastrous as was
their four-year reign in the early
I'90's.
William E. Curtis, writing from
Vienna, Austria, states that there is
just as much complaint throughout
Europe owe the cost OF living as in
in the United States. He says:
Food and drink, clothing and house
hold goods, rents for living and bust
ness purposes, and everything else
that is needed by the human family
has advanced in value from % to
100 per cent in the last twelve or if
teen years." This shows that what
ICol. Roosevelt said is literally true,
that the conditions that have made
living cost more, are worldwide in
their nature. Other causes have
helped. but the one big factor has
been the great increase in the gold
supply, which has cheapened the
medium of exchange and thus made
prices ascend.
But the democrats cannot eat their
words. They have said by intima-
Ition that 1t is possible for a political
party to reduce the cost of living in
the United States. Now. if they do
not do what they denounced the re-
publican party for not doing, they
will speedily lose the confidence Of
the people,. OF our the democratic
party has given one neyer-to-be-for-
gotten demonstration of its power to
help lower prices. But the trouble
was that at the same time wage were
lowered almost to the vanishing
point. The task that the democratic
party has undertaken is to lower
prices Of everything except labor. In
.asmuch as labor, is nearly always the
chief element Of cost In the various
products commonly used, 1t will be
seen that the democratic party has
given itself a large assignment.
It is impossible to revise the tariff
and suit both the consumer and the
producer. for their interests are dia-
metrically opposed. II the tariff is
held up enough to protect American
industries and keep factories going.
the consumer says he is being made
the victim of %extortion by the gov
eminent. II the tariff is lowered
enough to suit the consumer, then it
will be impossible for many indus
tries to hold their own with foreign
competition and there will be thous-
ands OF idle men. The democrats
may have wanted their chance to run
the government. But the republicans
really ought not 70 covet their control
of affairs. There will be a lot OF ex-
planning from aforesaid democrats
two or four years from now.
Thus We may expect-in the days
of blissfully anticipated reconstruc-
tion-to see young Mr.. Fitzgerald Of
Brooklyn, whom they once thought
Of throwing out Of the Democratic
caucus because he saved Speaker
Cannon's bacon at the time of the
first rules fight and betrayed his
party, walking away with the chair
manship OF the committee on ap-
preparations. Liyingstons of Georgia
is the ranking member of the ap-
preparations committee. but Living
ston also helped to pull Cannon out
OF danger, and his constituents show
ed what they thought about that by
replacing him with another Demo
crat this year.
Fitzgerald comes next on the list,
and It may be put down that IL Clark
be elected speaker and the rule Of
seniority 10 not followed with respect
to that particular committee, there
will be something started.