The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1922-10-12
THE NEW TARIFF

Every farmer, market gardener, fruit grower and
live stock man knows the unwarranted and extor-
tionate prices often charged consumers for dairy,
farm, garden and orchard products. They know
they are not in any way responsible for this prof.
iteering, although it is represented to the consumer
that they are. They know because Of this misrep-
resentation the farming classes are ~unjustly re-
garded by many people to be a class of robbers"
who are getting rich at the expense of the buying
public.
Exactly the same game" is being worked in con-
nection with the tariff as has been worked these
many years in connection with prices charged con-
sumers for farm products. These interests which
are the real profteers, which thrive and fatten by
charging the consumer all the traffic will bear and
seek to escape responsibility by shifting the blame
to someone else, are the ones who are now claiming
the tariff will necessitate a tremendous increase in
retail prices.
They are going to charge the consumer all they
think he will stand and attribute the increased
charges to the tariff rather. than to their own inor-
dinate greed and their ability, in many cases, to
get away with it." IL "robber" prices are now
charged the American consumer they can no more
be attributed justly to the protective tariff than the
extortionate prices charged the consumer for farm
products and the blame attributed to the farmer.
The consumer is aware that there are certain in
terests which never let an opportunity 60 by to
boost prices. If there is a report of a late cold
snap, there is an immediate boost in prices of food
and fruit and canned goods upon. the ground that
all the seasons prospective crop is killed and there
is bound TO be a scarcity. If there is a threatened
railroad strike, prices are boosted upon the plea
that there may be such a suspension of Transports
ton that it will be impossible to keep up the nor
NAL supply of goods. If there is a coal strike,
prices are boosted, notwithstanding the fact that
there may be an immense quantity OF coal in stor-
age. Illustrations could be multiplied indefinitely.
The American consumer is perfectly aware Of these
gross abuses. He is perfectly aware that he is the
helpless victim OF this indefensible practice.
In a great many cases these interests which have
always seized every opportunity and excuse to in
crease prices in order to enrich themselves, are
now launching a price boosting campaign upon the
plea that the protective tariff makes it necessary
for them to do so. In this campaign to mulct the
buying public they are being assisted at every point
by the Democratic party by its literature and in its
speakers. The purpose Of the interests in promot-
ing this campaign is to enrich themselves. The
purpose Of the Democratic party in promoting this
campaign is to make political capital which they
hope will reap them reasonable returns in the way
OF an increase in representation in Congress. The
prohteering interests and the Democratic party are
working hand in glove, the first to blk the public
and the second to claim that such hiking is neces-
sary under a protective tariff, and the peoples hope
Of relief is through the election OF a Democratic
Congress that will repeal the protective tariff and
re-enact free trade.
The proof that, the new tariff duties will not nee
essitate an increase in retail prices is furnished by
the enemies Of the tariff bill themselves. They
claim on one hand that the new duties will not
amount to more than S400,00O,o00 year, a state
ment which is approximately correct. Then they
claim that the new duties will add $4,000, 0O0, 900
or more to the living costs Of the country. This
makes the increase in living costs, which they at