The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1913-09-11
Who Won at ATmagGddOn?

fought last year anu, as III Inc Od'ue
fought there centuries ago, minority
held the field. But the history OF the
old battle, told in the Book Of Judges,
is that the minority got what it fought
for. How different is the result Of the
Armageddon Of last year, Senator Will
liams is telling neatly every day now,
in the large participation he is taking
in the senate tariff debates, as the
member in charge Of the agricultural
schedule proposed by the finance com
mittee. Armageddon looks now, to the
Mississippi senator, as Blenheim looked
to the poetic narrator Of the glory
and valor Of that field, yet who, when
asked what good had been served BY
it, could make no answer. AS the
poet saw it, the only answer possible
was: why, that l do not know"
said he, but twas a famous victory"
Senator Williams is daily making
last years Armageddon famous in
the same way, in sharp rhetorical
oulbursts concerning the voice Of
the people" for tariff reform, heard
at the late election. He sticks 10 it
that the Armageddon OF 1912 was a
famous victory" We think that the
senator, like the poet, makes it more
famous by being unable to tell why
it is so. What we admire in him
most is the perfect candor with which
he now notifies the country that there
should be no expectation of a reduc-
tion in the high cost Of living from the
passage Of the new tariff law. We
have had previous opportunity to COM
mend this candid admission, and in
Saturdays debate another was afforded
us. Senator Gronna Of North Dakota
had complained that ilteen products
OF the farm have been free listed in the
bill, to the great disadvantage Of the
American farmer. He feared Canadian
competition would lower prices, but
Senator Williams was sure that present
prices will not 60 lower on any Of these
products. "Extraneous conditions are
at work." said he, that will keep
prices up for considerable time to
come. would not be surprised il
prices 30 considerably higher in the
future" "
1t is still less than a year since
Armsgeddon; not yet time for even the
wayIaring man, though fool, to have
forgotten that the Democratic answer
to every demonstration that high prices
were due to such "extraneous infu-
ences" as trusts, pools, combinations in
restraint OF trade and for the control oi
supplies and artificial scarcities, was
that all these things were bottomed on,
and necessary part Of, a protective
tariff system. The country was told
that in destroying the roots Of that
it would be destroying the roots Of ev.
cry trust, combination and monopoly
ia trade and commerce. The greater
part oI the people refused 10 believe
this, but the minority who won at Ar
mageddon did. They accepted the ar
gument that a protective tariff was the
source Of their ills and the sum Of all
denominations, and felt that with The
coming Of new Law prices would begin
tumbling. Assured nov that prices are
marked up and maintained, not by the
tariff, but by the "extraneous infu.
ences" which were last year said to be
dependent on protective laws, but are
this year said to be independent oI
them, they must begin wondering
whether their Armageddon leaders we're
fools or demagogues. The more in
telligent among them will wonder why,
il the high cost Of living is due not to
tariffs but TO extraneous influences, -
the special session was not called to
deal with the "extraneous influences
which promote monopoly and extortion,
instead OF with tariff law which does
not promote them, and the revision oi
which can not affect them. The Mis-
sissippi senator is c0nvicting his party
Of incspaeitY, if not worse. On hi;
confession the president ana the Con
gress have been, and are, wasting pre-
cious time. Who won at Armageddoni
And what fOr7