Evening journal., 1912-08-01

Moulu loSlDDne luuthulttlg the COHlAHb
Of prosperity and tend to give us re-
currence Of the hard times that we had
In the decade between 1890 and 1897.
The Democratic platform declares
protection to be unconstitutional, al.
though it has been the motive and pur-
pose Of most tariff bills since 1889. and
indicates as clearly as possible the in
tention to depart from a protective
policy at once. II is true the Demo
cratic platform says that the change to
the policy Of revenue tariff is to be
made in such a way as not to injure
industry. This is utterly impossible
when we are on a protective basis, and
it is conclusively shown to be so by the
necessary effect of bills already intro.
duced and passed by the Democratic
house for the purpose of making strides
toward a revenue tariff.
Cost Of Living and Payne Law.
The statement has been widely circu-
lated and has received considerable
support from political opponents that
the tariff act Of 1909 is prominent fac
tor in creating the high cost of living.
This is not true. A careful investlga-
ton will show that the phenomenon
OF increased prices and cost Of living
is world wide In its extent and quite
as much in evidence in other countries
of advanced civilization and progress
sive tendencies as In our own.
Bitter complaints of the burden Of
increased prices and cost Of living
have been made not only in this coun-
try, but even in countries of Asia and
Africa. Disorder and even riots have
occurred in several European cities be-
cause of the unprecedented cost Of
food products. In our own country
changes have been manifested without
regard to lower or higher duties in the
tariff act of 1909. Indeed. the most
notable increase in prices has been in
the case of products where no duties
are imposed. and In some instances
in which they were diminished or re.
moved by the recent tariff act.
Effect of Excessive Tariff.
There is one respect in which high
tariff rates may make for exorbltant
prices. II the rate is higher than the
difference between the cost OF produc-
ton here and abroad, then it tempfs
the manufacturers Of this country TO
secure monopoly Of the industry and
to Increase its price as far as the ex-
cessive tariff will permit The danger
may be avoided In two ways: First.
( by carefully adjusting the tariff on
articles needing protection, so that the
manufacturer secures only enough pro.
lection to pay the scale Of high wages
which obtains and ought TO obtain in
this country and secure a reasonable
profit from the business. This may be
done by the continuance OF the tariff
boards Investigation into the facts.
which will enable congress and the
| people to know what the tariff as to
each schedule ought to be. The Amer.
lean public may rest assured that
should the Republican party be restor
ed to power in all legislative branches
all the schedules in the present tariff
OF which complaint is made will be
subjected to investigation and report
by a competent and impartial tariff
board and to the reduction or change
which may be necessary to square the
rates with the facts.
The other method OF avoiding danger
Of excessive prices from excessive du
ties is to enforce the antitrust Law
against those who combine to take ad
vantage Of the excessive tariff rates
This brings me to the discussion Of thu
Sherman act.
The antitrust law was passed to pro
vide against the organization and main
tenance OF combinations for the man
ufacture and sale Of commodities
which through restraint Of trade. eithe
by contract and agreement or by va
rious methods OF unfair competition
should suppress competition. establisl
monopoly and control prices. Tn
measure has been on the statute book
since 1880, and many times under con
struction by the courts. but not unit
the litigation against the Standard OF
company and against the American To
bacco company reached the suprem
court did the statute receive an author
itative construction which is workabl
and intelligible.
1t is the custom OF those who find
to their political interest to do so t
sneer at, as innocuous. the decree
against the American Tobacco CON
pany and the Standard Oil company
and the administration is condemne
in the Democratic platform for cor
senting to a compromise in the Stand
, ard on case. There was no comprC
mise. The Standard OIL decree was er
tered by the circuit court. and then b
! the supreme court, on the prayer Of th
! government contained in the originS
bill filed in a previous administration
Tobacco Case Was Fully Discussed.
The decree in the Tobacco case wa
reached after a full discussion and eI
I tered by the circuit court. consisting {
I four circuit judges, as a proper decre
z and the government refused to appe'
from Il because Il did not feel that
5 had grounds upon which 20 base sue
an appeal. Both DEGREES are workin
j well. Both DEGREES have introduce
5 competition. the one into branches
D the tobacco business and the other int
+ branches of the oil business The
a have not reintroduced Tuinous compel
ton. but they have affected certai
= prices in such a way as to show Il
presence Of real competition.
: The division Of the two trusts by Il
e DEGREES into several companies was M
a expected to show immediate radic
o change in the business II may tai
e some years to show all the benefits {