Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-07-06

Thomas Jefferson and enforced by
long and illustrious line OF democratic
presidents.
TARIFF REFORM.
We declare IL to be a fundamental
principle OF the democratic party that
the federal government. ulder the con
stitution. has no right or power 10 i'm
pose or collect tariff duties. except for
the purpose OF revenue, and We de-
maud that the collection Of such taxes
shall be limited 10 the necessities Of
government. honestly and economical
ly administered.
The high republican tariff is the prin-
cipal cause Of the unequal distriDu-
ton Of wealth, it is a system Of taxa
ton which makes the rich richer and
the poor poorer; under its operations
tho American farmer and laboring
man are the chief sufferers; II raises
the cost Of the necesssries Of life 10
IN. ~. but does not protect their prod
rot or wages.
The farmer sells largely in free mar
kets and buys almost entirely in the
protected markets.
In the most highly protected indus
tries. such as cotton and wool. steel
AID iron the wages of the laboEers
are the lowest paid in any OF our in
duztrlrs
We donOUnce the republican pre-
tense on that subject and assert that
American wages are established by
competitive conditions and not by the
tariff
We favor the immediate downward
revision of tho existing high and. in
many cases, prohibitive tariff duties,
insisting that material reductions be
speedily made upon the necessaries OF
life. Articles entering into competi.
ton with trust controlled products and
articles Of American manufacture
which are sold abroad more cheaply
than at home should be put upon the
free list
We recognize that our system OF
tariff taxation is intimately connected
with the business of the country and
We favor the ultimate attainment Of
the principles we advocate by legisia-
tiCn that will not injure or destroy legi-
innate @dustry
We denounCe the action OF President
Taft in vetoing the bills 10 reduce the
tariff In the cotton wooden. metals and
chemical schedules and the farmers
free list bill. all Of which were design
cd TO give immediate relief TO the
ma sos from the cxactions OF the
trusts
The republican party while prom
isi.g tariff revision. has shown by its
tariff legislation that such revision Is
not to be in the peoples interest and
having been faithless to It's pledges
OF 1905 IL should no longer enjoy ths
confidence Of the nation We appea
10 the American people 10 support us
in our demand for a tariff for revenue
only.
HIGH COST OF LIVING.
The high cost Of living Is a seriou,
problem ia every American home Tn,
republican party. in its platform. al
tCmpts 20 escape from responsibility
for present conditions by denying tina
they are due to protective tariff W,
take issue with them on this subiec
nnG charge that excessive prices resll
- a large measure from the high tar
~ laws enacted and maintained by tht
republican party and from trusts a.
commercial ConspiraCies fostCrcd ant
encouraged by such laws. and we as
s,rt that no substantial relief can p,
secured for the people until impor
. l..
materially reduced and Aesa crimina
Conspiracies broken up
ANTITRUST LAW.
\ private monopoly Is indefensibl
ana iutgl'rable. We therefore favo
the vigorous enforcement Of the erin
i.al as well as the civil law agains
trust and trust officials, and deman
the enactment of such additional les
i5lation as may be necessary to max
II impossible for private monopol
TO exist in the United States.
We favor the declaration by law q
the conditions upoa which corporation
shall be permitted TO engage in intel
state trade, including among other;
the prevention Of holding companie.
Of interlOcking directors, Of stock va
tering OF discrimination in price. an
the control by any one corporation G
SO large proportion Of any industr
as &C. make II menace TO Competitiv
conditions.
We condemn the action OF the r,
publican administration in compromi
Ing with the Standard oil company an
the tobacco trust and its failure 70 IL
woke the criminal provisions Of III
antitrust law against the officers {
those corporations after the court he
declared that from the undispute
facts in the record they had violate
the criminal provisions OF the law.
We regret that the Sherman ant
trust law has received a judicial COZ
structiou depriving It OF much OF II
efficacy and We favor the enactment, {
legislation which will restore IN
statute the strength OF which Il ha
been deprived by such Interpretation
RIGHTS OF STATES.
We believe in the preservation an
maintenance in their full strength an
Integrity Of the three coordina;
branches Of the fedora, government
the executive the Ieg{SI live ana 81