Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1913-02-13
PARTY THAT CAN DEVISE Plan
TO REDUCE THEM WILL WIN
IN NEXT ELECTION.
so BELIEVE TIE LEADERS
Democrats Say Reduced Tariff Viii
solve Problem, Republicans Assert
This Will Lower Wages Aiso-Pro-
cressEves Have Other Ideas.
Rx aEoRGE CLINTON.

&8LC anu 14OSA O0o4SOp SSS
party which can present the best plan
60 bring down the high cost OF living
will be the party to be assured OF VIC
tory the next time there is a chance
for the people to vote on national is
sues. The leaders add that while the
parties and the people are talking
about the tariff, the trust, currency
battleships and other things OF I'M
portance, they are thinking mainly on
the price of beef, butter, eggs. clothes
and machinery.
In q measure the Democrats seem
% believe that the high cost OF living
can be reduced by reducing thet ar1n.
Now Just as naturally as rain falls out
OF an overburdened cloud, the Repub-
Kcans answer that IL the customs are
cut prices will so down, but wages
will. go down with them and that men
with less money will be no better on
with low prices that they were with
more money and high prices. The
PrOgressives say that there is a way
70 solve the high cost of living and
that it is not to be found through the
tariff. The duties, they say, should DO
cut to q considerable degree, but not
as much as the Democrats desire, and
that this cut with other things yet to
be definitely determined will reduce
the cost of living without reducing the
rate Of wages. - 20
All Studying the Problem.
The high cost of living is to be in7
Vestigated by a non-partisan body, but
whether it will reach any conclusions
Of value Of course remains to be seen.
The Democrats r going to study high
prices in connection with legislation
affecting the trusts, the tariff and the
currency. They say that the trusts
keep up the high cost Of living and
that the tariff is the mother of the
trusts, and so they hope through trust
legislation and tariff legislation to 40
eomplish the thing which seemingly 4
m people want to be accomplished.
The Progressive party, az has been
noted before in these dispatches, has
established q working bureau for the
purpose of studying the problem OF
the high prices for food, raiment and
rent. There r a good many men
and women connected with the Pro
Hessive party who are at nee econ
0mists and social service workers.
These men and women have studied
the economic problems in the hope
that they might find some means of
relieving the condition Of the poor in
the congested districts Of the big
cities where wages are comparatively
small, families are large and prices
are big.
Some Of the Republicans say that
the Progressives a go ahead along
these lines of investigation If they
choose to, but they will find that the
lines will lead into the realm of sup
ply and demand and natural causes
generally. 1t is only a few of the
Republicans who say this as a final an
Bwer. There are leaders in the
party in Washington who maintain
that the high cost of living is the real
btg problem of the day and that the
Republican party a get back into
power If 1t shall present a plan which
seems adequate to it's solving. For
this reason Republican economists are
to study economic conditions and to
present them to the congressional
leaders some time In the future, but
I'm plenty of time to make them avail
able In the congressional campaign
o1e year from mex fall.
Reunion Of Parties Involved.
Republicans and RrogressiVes are
&&1N discussing the matter of the pos
sibls coming together again into one
united party. There is no seeming
possibility at present that this can be
accomplished, and the leaders of both
sides apparently r Of the opinion
that Nsome time must elapse before
Overtures can be made from either
one side or the other with a view to
securing harmony and reunion. There
in some sort of a suggestion, however,
from both Republicans and Progress
siVes that there La a possibility Of re-
union which may be forced by the
rank and file of the members OF the
cid party and the new party, In case
the Democratic party shall fail
through the tariff, trust and currency
legislation to do anything to bring
down high prices without bringing
GOWA W0SS6 A4SOs 4uSGS seems TO De
. feeling among the Progressive, and
the Republican leaders. that with q
continuance Of high prices a majority
Of the. people OF the north, south, east
and west would get together in a par
~ call it Republican, Progressive or
Radical, and would attempt through
K9tOs put some anti-high cost OF living
program into legislation form.
The Democratic leaders say that
Nheir method OF dealing with big com
binations Of business, the tarin and
other things win readjust economies
and keep wages virtually as they are
and put the cost Of living on q rea-
sonable basis. There is a wide DIFF
ference OF opinion between the par.
ties represented here as to the means
OF cutting the cost of things. 1t seems
Hkely that the country must wait un.
~ legislation as al present contem-
plated Is put to the test.