Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-08-19
- 1890
RALLY AT GARDINER.
CONTINUED from page two)


| enough to unsettle the stability of hi'
| business and yet entirely Inadequate t
give any relief to the consumer.
1T would be very easy for a tariff re-
vision to be such as to just exactly pu
the producer out of business without
benefitng the consumer at all. A differ.
| ence of half a cent yard might make
all the difference in the world to the
manufacturer 1t might determine the
question of profit or loss on his total
sales, corresponding gain, however,
would not come to the consumer but
would be soaked up somewhere between
by the middleman. In other words, the
tariff revision might destroy the produc-
ers prosperity and not reduce the cost
of living to the consumer a particle The
difference would be that he would either
be buying English goods instead OF
American goods, which would mean q
throwing of labor out of employment in
this country, or that he would be buying
American goods which yielded no profit
to the producer which would mean ulti-
mately a restriction of industry or a
lowering of wages. The same principle
applies to great many products OF
Maine
at is extremely doubtful whether the
free importation of farm products from
Canada where the surplus Is not very
great would have any appreeiable effect
on the price which the consumer pays for
the food on his table On the other hand
1t would materially affect the Main farm
err by keeping the price of his products
down in his sales to the middleman. II
is all question of that great margin be-
tween the producer and the consumer
which makes it impossible for the con-
sumner to secure the benefit of slight re-
auctions. A farmer would get less for
his potatoes but the mill operative, the
ultimate consumer, would pay what he
has always paid. The difference would
be absorbed somewhere by the middle
men In between.
Take the case of print paper. This
was put on the free list some time ago.
A great mass of newspapers throughout
the country pay as much for their paper
as they ever did and of course the ulti-
mate consumer. that is. the newspaper
reader. has received no benefit whatever.
On the other hand Canadian competition.
has been just enough to make the mar
ket weak and uncertain for the domes-
tic manufacturer and the continuance of
free paper tends to restrict the extension
of paper manufacture in this country and
to stimulate its transfer across the Dor
der
1.-THE people are going to be misled it
they entertain the idea that the Demo-
cratic revision of the tariff is going to
lessen their price for living expenses.
IF my views on this tariff question
are sound and you agree with them and
you had a chance to vote yet or no on
the passage of the bill how would you
vote? Of course, individuals are invoiv-
ed and you vote for the proposition by
voting for an individual. Don't let that
distract you from the issue. In the eyes
of the rest of the country you are voting
on the tariff question. Your vote will
be taken as an expression OF opinion 1t
will be yes or no so far as the other
states are concerned because they don't
know individuals. 1t will be approval or
disapproval and that it what you are
actually voting on
"A Democratic vote in this CAM
paign may seem to be vote for Mr..
Pattangall personally, and, conse-
quently. vote for his ideas regard
ing the best interests of the Third
district. AS a matter of fact, how
ever, a Democratic vote in this cam
paign is a vote for Mr.. Underwood
of Alabama, and his particular ideas
as to how the Third district should
be treated. Those who have the well
fare of Maine at heart should recog-
nize that this is not contest between
two Maine citizens, each of whom
presumably wishes to do all in his
power for the welfare of his own COM
munity. Quite the contrary. The is
sue is between group of Democratic
leaders largely from the South who
frame the policy Of the Democratic
party regardless of the protests of any
individual and a group of Republicans
who frame their party policy accord
ing to the long established principles
of that party in the matters of tariff,
currency and other commercial mat
tiers. To which group do the citizens of
Maine wish to entrust their interests ?
There is no way to get out of it. You
are voting for one group or the other
either for the tariff or against it. Look
what happened in Connecticut The
state of Connecticut sent solid
Democratic representation to the pres.
ent Congress. When in caucus on the
tariff bill, they attempted to do some
Maine wish to entrust their interests
of their state the riot act was reat
10 them with a loud voice. They were
told that they were not there to lool
| out for Connecticut but look out fol
| the Democratic party that 1t was VI
| to them to vote as they were told ant
| this they promptly did like little men
Let no Democratic voter make
mistake. If he wants New England
to take a back seat and leave com
plete control for the Southern Demo
Gratis he should vote the Democratic
ticket, otherwise not. 1t makes n,
difference what are the particula
ideas or the particular promises of TIL
Democratic candidate. If he wer
elected they would count for nothing
His drafts on the Bank of nationa
prosperity in favor of the citizens o
Maine would only be honored w-hel
certified by Mr.. Underwood and tina
Mr. Underwood is not doing mucl