Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 38, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1900 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

How the Glass Trust Pinch;*. The extortions of the glass trust have become so unbearable under the cover high duties Imposed by the tariff upon Imported glass that the dealers in paints and glass have been driven Into open revolt. There is no remedy for consumers except to drive the trust from under its tariff shelter. The dealers know precisely what pinches them and they have resolved to carry their grieyanc. l to the door of Congress. Congress can reduce the tax on glass without reducing the surplus In the treasury a dollar. But a remission of the tax or Its reduction to a reveuue basis would save millions of dollars to taxpayers.— Philadelphia Record. Which Is the Better Republican? Benjamin Harrison is out of office and looks at things calmly and judicially— His pre-cleetiou statement that he regarded the administration’s coloulal policy as “a serious departure from right principles’’ has been followed by a post-election declaration against the ship subsidy bill. The question naturally arises as to which is the better Republican William McKinley or Benjamin Harrison? If the latter instead of the former were now President it would be certain that the colonial policy would not be what it is, nor would a ship subsidy bill be pending, with excellent chances of success.—Des Moines Leader. I et the Truth Be Told Now. Now that the election Is over. It should be possible not only to discuss our serious national situation in the \ Philippines with candor, but also to get at and recognize the real facts of it. There has been monstrous perversion somewhere. Now that all the partisan ends desired have beeu achieved, let ! light shine into the bottom of this dark well that the truth may be revealed. The people, whose business it Is. have a right to understand all that is involved iu this enterprise of the United States.—Springfield, Mass., Republican. , >A One-S (let Treaty. One of the provisions of the Ila.v-Pauneefote-treaty is that should a vessel of the enemy enter the canal the United States shall not pursue until the lapse of twenty-four hours. Under this provision of the treaty the commerce of the isthmian canal might be utterly destroyed. The treaty forces the United States to relinquish all the rights of a belligerent on the caual iu time of war and opens the caual to the enemies of the United States. Better | have no canal than such a condition.— Dubuque Herald. Why Hie Trusts Prosper. That the trust should find phenomenal prosperity In the face of hostile law is chargeable to three causes: First, the nonfeasance of malfeasance of officials intrusted with the enforcement of the law; second, the inefficiency of existing legislative remedies, and, third, and, perhaps, chief of all, the maintenance of ether laws and national policies which annul and give the lie to all anti trust legislation.—St. Paul Globe. Standard Oil** Ohio Victory. The decision of the Ohio Supreme Court that the Standard Oil trust of Ohio is not a trust is another of those decisions that cause a loss of popular Confidence in courts. The case lias been allowed to drag along for three years, during which an anti trust Supreme Judge has been defeated for renomination, and now the case goes off under an equal division of the court—thro to three.—lndianapolis Sentinel. I'nb a Makcehlft'Pollcy. Republican high protection makes unnatural trade conditions. The attempt of Republicans to remedy evils resulting fn.ni wrong legislation by additional legislation is a makeshift policy. Trusts are to a preponderating degree due to the same tariff laws which keep down the American merchant marine. A thorough reform of the tariff laws would help the United States In a number of ways—St. Louis Republic. The Hl* We Have Amteieil. It is less fsr the morals of our owu country than “in respect of other portions of die globe to whlrh-our dominion has fmenr extebded" that'ex-Senntor Edmijuds thinks it well to have a constitutional inhibition of polygamy. His contention is evidently aimed at our subsidized subject, the Sultan of Sulu, but it shows what ills we knew not of we have rushed into.—Philadelphia Ledger. There !• No Disagreem;nt. Mr. McKinley Is quite sure that Congress will effect proper legislation on the trust question, in this opinion the trusts and Mr. McKinley are in hearty accord. The trusts are confident that they will get Just the kind of legislation they paid for.—Omaha World-Her-ald. The Foreigner and the Tax. The foreigner pays the tax. presumably, when American steel rail* are sold In England and Norway for less than they are sold in this country, but It complicates the explanation somewhat. —Sioux City Tribune. Thfe Ship SnTrTlrty Bill. These two facts condemn the subsidy grab: 1. Our shipyards have for some time been worked at their full capacity without any subsidy. 2. Steel ships can be built cheaper here than anywhere r’/e; our uillla have Just sent a

large quantity of steel plates to Europe to be used In foreign shipyards.—New York World. A little of the recklessness of Mark Hanna In pushing the ship-subsidy bill may be attributed to the fact that he well understands that he has made his last political fight; Whei McKinley retires from office the power of Hanna will go with him, and nobody understands this better than Hanna himself. —lndianapolis Press. There is no doubt that there Is a strong sentiment among the people in favor of having their ocean-carrying trade done in ships which are owned by Americans and which carry the American flag. It is not believed, however, that the ship-subsidy bill would accomplish that object If It should become a law. It would bring about the building of a few swift steamers and that Is all it would do.—Savannah News. It (the ship subsidy) Is at the very best only a waste of the public money. At Its worst it Is diverting public money for private profit. Neither the owners nor the builders of ships have the sligh|cst claim to contributions from their fellow citizens. A direct subsidy on wheat raised and exported or on steel and Iron or on buildings would be just as excusable and less liable to abuse. Every end sought that It is legitimate to seek, iu the subsidy scheme," can be reached through the opening of the ship markets of the world to Americans wishing to buy ships.—New York Times. Trusts have been heretofore strong enough to fasten themselves on the people without aid from the government. All they have asked was to be let alone. Now the ship trust wants to be supported out of the taxpayers’ pockets. That is the most audacious scheme of all. This subsidy grab has beeu ou hand for three years, and has heretofore been defeated iu all its attempts to fasten Itself on the people. Now, however, It seems to have prospect of success and its powerful promoters will doubtless use pressure enough to defeat other appropriations, unless they can get what they want.—New Orleans rtcayune.