Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-26

from a grateful people the commenda-
ton. Well done, thou coed and faith
full servant
in this great country, which boasts
Of a wealth OF one hundred and thirty
billion as against eighty billion for
Great Britain and Ireland. sixty-five bill
lion for France, and sixty billion for
Germany, all are conscious that too
large a part OF our wealth has been
secured by a small percentage of our
population and that the cost of living
rises faster than the average income
The principal cause of all this is TO
/ be found in the tariff statutes, and in
the combinations restraining trade and
competition, created for the purpose of
wringing from the public every dollar
which the tariff statutes make posi-
/ BILE
+ THE average OF duties under the
tariff of 1889 was 81. per cent. Now
the average is so per cent.
In 1912 the average was 80 per
/ cent in 1876 it was reduced TO % per
| cent which worked so well that a re-
duction to an average of 20 per cent
followed in 1857.
! Probably 1t would never have been
again increased but for the war, for the
census Of 1860 disclosed a higher per-
centage OF increase Of national wealth
during the preceding 10 years than for
any other decade before or since. and
the percentage Of increase in capital
invested in manufacturing was also
greater than during any similar period
in our history.
Protected interests benefited by two
increases during the war. the first to
an average of 371l2 per cent, the second
to AZ per cent. That high average
then excused only by the exigencies OF
the war, is exceeded now. as the av
erage is nearly so per cent.
THE republican party has thus gear
ed the machinery Of government TO en-
rich the few at the expense of the
many. That increase of 80 per cent in
the average has taken thousands Of
millions from the general public and
devoted it to the creation Of swoller
fortunes.
"An awakening of the people led the
republican national convention Of 1906
by its platform 10 promise a revision
True, IT did not in terms promise {
revision of the tariff downward, but III
assurance of a revision Of the tariff by
special session of congress to be
called Immediately after the Inaugural
'tion Of the next president was intend
led to hold the tariff reduction repub
licans in line, while the trick in th'
IphraseOlogy was TO be made clear t
1.-THE tariff benefciaries.
in vain did the people demand o.
congress the fulfillment of the repub
lican pledge, for the masters of tha
Hparty-the protected nterests-insisteC
upon the pound of flesh nominated il
the bond. And it was yielded. Con
/ gress passed and the president signed
the Payne-Aldrich bill.
lone outcome of this breach of faitl
was a democratic house, which has act
ed so wisely and cOurageously as Il
arouse the enthusiasm of the people
and inspire the democratic party witt
justifiable hope of early opportunity t
render public service sorely needed
Under sagaCious and intrepid dem
ocratic leadership special bills have
been passed having for their purpose
a revision Of the tariff downward. ulti
mately TO a revenue basis These bill!
are known as free list, wool. cotton
metals. chemicals, sugar, and excise.
The presidents use of the veto powe
has postponed, however, the hour wher
the people shall enter into the enjoy
ment Of the relief proposed, until at
ter the Inauguration Of the next presi
dent
The temporary failure. owing TO tn,
action of the electorate of Canada. o
the effort 10 effectuate reciprocity will
, that country. is regrettable. TIL,
agreement proposed was in the inter
est Of the people Of both countries.
The movement started was in III,
right direction, because il was TOWARD
a competitive policy. Its immediat,
and laudable purpose was TO lesser
the cost Of living in each country.
! Whether later the mutual advantag,
Of our respective people shall be ap
preciated by our neighbors across tn,
border. the consciousness that We tool
the right course should content us. II
all probability, however, the sober sec
. ond thought Of the people of Canad;
! will induce consideration of the actiol
Of last year. The temporary reduction
Of the duty on cement by the CANADIAN
opponents of reciprocity is signifcan
OF the results that in due course ma,
be expected
All honor TO the democratic house
which stood for the good OF the na
ticn, as a whole. and prevented the re
peal Of the reciprocity act. thus leay
, ing the door open TO Canada if its pee
: pie shall elect TO accept our proposal
For the ills that flow from that tai
III increase from an average of 20 De
cent TO so. the republican party is re
. sponsible. For the continuance OF tina
: rate against the efforts of a Democrat
congress. a republican president is L
blame. II is evident. therefore. tina
. relief can come only through the eleC
> ton of a democratic president an
\ congress.