Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 11, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 May 1910 — ALDRICH’S BOAST [ARTICLE]

ALDRICH’S BOAST

He Says He Could Save the Nation $300,000,000 a Year—Did He Mean to Abolish the Tariff? Senator Aldrich said recently in the senate that “if he were allowed to run the government on a business basis he could save $300,000,000 a year.” The New York Times, commenting upon this statement, says: “Senator Aldrich’s economies would enable us to do away with customs taxes altogether, to make the United States of America a free trade nation. The customs revenues for the last fiscal year were just $977,438 above three hundred millions. The cost of living would come down at Once. The burden of tax upon raw materials would be lifted fropa our manufactures Clothing of all kinds would be cheaper. More, than all, by affixing his signature to a bill abolishing tariff taxes. President Taft would in half a minute bust more trusts than he can destroy with all the machinery of the department of justice at his command during bis incumbency of the office of president, no matter how far it may be prolonged.” AIL this is as plain as noonday. But the distressing fact is that ME Aldrich and his protection policy continue to be responsible for more national waste than he can ever hope to repair. He •tands for a system of favoritism which robs the great bulk of the people to enrich 4U pampered of business interests. The greatest obstacle to Mr. Aldrich’s laudable ideals of economy is—Aldrichism.

, _ ••• • . Economically, what difference* Is there between restricting the importation of iron to benefit iron producers and restricting sanitary improvements to benefit undertakers?—Henry George.