The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-10-09

81 ull HOOu lllLll ollu W. bSltSNS SllSS
ore honestly convinced that the prin-
ciples for which they stand are cor
rect. We believe the Democrats be-
lieye in a low tariff and that many
Of them believe in absolute free
trade, at least the history Of the par
ty shows that they have gone on rec
ord as favoring absolute free trade.
AS early as 1856 the Democratic par
ty declared for free trade and the
tariff plank of the platform Of tina:
year Is as follows: 1.-THE time has
come for the people Of the United
States to = declare in favor of free
seas and progressive FREE TRADE
throughout the world, and, by SOL
cmn manifestations, to place their
normal influence at the side Of their
successful example"
They not only advocated free trade
in those early days but they then
claimed to be progressive"
If its policies had been adopted in
that early day and maintained to
the present time We would have had
no factories of any consequence in
this country. We would have re-
manned primatiye tillers Of the soil
and wood choppers %bartering our
farm products and natural resources
such as timber, coal, oil, ETC., for the
manufactured goods Of Europe. The
tin plate industry is the best proof
we have to offer as to this assertion.
1t will no doubt be admitted by the
Democratic leaders that there was
no tin plate industry in this country
until q protective tariff was placed
on tin plate, and that no industry
has grown faster and become more
important in such u brief period of
time as this great American indus
try.
The Democratic platforms have
been handed down to us from time
to time oscillating from! absolute
free trade to tariff for revenue only.
We have been promised great
things by the Democratic party If
we would only let them try their the
DRY on the public. The people decid-
ed to give their boosted tariff the
Dry a test and elected Grover Cleye-
land and u Democratic congress to
carry out these promises. They had
full sway Of the national govern
ment and enacted the Wilson tarirf
bill and they almost get blue In the
face when a Republican newspaper
throws it up to them"
They seem to want to forget it
and we would let them II they did
not, after a lapse of twenty years,
come before the people with the
same promises and the same identi-
cal scheme to try 1t again. We say
we have respect for their honesty OF
purpose and believe they believe in
this kind Of a tariff, but we cannot
have the proper amount of patience
to stand idly by and wait for the
proof of the fallacy which will sure
ly come in the enforcement of the
Underwood tariff law.
1t is useless to repeat these things
to the older citizens Of the country.
They know what conditions prevail
cd though the Cleveland panic but
there are thousands Of younger vot-
ers who have not been brought face
to face with these conditions. They
read about them possibly in the
school histories and in the ncwspa-
pers but they do not comprehend tbs
serious consequences of such a ma
tional policy like those who nav at
tually experienced them. Young vot"
ers before you vote to send a Demo-
crat to congress thereby endorsing
the Underwood tariff bill ask your
father or mother what conditions we
had the last time this country tried
such q tariff law. When you do this
you will undoubtedly vote for the
only protectionist who has a chance
Of being elected and that is Julian
C. Hearne on the Republican ticket.