The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-04-06
BIames MiddIemen and the
Rich for Cost of Living;
Fayors Reciprocity.

Special TO The Tribune.
NEW YORK. April 5.-Richard Croker,
former Democratic ruler OF New York
City. was interviewed here last week and
the interview has just been published.
II was at the Democratic club that he
ended his long silence and freely discussed
social and political conditions in the
United States.
How do you regard the general ma
tional political outlook in the United
States?" he was asked
$50 far the Democrats and Repub-
Leans are concerned 1 see no difference
between the two. In congress you will
find them united on the most vital ques-
tions. For instance, in the matter of
reciprocity the Democrats are supporting
Republican president, which justifes
me in repeating that there is very little
difference between the two parties. This
| reciprocity situation is an incongruous
one"
"Have the Democrats a good fighting
chance to carry the next presidential
election?"
well, l don't know about that. / pre-
| fer not TO express an opinion on that sub
iect ~ / Will &, say, however, that IN the
| licanS helped the Democrats elect their
tickets. They gave the Democrats
chance to get back into power and show
! indicate that the Democrats have NOT
taken advantage OF the opportunities af-
forded them: They have made somewhat
/ OF mess OF it,
Sees No Hard Times.
| EDO you believe that hard times are ac-
anl, tuay coming coming say & by next year as some
suit OF tariff agitation. public interference
with private business, diminished trade
activity and consequently decreased earn
ings, overproduction or other causes"
NO, think there are going TO be good
times, / believe il is a good thing to
have decreased earnings. for that will
make better times. II is the middeman
who is making hard times The producer
makes very little profit, while the. con-
sumer has to pay big prices. The middle
man is the one who is making the money
and the consumer has TO pay for the
whole thing.
"As. TO the high cost of living. may
rich mans city. The people In a big city
must pay for the great improvements and
the luXuries they are enjoying. All the
subways. better streets, schools. fire and
police protection, etc. these the people in
big city must pay for.
| Il do not think the cost of living In III"
small country towns today Is much more
than il was twenty five years ago. Ev-
erything good is coming into the cities,
that they pay whatever price is asked
for those things.
You go to any of the fashionable res
taurants in this city. what do you see?
You Will find the rich men paying some
times S. tips TO walters Everybody IN
New York pays big money for luxuries.
and everything Is fine. I think that tho
rich men are responsible for the present
high cost OF living.
Il do not believe the cost OF living viii
ever go back to the former low prices. ]
| IN
down and that will do some good
DO you believe that reciprocity with
Canada would aid in the reduction OF GER
tain necessities Of life?'
az am sure 1t Will. cannot think
otherwise, from what I see in every di-
rectlon'
Then what is the remedy for the poor
man in the matter of the cost OF ilv-
with the higher cost of things
The poor man Is not getting poorer.
but he, could no, begin. tn live now on
WAGES he formerly received
| Then you believe that the wages ~
the. working classes will be increased
rather than .decreascd?"
Yes. ] think they will There is a ten-
live unless that Is done
Opportunity Lacking.
| Has the average man as good an op-
portunity In make fortune in the United
States now as was the case twenty-five
years ago?'
mo. People are too sharp IN these
days. little money a quarter Of CEN
tury ago would enable man to make a
great deal. In the present day In the
United States Il takes much money to
make fortune, There was less specu-
Iation TWENTY-FIVE wears ago than now
"A man with small capital stands a
much better chance to prosner In tho
west. or. better yet. In certain parts OF
the south than In New York CITY There
Is no show for him here: things are too
crowded. competition is too great and
the chances OF making money here for
the average man are very few This
condition Will continue to grow worse