The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-14

his statement is incorrect. The problem is
worldwide but not SO acute as in this coun-
try. The cost of living has increased in
England, a low tarfr country, but not as
greatly as .- this country 1t has increased
in Germany. a protection country, but not as
greatly as in this country, where schedules
are higher.
There are two causes of the increase in
the cost OF living in this country. One IS
IL not One is the tariff and the other is
not Find the difference between the in
crease in the United States and Great Britain
and you will find what part OF 1t is due 20
worldwide causes, and what part is due TO
the tariff
Bradstreet estimates the rise of prices of
the necessaries of life between 1897 and 1910
as IS per cent in Great Britain. Tho latter
is not free trade country. as Roosevelt and
our other standpat friends would have us
believe, but the duties are low and have lit
tie effect on the cost OF living, 80 it will be
fair TO say that increase of 20 per cent in
the cost of living in the kingdom is due to
are worldwide, and il the tariff were not one
OF the causes in the United States the in
crease here would be the same AS mat
ter OF fact. according to the same authority, it
is 53.2S per cent or twice as great as In Great
Britain heavyweight per cent increase in the
cost of living in this country, then, is due to
something not operative in Great Britain. and
% per cent to something operative in Great
Britain. The Increased production of gold
since 1896 is the worldwide cause. 1t has
increased prices in England 25 per cent It
could have increased them no more in this
country
If the Increased cost of the necessities of
life were due only to the worldwide causes.
which is the increased production of gold, the
Increase In Germany would be substantially
the same as in low tariff Great Britain. The
increase is 43 per cent. The difference be-
tween - per cent and <5 per cent is due
IT, other causes.
Colonel Roosevelt is riga in his statement
that the increased cost OF living is worldwide.
but he is wrong in saying that the entire. or
even the chief cause. is worldwide. Prices
are ID per cent higher In Germany. pro-
lection country, that in England, a low tariff
country, and 20 per cent higher in the United
States, high protection country, than in
Great Britain.
The Increased production of gold raises
! prices without injury to any. When prices
are higher because money is cheaper the stand
ard of living is not lowered.
| The tariff and the trusts, which are fostered
| 10y it, increase prices with injury to all but
few. When prices increased without a
corresponding increase in the supply of the
purchasing medium the standard Of living is
lowered
! About half the increase in the necessaries
/ OF life causes no suffering This is due to
worldwide causes.
! About half the increase causes suffering to
al but few already rich manufacturers This
/ is due to the tariff and the trusts.
! Relief can be found by lowering the tarirr
as suggested by the Democratic candidate
Roosevelt and Taft not only offer no relief, but
deny that the tarir is the chief cause Of the
unnecessary increase in the cost OF living