The Washington times., 1910-10-22

JLS advance III the cost OF I0e IuluBS VIC CdtB NA0
things we wear, and the houses in which we live
To determine the reason. and make sure that
analysis is right, is about important thing
as we can do in this democratic form Of govern
ment, which means that are the government.
The Democrats hold the tariff chiefly responsible
for this higher cost of living, and the Democratic
party is REINFORCED in this view by considerable
wing of the Republican party, which has Joined
the cry for "LEGISLATING DOWNWARD"
That the party out of power, which just now hap
pens to be the Democratic party should seize upon
this argument and work it hard is not surprising
In the unrest the discomfort and the hardship OF this
higher cost of living the opposition party sees an
exceptional opportunity to do deadly work against
the party in power, which is responsible for the
present tariff, and which has been responsible, in
the MAN. for half century for tariff legislation
This attitude of the Democratic party is more than
clever political maneuyer. 1t is strictly consistent
with the varying policies Of the party throughout
its history. The Democratic party has always been
a low-tarif party. free-trade party Many of
its members out-and-out free-traders, and the
free-trader has never found any room for himself
in the ranks of the Republican party.
The Democratic party, unlike the Republican
party, has never been unit the tariff question,
its membership is made UP Of men whose views
range all the way from free trade to low tariff,
and from low tariff to high tariff But the average
sentiment Of the party, as expressed in its conven-
TONS has been for a low tariff; that, in holding
the tariff responsible for the higher cost of living,
the party is TO its history It's fervd denuncia
ton of the tariff at this time is more effective
merely because of the present high cost of living,
which gives force and vitality and tmeliness TO
its contentious.
On the other hand, the so-called insurgent wing
Of the Republican party, arguing for legislatng
downward not true to the traditions of it's party,
and there is no reason why it should be. There is
every reason why it should not be true to the tradi
tons of its party if it does not believe in them
Theories that have worked out we'll in the past do
not necessarily fit the present period. and it is the
work of the present period that have in hand,
and that is up to us to handle wisely and pa
triotically.
I have mighty little respect for the idea that
we should continue TO follow q certain course
because we have followed it successfully at some
time in our history So I compliment the Insurgents
who have come out in opposition to the stand
patters," if they have convinced themselves that
their present views of the tariff would better suit
the interests of the ninety millions of our people
at the present time
While I compliment them for being independent
men and thinking for themselves, and refusing to
stand for the old theories simply because they are
DID, and because they Of the traditions of their
party at the same time doubt the wisdom of their
stand for legislating downward.
THERE IS MORE HYSTERIA, 1T SEEMS TO NE,
IN THIS CRY FOR LEGISLATING DOWNWARD
THAN IN ANY MANIA THAT HAS CRIPPLED THE
CRAZE, OR, GOING BACK FURTHER, SINCE THE
GREENBACK CRAZE.
If our wages had been legislated downward or
wage-workers had voluntarily out for low
er wages, then it would follow. as night follows
aay, that the tariff should be legislated downward
But wages have been advanced instead of re-
duced; and if wages are advanced, we must advance
t1e tariff accordingly, so that we may protect the
higher wages. assuming of course. that it is not
already in excess of the difference in wages.
OF what good is a dam that is merely half high
enough to retain the water it is supposed to retain?
half-high-enough dam lets the water flow over and
-un to waste, and, running to waste, 1t turns
no wheels. enriches One and serves no purpose.
The tariff, like lock in the canal that raises the
lower water the level of the higher water raises
the small wage of Europe to the level of our wage.
A half high-enough tariff would mean no more
as a protection for wages against the wages
of Europe than the half-high-enough dam. The
products of this cheap labor would flow in over the
tariff with practically the same freedom as with
no tariff at all.
l am in perfect accord with the Democratic party
in its contention that the tariff is responsible for
the higher cost of living in this country as COM
pared with the cost of living in Europe. There
would be common sense in any other conclusion.
The tariff is just much responsible for the higher
cost of living is responsible for the higher
in this country over the wage of Europe. The two
60 hand in hand, and there is no getting away
from it.
There is no system of economics that can give you
both high vSges and a low cost Of living Neither is
there any political party that give you both high
wages and low cost Of living Any man or any
nartv that saws This can he done SAYS what is