Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1901 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

81km of Democratic Hevlval. Of all the signs es Democratic revival none give more promise than the present situation in the State of Pennsylvania, which has been torn to pieces by the plundering policy of its Republican leaders. Recent events in that State are calculated to set honest men to thinking, and to drive them to some remedy for the disgrace which has nbw ! fallen upon them. In discussing the action es Mayor Ashbridge, of Philadelphia, in giving franchises to his friends for which he held a cash offer of $2,500,000, it has been denounced by The Philadelphia Press as dishonest. It must be remembered that Mayor Ashbridge was but a cog in tti> wheel of Pennsylvania Republican politics, and that the legislation which he assisted in making effective came from the inner circles of the ruling Republican party, bearing the sign manual of the Governor of the State. Thus the wholesale squandering of public interests is a peculiarly Republican act for which that party must be held responsible. In all the efforts of The Press to denounce and circumvent the rifling of public values it has not been able, and will not be able, to clear the Republican party from responsibility. It Is in this stage that The Times calls upon the Democrats of Pennsylvania to take ad-

vantage of the situation. In order to show what the party can do if it only will, The Times says: There can be no question about the presence of a live Democratic spirit in this State. Recur to the figures for a moment. It gave Tilden 366,158 votes. It gave Hancock-Pennsylvanian--407,502. It gave Grover Cleveland, running against a native of Pennsylvania, 392,785; It raised this four years later to 446,663, and again four years later it increased it to 452,264. This was high-water mark. With free silver in 1896 Bryan received only 427,125, and last year there was another drop to 424,232.

But taking the figures at their lowest we find an army of Democrats in Pennsylvania who outnumber those of every State except New York, Illinois and Ohio. Pennsylvania cast over 15,000 more Democratic votes last year than Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia and Nebraska put together. Nor Is this all. Considering that there was no special Inducement to get out the Democratic vote fn this State and taking into consideration the large

number of Democrats who could not accept the Chicago platform, It is evident that there are In Pennsylvania more than 500,000 Democrats, and that in numerical strength Pennsylvania is the third Democratic State In the Nation, New York being first and Illinois second, although there is some question as to. whether or not Pennsylvania on a full count could not show a total that would equal—and possibly exceed—that of Illinois. Every word here spoken points to the fact that the Democratic party of the State of Pennsylvania has such an opportunity to rehabilitate itself as has not been presented to it for fifty years. It has won in State elections twice within the last twenty years upon Issues much weaker than those which it can command to-day. When we add to this large Democratic army the tens of thousands of patriotic citizens who, voting the Republican ticket for traditional reasons, are now anxious to redeem their State, we can see what an opportunity is presented. Of course, this calls for an up-to-date policy, one freighted with the hopes of the present day and looking to the welfare of the future.

The Democratic party must cease from being a mere objector in national councils and become the agent of the constructive force of the people of the union. Taking such a stand, regarding the past as in history and the future as yet to be made, the Democratic party has an opportunity for leadership which it should not throw away. t ln bringing about such a condition as this the traditional Democratic States can do but little. They have already been doing their best. The responsibility for forward action rests with the Democrats of such States as Pennsylvania, who have it in their power by taking the right side in State politics, to gain local control and thus have an influence upon the decisions of the national party. With such numbers as the Democrats constitute In Peunsylvania, it requires only independent action and the patriotic regard for the highest Interests of the State to win the support of those Republicans who seek release from the machine which has so wrecked their public institutions. The Times declares that “Pennsylvania Democrats do not believe In vagaries. The masses are still true t 6 the old principles that have endured since the nation began.” This being the case, we can readily join with The Times in hoping that “with the Pennsylvania Democracy revitalized and strengthened, there could be no doubt as to the policy of the selfrespecting Republicans who have come to the point where they must choose between sacrificing a thieving minority of their own organization and saving the honor and material welfare of their State.” The Democrats of the country will watch with hope and interest the position taken by their brethren In Pennsylvania, who have thus an op-

portunity of setting up the standard of honesty and patriotism to replace that of plunder and pelf.—Atlanta Constitution. Trusts and Tariff. Notwithstanding the discussion there has been of Representative Babcock’s proposition to put trust products on the free list, there Is conceded to be very little probability-that the Republican party will adopt any such measure. The resistance to it is based on the claim that the tariff is absolutely essential io American industrial success, and that to punish offenders in that way would be pulling down the structure on all alike, as Samson did with the temple. This theory has often been urged by protectionists, who accordingly maintain that some other means of curbing trusts must be found, or take the other horn of the dilemma In the assertion that trusts are beneficial and ought to be encouraged rather than opposed. The Washington correspondent of the New York Commercial Advertiser asserts that the only cause of attention of Republican leaders to the Babcock resolution at present is the fear that the Democrats -may make political capital out of its defeat. The general sentiment of the Republican leaders was undoubtedly voiced by Congressman Taylor, before the industrial commit slon, so far as any change of the tariff is concerned. They want the support of the trusts and will offer for it the retention of the tariff benefits on the plea of necessary protection of American inI dustrles.

The only country that has adopted the plan of restraining trust Increases of prices by threatened tariff reductions is Canada. -Under the Canadian law, when the Governor in council has reason to believe that with regard to any article of commerce there exists any trust, combination, association or agreement of any kind among manufacturers of such article or dealers therein to unduly enhance the price of such article or in any other way to unduly promote the advantages of the manufacturers or sale at the expense of the consumers he is authorized to commission or empower any judge of the Supreme Court - or Exchequer Court of Canada or of any superior court in any province of Canada to inquire in a summary way into and report to the Governor whether such trust, combination, association or agreement exists. The Judge may compel the attendance of witnesses and examine them under oath and require the production of books and papers, and shall have such other necessary powers as are conferred upon him by the Governor for the purpose of such inquiry. If the Judge reports that such trust, combination, «ssociation or agreement exists, and if ,lt appears to the Governor that such disadvantage to the consumers is facilitated by the duties or customs imposed on a like article when imported, the Governor is authorized by EarHetnent to place such article on the free or to so reduce the duty as to give the public the benefit of reasonable competition in such article. In practice, however, this law has never been applied in Canada, and for this there are various reasons. One is that prices are generally lower, as measured in gold, than when the formation of trusts began, and this makes

It difficult to show the effect of trust regulation" in keeping them up. Another Is the large Importation of foreign manufactured goods by Canada, and the relatively small amount of Canadian manufacture, whereby the imported goods seem to control the establishment Of ordinary prices. This is more especially true on account of the preferential rates to British manufacurers, which make the Canadian tariff wall a comparatively low one. Another is that trust development in Canada has not gone to any such extent as it has in the United States. In this country such a law would undoubtedly have speedy application in practice, because there are many Important industries which are hampered by trust extortions, and the Interests back of them are I 'strong enough to force the question to a test. —lndianapolis Sentinel. One of the settled things In politics seems to be the re-election of David B. Henderson to the Speakership of thd House of Representatives. Under the Speakership of Mr. Henderson that body has become a servile tool, without any original snap of conviction of its own—a body in such a condition of surrender that it is hardly any longer an honor to be a member of It. It Is probably the desire of the “powers that be” that the “popular” branch of Congress shall remain in a comatose condition, or worse, and one of the first steps toward that end would be to keep Henderson In the chair. We do not precisely agree with Thomas B. Reed that the Speakership is next to the highest place in the government, but it is certainly so great a position that It ought to be filled by some one of ability, dignity and patriotism. Mr. Henderson’s silly talk about his conversation with King Edward is a conclusive disqualification of him for the place he now occupies. Those who are not indignant at him must laugh at him. 'lt Is a great deal easier for some dramatists to compose a play than for people to keep composed while hearing it