Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 October 1902 — THE FIRST OF THE ROORBACKS [ARTICLE]

THE FIRST OF THE ROORBACKS

The following dispatch appeared In the Indianapolis News on Sept. 26 under the heading “The Coal Trust Protected —The Dingley Tariff Act Has Killed the Importation of Anthracite:” Washington, Sept. 26.—According to the bureau of statistics, only one ton of anthracite coal was imported into the United States during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1901. Since the Dingley act —levying a duty of 67 cents a ton on coal—passed, there has only been a total of 6,609 tons imported. Under the Wilson bill there was a total of 149,748 tons imported in the year 1896 alone. The Wilson tariff on coal was 40 cents, which was increased 27 cents by the Republican congress. It, therefore, seems that the coal trust has constdeTahle protection from the Dingley tariff bill.” Persons informed as to the schedules Of the .Dingley tariff law know that there is not a cent of tariff on anthracite coal, a statement of fact easily corroborated by any one who will read the law, yet an effort is here made to show that protection caused the coal strike and the high price of anthracite. It Is fortunate that the great Pennsylvania strike has to do with an Industry entirely unprotected. It disposes entirely of the fake issue of tariff reform as a method of trust busting. The demagogues were able in 1892 to make thousands believe that protection caused the Homestead strike, because there was a tdriff on steel. But here is a ease in which tneir sophistries answer themselves.

Democratic newspapers, led by the state organ, continue to deny that the Republicans assumed control of the fiscal affairs of Indiana in 1895. Beginning with January, 1895, the Indiana legislature, ths revenue raising and revenue appropriating power, was Republican in both branches. Beginning with the same date the state finance board, which has In hand all payments on the state debt, was centrolied by Republicans, the vote standing two to one. The claim that this is not control of fiscal affairs Is as well founded as most of the arguments In defense of the record of Democratic leadership on the state debt. « a