Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1912-08-08

moment about the policy OF protection
conceived and carried out as a disin-
terested statesman might conceive it.
Our own clear conviction as Demo-
Gratis is that in. the last analysis the
only safe and legitimate object Of tariff
duties, as Of taxes Of every other kind,
is to raise revenue for the support of
the government. But that is not my
present point. We denounce the Payne
Aldrich tariff act as the most conspicu-
Gus example ever afforded the country
Of the special favors and monopolistic
advantages which the leaders of the
Republican party have so often shown
themselves willing to extend to those
to whom they looked for campaign con-
tributions. Tariff duties, as they have
employed them, have not been means
Of setting up an equitable system Of
protection. They have been, on the
contrary, a method of fostering special
privilege. They have made it easy to
establish monopoly in our domestic
markets. Trusts have owed their orr
gin and their secure power to them.
NO SudGen Disturbance.
We do not ignore the fact that the
business of a country like ours is ex-
ceedingly sensitive to changes in legis-
lation Of this kind. 1t has been built
up, however i'll advisedIy, upon tariff
schedules written In the way | have
indicated, and it's foundation must
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.
1t is obvious that the changes we
make should be made only at such a
rate and in such n 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 timdity, as if 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 it should be downward,
unhesitatingly and steadily downward.
1t should begin with the schedules
which have been most obviously used
tC kill 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 1t is fin
ished or intcrmitted, be extended to
every item in every schedule which
affords any opportunity for monopoly,
for SnnsiDl MI n - ,rn tn IDnitn1
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 system of
governmental patronage into a system
of just ana reasonable charges which
shall fall where they will create the
least burden.
Tariff DemoraIizes Politics.
There has been no more demoraliz-
ing influence In our politics in our
time than the influence of tariff legis-
lation. the influence of the idea that
the government was the grand dis
penscr of favorS, the maker and I'M
maker of fortunes, and of opportuni-
ties such as certain men have sought
In order to control the movement of
trade and industry throughout the
continent. 1t has made the govern
ment Il prize to be captured and par
ties the means of effecting the capture.
1t has made the business men of one
of the most virile and enterpriSing ma
lions 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. 1t 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 Scnntc). They have insist
ed very auNiouSly that these commit
tees should he made up only of their
friends until the country in its turn
grew suspicious and wondered how
those committees were being guided
and controlled. by what influences and
plans of personal d'antage. Govern
ment cannot he Whoesomely conduct
ed In such an atmosphere. Its very
honesty is in Jeopardy.
For what has the result been?
Prosperity? Yes, If by prosperity you
mean vast wealth, no matter how dis
trihuted. or whether distributed Mt all,
or not; II Won mean vast enterprises
built MP to be presently concentrated
under the control of comparatively
small bodies of men. who can deter
mine almost mt pleasure whether there
shall be competition or not. The nation
as Il nation has grown immensely rich.
But what of the other side of the pic
turc? 1t is not as easy for us to live
as 1t used to he. Our money will not
buy MS much High wages, even
when we can get them. yield us no
great comfort.
Tariff Causes High Prices.