Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-09-25
Tho Democratic Myth.

The Democratic Myth.
Reduction in the high cost Of living.
as promised in the Democratic plat
form of 1912, is a myth. declared Rep
resentative Julius Kahn Of Cal. rank
ing minority member Of the House
military affairs committee, in a state
ment given out in Washington. Fri
day.
I'm 1912 the Democratic party prom
Used the people Of the United States to
reduce the high cost of living" said
Mr.. 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 plat
form:
1.-The high cost Of living is serious
problem in every American home.
The Republican party in its platform,
attempts to escape from responsibility
for present conditions by DENYING that
they are due to a protective tarln.
We take issue with them on this sub
ject, and charge that excessive prices
result in a large measure from the
high tariff laws enacted ana NAM
tained by the Republican party and
from trusts and commercial consplra-
cies fostered and encouraged by such
laws, and we assert that no supstan-
tial relief can be secured Tor the peo-
Die without import duties on the nee,
essaries of life are materially reduced
and these criminal conspiracies broken
up
Like many another plank it seems
to have been inserted in the platform
in the nature of 'molasses to catch
flies.'
Instead of reducing the price of liv-
ing under this Democratic administra-
ton the cost Of food products has
constantly increased. Uncle Sam him.
self feels the pinch. He is the great
est purchaser of commodities in the
United States. He can buy cheaper
than anybody else because he buys in
such large quantities. In 1913 at the
time the Democrats took possession of
the country and promised to reduce
the cost of living he was paying
twenty-three cents a day per ration
for every enlisted man in the United
States Army. That was the cost OF
the Army ration at that time. The ra-
ton itself has not been changed for
about eight years. The same articles
of food that were given the soldiers IN
1909 are supplied to them today. Act
ing Quartermaster General H. G.
Sharpe, who testified before the Com
mittee on Military Affairs last March,
said that for the year 1917 the cost of
each ration would be thirty cents. It's
cost has increased steadily since 1913.
Every year saw an increase until now
the ration amounts to thirty cents per
day. There are approximately 100000
men in the regular army and the ma
tional guard at the present time. An
increase of seven cents per ration
means that the taxpayers of Uncle
Sam have to pay $17.50o a day more
than they would have had to pay in
1918 to feed Uncle Shareholders. At
that rate the increased cost to feed the
army amounts each month to $525,000,
or $s,soo.o0o per year more than when
the Republicans were on control. The
taxpayers are called upon to meet this
heavy increase. But it is not only the
food for the. Army, that has increased
In cost. The cost Of clothing, shoes
and equipment generally has gone up
in proportion.
1.-THE records Of the government dis
close the fact that under the Under
wood tariff bill. which is probably the
lowest tariff this country has ever
had, prices have advanced steadily
and the end is not yet.
1.-THE Democratic party proclaimed
in 1912 that the protective tariff was
responsible for the high cost Of living
It was a beautiful theory with which
they fooled many of the voters of this
country. The people are wiser today
Under Democratic free trade prices
have risen to the highest point in
American history.
to- ha Ia he