The daily Alaskan., 1916-10-04
LIVING COST HAS
 NOT LOWERED

WASHINGTON, D. C., oct. 4- Reduction in the high cost of liv- ing, as promised in the Democratic platform of 1912, is a myth de- clared Representative Julius Kahn, or cal, ranking minority member Of tte House Military Affairs Com mittee, in statement given out here recently.
 "In 1912 the Democratic party promised the people of the Unit cd states to reduce the highi cost of living said Mir. Kahn. "They illuminated against the protective tariff and blamed the latter for contributing to the increase of prices for food products of all kinds. This is the plank of that platform:
 " The high cost of living is serious problem in every American home. The Republican party, in it's platform, attempts to es- cape rom a protective tariff. We take issue with them on this sub jec., and charge that excessive pr'cn. result in a large measure from the high tariff laws enacted and maintained by the Republican party and from trusts and conner cial coEspiracies fostered and en- couraged by such laws, and we as seyt that no substantial relief can he secured for the people without import duties on the necessaries of lie are materially reduced and these criminal conspiraciea broken u2.'
 Like many another plank it seems to have been inserted in the platform in the nature of mo lasses to catch flies,
 instead of reducing the price of living under this Democratic ad- ministration the cost of food pro- duets has constantly increased. Uncle Sam himself feels the pinch. go is the greatest purchaser of commodities in the United states. He can Ouy cheaper than anybody else because he buys ill such large quantities, In 1913 Gr the time the Democrats took possession of ths country and promised to- reduce the cost of living he was paying twen;y-three cents a day per ration for every enlisted man in the Unit ed states Army. That was the cost of the Army Taticn at that time. The ration itself has not been changed for about eight years. The same articles of fcod that were given the soldiers ill 1909 are sup piled to them today. Acting Ouartermaster General H. G.. sharpe, who testified before the
 
 Con. mittee on Military Affairs last Mlrcb, said-that for the year 1917 the cost Of each ration would be thirty cents. Its cost has increas- ed steadily since 1913. Every year saw an increase until now the "a ticn amounts to thirty cents per day. There are approximately 25O,- 900 men in the regular army and the National Guard at the present time. An increase Of seven cents Del ration means that the taXpay- CTS of Uncle Sam have to pay ST. 500 a day more than they would have had to pay in 1913 to feed Uncle Sam's soldiers. At that rate the increased cost to feed the army amounts each month to $525, ,OOO, or $6,3OO,OOO per year more than when the Republicans were in control. The taxpayers are called upon tc meet this heavy in crease. But it is not only the food for the Army that has in creased in cost. The cost of cloth ill, shoes and equipment generally has gone up in proportion. "The records of the government disclose the fact that under the Underwood tariff bill, which, is probably the lowest tariff this coun try has ever had, prices have ad- vauced steadily and the end is not yet.
 "Tho Democratic party proclaim ed !n 1912 that the protective tar if was responsible for the high cost of living. It was beautiful theory with which they fooled man os ths. voters of this country. The people are wiser today. Under Democratic free trade prices have risen t~ the highest point in Am erlcan history.
 Will the voters again be fool ed by Democratic sophistry in No vember?"