Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 January 1902 — POLITICS OF THE DAY [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

POLITICS OF THE DAY

One Kye Open. When the Democratic candidate for president spoke at Minneapolis, during the campaign of 1896, Former Senator Washburn addressed a letter to bin asking certain questions. It was an unusual thing for a man of Mr. Washprominence to inject himself into speech, but Mr. Bryan read his letter at the meeting and responded to It. It seems that Mr. Washburn is getting acquainted with the trust question. In a recent interview he discusses the subject with Intelligence and even vehemence. It is grntifying to note evidence of revolt among the Republicans, who are responsible for an administrative policy that permits the trusts to thrive and fatten upon people at large. The Commodore in a recent issue commenting upon the Washburn incident, says it is glad to give circulation to the following extract from Mr. Washburn’s interview: Steel rails can be manufactured today at a fair profit and sold at $17.50 a ton. At that price the rail mills would make a larger profit on their product than the flouring mills would make by a profit of 10 cents a barrel on flour—which the flouring mills would be glad to make, but do not. From the best Information I have been able to gather, steel rails can be manufactured at about sl6 per ton. Sold as they were two and a half years ago at $17.50, there was a profit of $1.50 a ton, which Is more than the profit en flour at 10 cents per barrel, and that is a larger profit than is averaged by the flouring mills of this country. Yet such rails . • now being sold at S2B per ton, making it easy to understand, with such enormous profits, bow the steel mills are enabled to pay dividends on shares three-fourths of which are composed of water. I do not know Just what sum would be required to rebuild these properties, but from what I am able to learn I am satisfied that they can be reproduced at less than one-half the amount for which they are capitalized. The consequence is that the people and oensumers of the country are being taxed to this enormous extent in order that the trusts and consolidations may pay such dividends. Aad yet, with this condition of things, we now have a duty of $7.80 per ton on steel rails! And what I have here said of steel rails can also be said of structural steel, which now enters into construction of different kinds of such an enormous extent If this is not robbery I would like to find some stronger word to char acterize it. “Robbery” is a strong word, but Mr. Washburn wants something even stronger. What will he say of an administration that permits the robbery to go on without making an effort to protect the public? Possibly Mr. Washburn has only one eye open; with this he sees the trusts very eloarly. When he gets the other eye open he will be able to see the party leaders who are standlug behind the trusts and receiving for campaign purposes a part of the money extorted from the people.— Burlington, lowa, Journal.

Workingman's Prosperitr. A Chicago newspaper has compiled this interesting comparative table, a stgdy of which will enlighten the housekeeper who is trying so locate that “prosperity” of which so large a boast Is made. It gives the prices of certain leading articles of food in 1900 and 1901; 1900. 1901. Cents. Cents. Rolled oats, per 1b.... 2V4 9% White meal, per 1b.... IV4 2% Marrow beans, per lb. 3 4 Pea beans, per lb 4 4*4 Tapioca 4 5 Honey, per lb 18 22 Butter, per lb 20 28 to 31 Eggs, per dozen 18, 20 20 to 25 Nuts, per lb ltJ . ' 18 Peaches, per can 28 30 Pears, per can 28 31 Cherries, per can .... 30 35 Apples, per peck 25 35 Potatoes, per bu 40, 50 70 to 85 In meats a big Jump In price has taken place since early summer. The ligures given below (for Chicago) are for April and May aud the present time: April and Preseut May. Cts. time. Cts. per lb. per lb. Porterhouse steaks. 17 to 20 20 to 30 Sirloin steaks 10 18 Round steaks 12 to 14 15 to 16 Chuck steaks 10 to 11 12 Roast beef Bto 10 10 to 18 Lamb chops 14 to 16 10 to IS Mutton Bto 10 10 to 12 Lamb, hindquarters lOVfc 12*4 Pork 101-3 121-8 Veal chops 10 to 18 18 to 20 Cutlets 22 23 to 24 •—Paducah, Ky., News-Democrat. Harmony for Democracy. - Democratic Senators at Washington are a unit for party representation as well as party principle. They will protest earnestly against the proposed plan of the Republican leaders to reduce their representation on the Committee on Claims. Irrigation and Commerce. They have no objection to the Republicans Increasing their own membership on all the Senate committees so long as they leave Democratic representation untouched, but they have strong objections to any plan which will tend to lessen Democratic prestige In committee work. The attitude of the minority

was clearly defined in a resolution which was unanimously adopted by the Democratic caucus yesterday afternoon. The caucus was called by Senator Jones and was the first meeting of Democratic Senators that has been held to discuss party questions since the opening of the fifty-seventh Congress. Senator Joues was re-elected chairman of the caucus, a position which he will hold, unless he voluntarily withdraws In the meantime, for two years. It carried with it the prestige of minority leader on the floor of the Senate. The caucus was entirely harmonious and free from frlctiofl of any sort. It was attended by all of the Senators who have heretofore been affiliated with the Populist and Silver Republican parties, including Senators Heitfleld and Dubois, of Idaho, Harris, of Kansas; Teller, of Colorado, and Gibson and Clark of Montana. McLaurin, of South Carolina, was not present, however. Senator Jones had received notice from Senator Platt, chairman of the Committee of Republicans which has been delegated to select the committees. that the Republicans would take care of McLaurin’s assignment! This notice was accepted by the Democratic caucus as a concession by McLaurin that hereafter he will class himself with the Republican Senators. An informal discussion of the HayFauncefote treaty resulted in a tacit agreement that the Democrats will not place any obstacle in the way of the ratification of that instrument. If a two-thirds majority of the Senate Is prepared to vote for it the Democrats will consent to the vote being taken at as early a date as the majority desires to fix.—Rock Island Argus.

Roush Riding Temner, The thing about Mr. McKinley that gave him power and the confidence of the people in his judgment was that in a remarkable degree he possessed equipoise. He did not hurry, he was not excitable, he did not show irritation, he did not scold. Mr. Roosevelt is the opposite. A special from Washington gives this incident^ “President Roosevelt, after waiting half an hour for his carriage, came somewhat excitedly through the corridors of tl»e White House this afternoon, proclaiming that such a thing would not occur again. Clad in Norfolk jacket, corduroy knickerbockers, yellow leather leggins and rough rider hat, turned up at the side, such as he used to wear In war days, he looked a veritable rough rider. He clambered into Secretary Cortelyou's govcrnjneut carriage and started to meet a friend on the outskirts of the city with whom he had an appointment fpr a cross country walk. “To Roosevelt It is unpardonable to keep one waiting. As he emerged from the Inner door the attendants scattered and realising that his excited manner was the cause of their flurry a merry twinkle shone from his eye as he looked from the carriage window. He returned, however, in good humor.” There is something about such an incident that makes one feel that‘it is not in keeping with the position of the President of the republic.—Abilina, Kan., News.

A Phillippine Tobacco Trust. The Financier of London said last week: A combine is being effected among the tobacco growers of the Philippine Islands, with a capital of between $6,000,000 and $7,000,000. The scheme is being carried on in London under the auspices of the Rothschilds, who, through their Spanish Investments, have large Interests in the Philippines. The paper adds: “The contracts and concessions were obtained through some of the American peace delegates, who, in typically Yankee fashion, managed to combine private and official business. The name of a prominent American commissioner is being freely handled about London, but without any apparent Justification. The chief promoting. it Is said, is being done In New York, though the names of the parties doing it are not announced. According to the report, however, the Rothschilds have a large hand In the affair.”— Springfield, Mass., Republican. In view of the strong argument for reciprocity made by Mr. McKinley in his last speech, and President Roosevelt's declared Intention to follow tlse policy of his lamented predecessor, it would be supposed that this subject would occupy a prominent place In the message. As a matter of fact, of the 30,009 words In the document only 000 are devoted to reciprocity. The messnge hs a whole leaves the Impression that the President, In his desire to be conservative, consulted so many persons and took so much advice that there Is comparatively little of Theodore Roosevelt left In It. Later on, however, as has happened with other chief executives, ho Is likely to "find himself."—New York Herald. “Teddy" Is "safe" all right The trusts were a trifle nervous about him, but his messnge bHs given them complete reassurance. They understand that the White House Is still their strong defense ahd so Wall street breathes more freely and the protects and other thieves go on their predatory way rejoicing.