The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1912-10-24

wants to do. Wilson is progressive
enough to suit the progressives of
every party, and SHOULD be given his
chance" He spoke regretfully of
the attempt made upon Colonel
Roosevelt's life by demented
crank, and feelingly expressed the
hope of his rapid recovery.
"A crisis has been reached in the
affairs OF the natiou,n said Mr..
Folk. "Pick up newspaper any
day and you will find accounts of
thievery aud graft. What does 1t
mean? Is corruption becoming a
national disease? Is there some
thing in our system of government
that encourages men to violate the
commandment, Thou shalt not
steal?'
us not the government itself in
large sense to blame for this SEEM
ing general disposition? Has not
the example which the government
sets OF enriching few by taking
from all by means of the protective
tariff been an influence for corrup-
ton? With the example of the ma
tional government giving privilege
to few, there is encouragement af-
forded all forms OF graft, for all
graft is based upon privilege. Of
ficials are not bribed to give equal
| rights to all, but to confer some
privilege on the few denied the
many.
THE elimination Of privilege Is
the fight confronting Democracy.
| The Republican and the Roosevelt
parties stand for the privilege of a
high protective tariff in one form or
another.
1.-THE Democratic party stands
squarely againt this privilege.
1.-THE Republican idea is to pro-
tect monopoly from the people.
THE Democratic idea is to pro-
tect the people from monopoly.
at is unjust for all the people to
be taxed IN order that a few may
profit.
"a tariff other than for revenue
is merely legalized graft"
1.-The Republican orators" de-
clared Mr.. Folk, "tell the farmers
that the tariff has caused the high
prices OF hogs and cattle, but In the
cities these same orators deny that
the tariff has anything to do with
the high price OF bacon and beef.
The Republican party claims credit
for the high prices OF farm products
In the country, but denies RESPONSE
bility for the high prices of these
same food products in the city.
THE truth is that the Republican
high tariff policy, by shutting off
competition, has aided the formation
of gigantic trusts which control the
prices of the necessities of life. The
cost OF living has gone up in the
average American home something
like 30 per cent IN the last ten years.
"This increase Is going into the
pockets Of comparatively small
class Of men, who are enabled
through the tariff to exact a tax
from the general public. In the
cities this increased cost of living is
felt In the higher prices which the
public Is paying for articles of food
and clothing, and In the country
the farmers and cattle breeders are
discovering that although they ere
ate the food stuff the prices are In
the main fixed by the combining
middle men.
1.-THE Beef Trust sells American
meat In London for several cents a
pound cheaper than here in Farm
ington. The benefit Of the increase
does not go to the American cattle
raiser, who gets no more for the
cattle that produce the meat for
Pennington than he does for those
that furnish meat for London.
1.-THE doctrine Of equal rights
should be made living, vital, con-
trolling force in government.
"This doctrine opposes the priv
ilege Of subsidies, bounties and all
forms of government favors to few
at the burden of the many.
"The government has no more
right To take from one man indirect
ly to add to the wealth of another,
than it has To compel one man d.
rectly to contribute to the fortune of
another
1.-THE Democratic party is not
fighting wealth." said Mr.. Folk,
"but the conditions that create pow
erty. 1t Is not the enemy to enter
prise, but on the contrary the friend
to honest industry and legitimate
development. All that it demands
is that each man be given an equal
opportunity to live and labor and
| sha f,nitu Of ynl ,