The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1912-02-20

/ one result of this "elevating" process
in Lawrence, Mass, where men. wo-
men and children are met with bay.
onets when they protest against a cut
of % cents a week in their wages of
$6, 81 and IS week.
The "elevating" process is to be
seen, in the flower of it's triumph. in
the steel trusts mills, where men are
forced TO labor 72 hours week for
wages paid laborers in free trade Eng.
land for Sc hours work.
"Elevating and dignified," truly.
A46ig Difference
Millions for defense; not one cent
for tribute"
The American Woolen trust spent
hundreds of thousands of dollars in
magazine advertising, the purpose of
which was to educate the people into
seeing the justice of Schedule *"
and the way it is making sheep rails.
ers rich by paying big prices for wool.
and the way it is selling cloth for less
than such a patriotic concern ought
to charge for it.
And then, when the workers in the
mills objected to a cut of a few cents
week in their wages, the trust EN-.
ployed an army of guards to protect
its mills, When the state shortened
the hours of labor, wages, of course,
had to come. down, for of course that
patriotic company could not pay %
cents per week to its operatives in
order that they might have shorter
hours and still get the same old $6 a
week.
"The Story of the Extra Session"
Congressman Ebenezer j.. Hill,
standpat protectionist of Connecticut,
made speech in the House recently
which he considered a gem. He ex-
tolled the Payne-Aldrich law to the
! skies, proclaimng in loud voice it
had nothing to do with high prices.
Mr.. Hill thought so well of his speech
that he named it "the Story of the Ex-
ira Session." and sent it broadcast
among his constituents, asking them
to read it and to comment upon it.
Some of the comments, however, were
not what Mr.! Hill expected The fol-
lowing comment sent in from resi-
dent of Stratford, Conn, for instance,
must have been severe jolt to Mr..
Hills standpat nerves;
MY wife and came to New York
by steamer, having with us seven yards
of serge cloth, which was to be made
into a dress for my wife. This cloth
cost in London $11.90, and was de-
clared dutiable by the customs officers.
On those seven yards of cloth | was
Obliged to pay double duty---a duty
Oh the weight and duty on the value
--44 cents pound and 55 per cent
ad valorem. These duties amounted
to 1924, making the cost of the $11.9O
article, $21.14.
"A tax like this Is unjust and excess
i've, and cannot be defended. If this Is
"A sample of the provisions of the pres
ent tariff law | am not surprised at the
universal dissatisfaction that prevails
with regard to 1t, and hope the Demo
Gratis will succeed ~ changing this
law with some regard for the inter-
est of the consumers"
Profits of Beef Trust
The beef trust packers declare that
during the years 1907, 1908, 1903 and
1910 their net profits from fresh meat
were only one.eighth of one cent
pound.
In 1907 the reail price of fresh meat
was from ll,S to 1873 per cent higher
than In 1900, while the price of cat.
tie declined in that period from $92.46
to $Sl.53. And while dressed beef
was half a cent pound dearer In 1910
than in 1909, the price of beeves was
lower, declining from SO per hundred
pounds in 1909 to $7.55 in 1910.
ANY self-respecting COW. says the
New York World has the right to won
der who got the extra difference be-
tween her price on the hoof and her
price dressed.
Tariff is a Tax
The word tax" should be substitut.
ed for the word tariff" The people
would then understand the question
better Fewer people would then ac-
oept the protectionist theory that the
way for them to increase their pros
perity would be to increase the tax on
everything they eat, wear or use. To
use the word tax" instead OF "tariff"
would be to make protection appear RI
diculous to the wage Garner, Instead
of saying the tariff on WOOL" it