The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-02-12
PARTY THAT CAN DEVISE PLAN
To REDUCE THEM WILL WIN
IN NEXT ELECTION.
SO BELIEVE THE LEADERS
Democrats Say Reduced Tariff VIII
Solve Problem, Republicans Assert
This viii Lower Wages Also-Pro-
gresslves Have Other ideas.
BY GEORGE CLINTON.

the three parties, Republican, Demo
cratic and Progressive, say that the
party which can present the best plan
to 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 Inn
portance, they are thinking mainly on
the price OF beef, butter. eggs. clothes
and machinery.
In measure the Democrats seem
to believe that the high cost of living
can be reduced by reducing the tarif.
Now just as naturally as rain falls out
Of an overburdened cloud, the Repub-
licans answer that il the customs are
cut prices will go 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
to solve the high cost of living and
that 1t is not to be found through the
tariff. The duties, they say, should be
cut to a 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 or living without reducing the
rate OF wages.
All Studyino the Problem.
The high cost of living is to be in
vestigated by non-partisan body. but
whether it will reach any conclusions
of value OF course remains to be seen.
The Democrats are 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 &C
complish the thing which seemingly
AL people want TO be accomplished.
The Progressive party, as has been
noted before in these dispatches. has
established working bureau for the
purpose of studying the problem of
the high prices for food, raiment and
rent. There are a good many men
and women connected with the Pro-
sressive party who are at once econ
omists 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 eongested 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 can go ahead along
these lines of investigation il they
choose TO, but they will find that the
lines will lead into the realm of sup
ply and demand and natural causes
generally. It is only a few of the
Republicans who say this as final an
swer- There are leaders III the
party in Washington who maintain
that the high cost of living is the real
big problem of the day and that the |
Republican party can get back into
power If it shall present 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 |
IN plenty of time to make them avail |
able in the congressional campaign |
one year from next fall.
Who VIII Head This Committee
Washington dispatches have dis |
cussed thoroughly the subject of |
which school of Democratic thought |
is to Control the next senate It |
seems, as has been said in this cor
respondence before, that the Demo |
Gratis Hho say they are of the more
progressive school will be in the ma
jority OF their party in the senate and |
will control the committee assign
menfH and other matters of party mo-
meDs. The subject of seniority of |
service and the claim which it has to
recognition in the matter of commit
lee chairmanships also has been dis
cUesed and reasons have been given
way Senator Tillman, who is the rank
rg Democrat on the committee on
Interstate commerce. may not be
chosen by his Democratic colleagues
70 preside over that important body
II Mr. T'illman prefers the chair
of the naval committee, on
which he is at present the ranking
OF the minority side, and fore
goes all claim TO the craftsmanship OF
he committee on interstate com
nerce. who will be named as chair
nan Of this committee which probably
viii have before Il for consideration
he most important legislation to be
by the Democratic admin
stratfon?
II was The interstate commerce
committee ,,f the senate which formu-
ated the railroad rate legislation and
which brought into being the Interstate
commerce commission. 1t deals large
y with trust matters because the out
'ut OF trusts enters into the com
narra bPfvfpen the afates If Ia