The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1926-12-23

the farmer temporary relief, but it
would revert on the American consum-
ing public. The American masses
would have to pay the gains the far
mer gets. London and Liverpool con-
troll the worlds markets in which the
American farmer has to sell his sur
plus, and no cooperative plan can
change it. This discussion has been
going on for years, ever since the Har-
ding Coolidge administrations have been
in effect it has been material for inter-
esting discussions, and has kept the
farmer believing he is going to get re-
lief, but so far has utterly failed. But
it has been good camouflage dope for
years to keep the public's mind off the
main issues.
l feel it is about time for the Amer
lean people to look the situation fairly
in the face, and go after the trouble
with open hands and gloves off. There
is no question in my mind where our
trouble lies. 1t is in too high tariff,
and in railroad rates being too high.
Tariff should be reduced on all com
modities from SO to 80 per cent. This
would give our. manufacturers plenty
of margin to pay labor high wages, and
give the consuming public piece Of
goods at reasonable price and still
have a nice profit left for the manufac-
turer. Why was it necessary when
the Harding administration got in pow
er to make the highest schedule of tariff
prices in the history of our country?
Was the administration afraid of a
bankrupt world taking their business
from them, with over one half of the
worlds resources, and three fourths of
the worlds machinery, and over half
of the worlds securities within our Dor
ders? Or was it because the American
people had been prosperous, and the
producing classes had been prosperous
and had good bank accounts. Money
was cheap, goods were high. At the
ware houses and retail stores We're
practically empty, and when the big
Interests got in power they saw their
chance to build a tariff wall around our
country and force the masses of people
to pay outrageous prices for what they
had to have. Consequently, the big
manufacturers have in the past six
years practically accumulated all the
wealth from the masses from the war
period time.
The railroads went hand in hand
with other big business during the
war period, with high costs of all kinds
The freight and passenger rates We're
raised to meet the conditions, and now
they should be reduced. Passenger and
Pullman car rates should be reduced
SO per cent. and freight rates should
be reduced from 33 to 80 per cent, but
during the last two Administrations the
big interests and the railroads have
controlled Congress. Big business
wants high tariff, and the railroads
consume over 60 percent of the steel
and iron manufactured, and they are
satisfied to pay double freight rates for
what they haul, and the consuming pub
lie pays the bills.
These are the conditions that prevail
ed during the Harding and Coolidge
Administrations. The so-called Big
Business and the railroads have accum-
ulated the earnings of the Nation and
even more that that, the have gathered
in their fold, practically all the profits
from the masses of the people of the
war period.
How long will these conditions last?
they will last as long as the big inter
ests and railroads can control Congress
and the Senate. They got hard slap
the last election but possibly great
! manufacturing States like Pennsylva-
mia and Illinois, the big Interests may
be able to spend a few millions out of
the billions they accumulate, to send a
few new members to Washington to
keep them in control. This is matter
that will be determined when the new
| Senate meets.