Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 October 1912 — Tariff and Bloated Fortunes. [ARTICLE]

Tariff and Bloated Fortunes.

The tariff on cotton and woolen goods has built up a group of bloated fortunes in New England almost equal to those built up in Pennsylvania by the tariff on iron and steel. Take cotton tariff first. The owners of New England cotton mills get some of the most fantastic dividends ever paid. In eight years ending with 1907, the Union, one of the largest mills of New England, paid a total of 183 per cent dividends; or an average of 23 per cent per year. In the same eight years, the Troy mill paid 189 per cent, or an average of 23.62 per cent per year. In the same eight years, the Laurel Lake mill paid 190 per cent cash dividends, and 100 per cent stock dividends, a total of 290 per cent, or 36.25 per cent per year. But the Dartmouth mill holds the record. In 1905, the 1 Dartmouth paid 20 per cent dividends. In 1906, the Dartmouth paid 26 per cent dividends. In 1907, the Dartmouth paid 66 per cent dividends. In 1908, the Dartmouth paid 66 per cent dividends. In 1909, the Dartmouth paid a stock dividend of 100 per cent, and a 13 per cent dividend in cash. These dividends were paid out of the tariff. The bloated fortunes of the spindle aristocracy of New England are gouged by the tariff out of the consumer. Engraved calling cards to ■>rder at The Democrat office.