Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-09-03

Il wish to say to my progressive
brethen that not only We're all these
thing and many others done by the
Republican party, before a third party
came into the field, but also that the
direct primary, initiative, referendum
and other progressive measures enact
ed in Republican states by Repubi-
can Legislatures, prior 10 that time.
OF the men who originated and or
ganized the progressive movement. /
tbelieved most of them are still in the
Republican ranks, such as Borah of
idaho, Hadley Of Missouri. Cooper and
Smeot , of ; Wisconsin. Cummings,
Greene Towner and Woods of Iowa.
The list is too long to recite now.
These men believe that the ends they
seek to attain and the legislation. both
both in nation and state, they wish to
have enacted can be. more surely and
speedily secured through the Republi-
can party. The Republican party is
responsive to this moveme Mt. when the
Republican Congressional Committee
was organized, last week Hon Frank
p. Woods of Iowa, one of the earliest
progressive Republicans. was elected
chairman"
"Raciproeity, of the kind We now
have never was and is not now the
policy of the Republican party. when
the matter was pending before Con-
gress, and the Republicans controlled
the House it was voted down as Of
ten as presented; but when the Demo-
cratic party came into power il adopt
ed the policy of reciprocity and secured
its passage through the House" AS
a party policy, the present reciprocity
act is Democratic policy.
The pending tariff bill is said by its
sponsors TO provide a competitive tar
iff. l think the people generally re-
gard it as a free trade bill with spe-
cial favors to the South. There is no
other protection in it. The votes it pro-
vides are revenue votes. Its character
is significantly indicated by the words
omitted from it's title which omitted
words are these to encourage the in
dustries of the United States There
is no thought for the welfare of you
people of Maine in this bill, and no
provision other than provisions to your
detriment. And the best way and the
only practical way in which you may
protect against it is by sending Mr.
John A. Peters, a protectionist, to Con-
gress."
The bill was agreed upon in a
secret caucus, and men We're dra-
gooned into it's support by party
pressure and the powerful whip of
patronage. 1t was not ereditable OF
elevating spectacle.
THE bill, it is declared, will re-
la Of IN, he
United States, and il will, as did d
similar bill in 1S93ls97. Ii does not
open abroad the way fer the sale of
a single dollars worth Of our products
1t says To the world, there is /
great market now freely opened 10
you. Come in with your cheap pro-
ducts made by undergrad labor of
men, and especially of women and
children, who work long hours for
pitiful sums. We do not ask that you
afford in return any advantage to the
American people
From the figures, ! have submitted
to you relative to your potatoes. hay
and dairy products, as We'll as for 9TH
er products. it is evident that this bill
attacks the American standard of liv-
ing. No one-dcnies that our Standards
of living are higher than those of 9TH
er peoples, and to maintain higher
standard of living either by an indi-
vidual or by a nation requires a bet
ter income. This we now have under
the protective policy.-But the proposed
bill will reduce the earnings and wages
of la Dor, and the return to the farm
er and business man, to approximately
the standards in the several countries
with which our people will be COM
PEELED to compete
Until the success of the Democratic
party seemed certain in 1912, there was
general and active prosperity throughout
the country. Business was good labor
was employed in full time at good wages
and the farmers We're doing well. Now
the centers of trade say business is dull,
business is Stacking up 1t is the be-
ginning Mr.. Hawley gives many Illus
Hon Nicholas Longworth narrates the
following incident, which came under his
personal knowledge. An Ohio farmer
went to the small town where he did
his business to buy new buggy. of the
same make as the one he had The dealer
asked $50 for it. The farmer objected
saying that he had paid only $50 for the
one he had Investigation proved this to
be true. The farmer had bought the bug
gy in 1898 under a Democratic admins
tration and a Democratic tariff, He had
had SEQ bushels of good corn. which he
could not sell at any price, and had
TRADED it gladly for a good $50 buggy.
but which the dealer had been unable to
sell Now said the dealer, the six
dollars increase is due to increased cost
in hard woods, and wages of labor. But
I'll tell you what IN do. If you will
bring in to me- since we have protection
again, 800 bushels of corn, | will give
you for the corn a new buggy just like
the one You have, with both single and
double harness, and best lap robe and
whip in the shop'-and still figuring he
went on-'the best farm wagon and farm
harness in the shop. a mower. hay
rake. a pitehfork and a scoop shovel. and
still feurins-if you have any more
in the pocket of your jeans l will give
you $50 in money"