Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1915-02-20
THE OLD GUARD BACK ON THE JOB.

THE return to Congress of a number Of the old sandpat leaders from
states and districts in which Aldrch has been the ideal for a quarter of
a century Is hailed with joy by special interest press and politicians.
Business is to be revived and labor is to be rewarded.
Already the first number of the program of a new administration is an
pensmn dustr1e They ire already counting upon "a large increase
in duties all along the line" or course it will raise prices and increase
the cost of living. The consumer viii have Ito pay the piper But what of
hiatt We must have prosperity" at any price
And the Wilson administration has been disturbing business. Its
principal onense is that it has reduced the tariff.
That there should be some business disturbance following a reduction
OF the high tariff duties was inevitable. That much Of the depression vas
artificial cannot be disputed. Does any rational human being doubt that
the tarn interests would fight to the last ditch to maintain their unlaw-
fl profits? They had many times warned the public that it would be un
safe to interfere with them. 1t was a open boast of standpat statesmen
at the beginning OF tho tariff session under the present administration
that the protected interests would make the American people pay dearly
FOL their folly in the election OF 1912! that when a few million laborers
had been laid or and the balance had suffered a nut i'm their wages tina
when tn banks reduced the credit line and people were made ito feel the
pinch, they would be eager to bring Aldnch and Cannon back and beg them
to make the wheels go round"
The interests could afford to take a small present osso IN a manufac-
tured depression to restore their privileges of monopoly and huge profits
for another long high tariff period.
And o we have had u season of business depression"-a small meas
ue o 1t the logical result of tariff changes, necessary during the period
OF readtustment from the false, artificial, inflated basis to a sound, hon.
est stable basis of actual values. There was n o eason for a business de-
preston o. a radical or general character.
Democratic tariff duties on the schedule of manufactures, with the *
cepdon OF some OF the more highly finished products, accorded to those in,
dusules a lair measure o protection against foreign competition. On
wool and sugar and most of the products of agriculture, the ut a unwa-
ranted. For the most part it is true that the farmer cannot be material
ly benefited by tariff duties upon his products; but upon many things
dhhons which entue him to the same measure of protection accorded to
an American manufacturer. This he did not receive in the democratic
tariff bill. But o the whole the bill was a protective tariH measure, and
infinitely better and fairer to the American people than the Payne-AId-
rich law.
Yored industries weree ntrenehed behind the tariff duties of the Payne-
Adrch law, ranging from one to two and three hundred per cent more
NC uh tarin monSrohty "a eve be maintained. 1t may contrib
ute to the political success OF a few senators and members of congress
ron protarf states to contend for such legislation. But it is supreme
folly for great industries to hope to establish business security and rea
prosperity o n a basis of wrong and injustice.
Remember 1908, 1910 and 1912. Like conditions produce like results.
Let that not be forgotten-senator Robert M. LaFonette in LaFonetes
Weekly