Evening journal., 1912-08-07

not be too radically or TOO suddenly
disturbed. When we act we should act
with caution and prudence. like men
who know what they are about and
not like those in love with a theory.
II is obvious that the changes we
make should be made only at such
rate and in such a way as will least
Interfere with the normal and health
full course Of commerce and manufac-
ture. But we shall not on that ac-
count act with timidity. as II we did
not know our own minds, for we are
certain OF our ground and of our OBJ
ject There should be an immediate
revision, and II should be downward.
unhesitatlngly and steadily downward.
II should begin with the schedules
which have been most obviously used
20 kin competition and to raise prices
In the United States, arbitrarily and
without regard TO the prices pertain
ing elsewhere IN the markets Of the
world. and It should. before It Is fin
ished or intermitted, be extended to
every item In every schedule which
affords any opportunity for monopoly,
for special advantage to limited
groups Of beneficiaries or for subsidiz-
ed control of any kind in the markets
or the enterprises Of the country until
special favors. Of every sort shall have
been absolutely withdrawn and every
part of our laws Of taxation shall have
been transformed from a system Of
governmental patronage into a system
Of just and reasonable charges which
shall fall where they will create the
least burden.
Tariff Demoralizes Politics.
There has been no more demoraliz-
ing influence IN our politics In our
time than the influence of tariff legis-
iation, the influence OF the idea that
the government was the grand dis
penser of favors. the maker and un-
maker of fortunes, and of opportuni-
ties such as certain men have sought
IN order 10 control the movement Of
trade and industry throughout the
continent IL has made the govern
ment a prize 20 be captured and par
TIES tue AHtHNN VI tlt'AAHk AhN NtHAhA't
II has made the business men of one
OF the most vlrile and enterprising ma
tions IN the world timid. fretful, full
Of alarms; has robbed them of self
confidence and manly force until they
have cried out that they could do
nothing without the assistance of the
government at Washington. It has
made them feel that their lives de-
pended upon the ways and means
committee OF the house and the finance
committee Of the senate Gin these later
years particularly the finance commit
tee Of the senate). They have Insist
ed very anxiously that these commit
tees should be made up only Of their
Friends" until the country in it's turn
grew suspicious and wondered how
those committees were being guided
and controlled, by what influences and
plans Of personal advantage. Govern
ment cannot be wholesomely conduct
ed IN such an atmosphere. It's very
honesty is in jeopardy
For what has the result beenl
Prosperity? Yes, If by prosperity you
mean vast wealth, no matter how dis
tributed, or whether distributed at all
or not; II you mean vast enterprises
built up 10 he presently concentrated
under the control Of comparatively
small bodies OF men, who can deter
mine almost at pleasure whether there
shall be competition or not. The nation
as a nation has grown immensely rich
But what of the other side of the pic
ture? II is not as easy for us to live
as It used to be. Our money will not
buy as much High wages. even
when we can get them. yield us nc
great comfort.
Tariff Causes Hish Prices.
Moreover, we begin to perceive some
things about the movement Of prices
that concern us very deeply and tx oui
attention upon the tariff schedules will
more definite determination thar
ever 10 get to the bottom of this mat
! ter. We have been looking into It a
trials held under the Sherman act and
In Investigations in the COMMITTEES
rooms Of congress, where men VIII,
wanted to know the real facts hav,
been busy with inquiry. and we begil
10 see very clearly what at least SOM
Of the methods are by which price
are fixed. We know that they are no
Fixed by the competitions Of the mar
ket OF by the ancient law of supply an,
demand. which is TO be found stated Il
all the primers Of economics. but b,
private arrangements with regard L
what the supply should be and agree
ments among the producers themselves
Those who buy are not even represent
ed by counsel The high cost Of hvin
Is arranged by private understanding.
We naturally ask ourselves. How di
these gentlemen get control OF thes'
things? Who handed our economi
laws over to them for legislative an,
contractual alteration7 We have Il
these disclosures still another view o
the tariff. still another proof that no
the people Of the United States, bu
only a very small number Of then
have been partners In that Legislation
The trusts do not belong to the per-
cd Of infant industries. They are no
the products Of the time. that old Ia
borious time. when the great cont
nent we live on was undeveloped. tn
young nation struggling to find itsel
and get upon its feet amidst older an
more experienced competitors. The
belong TO very recent and very 81
phisticated age. when men knew whs
they wanted and knew how to get
by the favor OF the government
Is another chapter in the natural hi