Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1912-07-04

OF defnocFdtlC government lOTIHufdt-
cd by Thomas Jefferson and enforc-
ed by a long and illustrious line of
democratic presidents.
TARIFF REFORM.
We declare ii TO be a fundamental
principle of the democratic party
that he federal government under
the constitution has no right or po-
wer to impose or collect tariff duties.
except for the purpose of evenu
and we demand that the collection
Of such taxes shall be limited to the
necessities Of government honestly
and economically administered.
The high republican tariff is the
principal cause of the unequal dis
tributior of wealth. it is the sys-
TEN of taxation which makes the
rich richer and the poor f%NocTer;
under its operations the American
farmer and laboring man are the
chief sufferers; the tariff raises the
cost Of the necessaries OF life to them
but Toes not protect their product
or wages. The farmer sells largely
in free markets and buys almost
entirely in the pro ected markets.
In the most highly protected indus
tries, such as cotton and wool. steel
and iron, the wages of the laborers,
the the lowest paid in any of our
industries. We dcnounce the repub-
lican pTetense on hat subject and
assert that American wages are es-
tablished by competitive conditions
and not by the tariff.
We favor the immediate down
ward revision of the existing high
and in many cases rrohibitive ia
sT duties. Insisting that material
rt1YtioD be speedily made in
the<nccefsaries of life. Articles en-
-r1Ffhg into competition with trust
controlled pr"'ucts and articles Of
manufacture which are sold abroad
more cheaply than at home, should
be put on the free list.
We recognize that u system OF
tariff taxation is intimately connect
ed with the business of the country
and we favor the ultimate attain
ment Of the principles we advocate
by legislation that will not injure
or destroy Legitimate industry.
We denounce the action of Presi-
lent Taft in vetoing measures to re-
duce the tariff in cotton wooden. met
ais and chemical schedules and the
farmers free list bill. all of which
were designated to give immediate
relief 10 the masses from the exact
ions Of the trusts.
The Republican party. while pro
missing revision, has shown by it's
tariff legislation, that such revision
is not to be in the peoples interest
and having been faithless to its
pledges of 1908, it should no longer
enjoy the confidence of the nation.
We appeal to the American people
to support us in our demand for a
tariff for revenue only.
HIGH COST OF living
The high cost Of living is a Sc
rious problem i'm every American
home. The republican party. in its
platform. attempts to escape f.
responsibility for present conditions
by denying that they are due to a
protective tariff. We take issue with
them on this subject and charge
tnat excessive prices result in a
large measure from the high tariff
laws enacted and maintained by the
republican party and from trusts and
commercial conspiraeies fostered and
encouraged by such laws. and we as
sert that no substantial relief can
be seCured Tor the people until I'M
port duties on the necessarles Of life
are materially reduced and these
criminal conspira los broken ur.
ANTITRUST LAW.
A private MONOPOLY is lndefensihle
and intolerable. We therefore fav-
or the vigorous enforcement of the
criminal as we'll as the civil law
against trust officials and demand
the enactment Of such additional
legislation as NAV be necessary to
make y impossil u FIR a private
monopoly TO exist IN the U. $.
We favor a declaration ny law of
the conditions upon which corpoT-
atlons shall be permitted 10 Engage
in interstate trade. including among
Others. the prevention Of holdins
companies. of interlocking directors.