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Image provided by: Kansas State Historical Society; Topeka, KS
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c -axnrooLaTiB, OUR CUSTOM HOUSE SYSTEM. It is quite evident that the great blessings of paternalism, as at pres ent practiced by the government, are not fully understood or appreciated by the people. Paternalism is only ob jectionable to the class that is crying out so loudly against it, when it is proposed tc extend it so as to embrace all the people in the enjoyment of the privileges it bestows. When lim ited to a few favorites it is entirely satisfactory. We could ask no better illustration of this fact than is afforded by our present custom house system. What proportion of the people of the United States understand this system? Evidently it is very small, otherwise a cry would go up against it which could not fail to sooner or later command a hearing. It affords an example of special privilege almost without a parallel in the busi ness affairs of any nation or time. What is a custom house? It is a public building erected by the gov ernment at the expense of the whole people. What purpose does it serve, and to what uses is it devoted? It contains the offices of local custom house offi cials, and space for the storage of imported goods under their custody and care. So long as a tariff system is main tained, it will not be denied that local officers are necessary, nor will the propriety of "government ownership of the offices necessary for their accommodation be called in question. As we do not now contemplate a dis cussion of this feature of the system all that relates to it may bo dismissed for the present. It is only proposed at this time to discuss the paternal features of our custom house system as practiced for the benefit of the favored few. The importer of goods from foreign ports has the privilege of storage in the custom houses of the United States, under the regulations pro vided, for the term of three years from date of importation, during all of which time the duty on the goods may remain unpaid. Here is a special privilege of immense benefit to the importer. Were it not for this privi lege two things would be necessary: First- He would be under the neces sity of erecting warehouses at his own expense for the storage of his own goods. .This would necessitate the investment of his private capital where now the money of the people is invested for his benefit. Second As he would then take possession of and store his own goods in hia own warehouse immediately on their arrival in this country the safety of the revenues would require the immediate collection of the duty. In this manner, also, large amounts of private capital would be tied up in duties paid upon goods in store, and which is now practically loaned by the government to the merchant for such time as he may desire within , the limits of the statute. During all the time these goods may remain in store, they are in the care and custody of government officials whose salaries are paid by the people. It will not be difficult for the aver age reader to comprehend the bene fits of the special privileges thus bestowed upon a few individuals, but we would te pleased to have republi can editors who are such ardent ad mirers of this system, and who experience a nervous shock whenever any proposition is suggested that contemplates the extension of equal privileges to all American citizens, point out just what benefit our cus tom house system is to the masses of the people who foot the bills. Will they do it? Well, hardly. It would be too great a departure from their methods, This article is intended to be suggestive only. It by no means exhausts the subject, but we do not look for any light to be thrown upon it from the republican side. It is a question, however, for, the people to consider, and judging the future by the past, they will probably solve it for themselves without aid from the republican press. ONE OF THE FALSEHOODS. One of the falsehoods sent out from Memphis, which is being freely circu lated through the republican press of the north as it is through the demo cratic press of the south, is the fol lowing statement . attributed to Congressman Otis : " If he (Macune) is elected, we of the west will have to withdraw from the national order, for we have had enough of the pur chased allies of the southern democ racy." This is the work of the Memphis Commercial " What-is-it." There is not a single word of truth in it. Mr. Otis made use of no such language, nor of any language that could be distorted into any such meaning. He did state, simply as a matter of fact, that there were certain prejudices existing in some parts of the north west against Dr. Macune, that ren dered his election to the presidency not advisable. Under the circum stances he did not think it would be the best thing for the order. He never intimated that he or anybody else would think of withdrawing from the order under any circumstances. As we have stated in another article, there is scarcely a word of truth ia any of the reports sent out from Memphis during the session of the supreme council, and it will not be necessary to contradict all the false hoods in detail. The latest stroke of republican en terprise is a revival of the movement to divide this state. In other words, the western counties would like to succeed in order that there may be some show for a republican to be elected to a state office in after years. We don't want to be selfish about this matter, but really there is no use trying that plan. That new state would lie right between Colorado and Kansas, and before arrangements could be made to have it admitted to the union, it would be overwhelm ingly Popolist. The only plan of re lief we can see is to take Botkin's judicial district, have it made a terri tory before March 4, so that Harrison can appoint Botkin governor, and Botkin can do the rest. WILL ORGANIZED LABOR PROFIT BY THE LESSON. The great Homestead strike is de clared off. The workmen have re turned to their former places much poorer than when they went out, They have returned under the most humiliating conditions. The triumph of the Carnegie company is complete. The Amalgamated Association is de stroyed, and every man who returns to his place does so under the pledge that he will not hereafter unite with any labor organization, and that he will be governed absolutely by the rules of the company. Such is the termination of this great strike for the rights of labor. It results in the absolute forfeiture of the common rights of American citi zenship by every man who resumes his place with the company. The lesson afforded by this strike is one that should have been thoroughly learned years ago. The strike is not the remedy for the wrongs of labor. It has been a failure in almost every instance. The evils of our industrial system are the direct result of dis criminating legislation, and when la boring men have learned this fact, and that the place to strike for the rights of labor is at the ballot box, there will be some hope of a final ad justment of the differences between capital and labor. The federated labor organizations probably embrace a large majority of the wage-workers of the United States. The several trades unions constituting the federation have been accustomed to hold regular stated meetings for the discussion of their interests, but, by the limitations with which they have hedged themselves about, they have excluded the most important subjects which could possi bly be presented for their considera tion. They have seemed to have an absolute horror of anything relating to politics. They have discussed the subjects of wage schedules, shorter hours, scab labor, strikes and boy cotts, and others of as little potency, but have refused to tolerate a sugges tion of the legislative discriminations which are responeible for the condi tions that the strike and the boycott are intended to remedy. This short sighted policy has not materially im proved the condition of the industrial classes, nor can it be expected to do so. We do not question that the united efforts of organized labor have resulted in some good, but the time has come when little more can be hoped for as a result of the methods hitherto employed. Recognizing the power of organized labor, organized capital has determined to destroy it The recent events at Homestead show the method by which this is to be ac complished, and indicate the proba bility of its success. Will organized labor tako warning from this lesson and broaden the scope of its investi gations and discussions, or will it continue in its blind adherence to its former policy until every trades union and every department of labor suffers the humiliation of the Amal- j gamated Association ? . The average number of working days in a year for the laborers at th Homestead mills is 270. To the People's party is due the credit of having reduced the repub lican majority in Kansas from 82,000 down to 5,000 less than nothing. Now if the republican and demo cratic papers will only quit using their stereotyped tariff editorials and cartoons, and save them for next campaign, we can all be happy. Now we know, says the Rocky Mountain News, what was the matter with the south. McCune, Tillman & Co., in charge of the Populist literary bureau, were sending out pamphlets instructing southern Populists to vote for Cleveland. The point having been decided that Mrs. Lease's sex does not bar her from the senatorship, the question now turns upon her age. To dis cover just after her election that she was not old enough to be senator would be very sad indeed. Next day after the election the bolting democrats closed their head quarters and stampeded in. a body for Washington to see if they could lasso something in the way of an ap pointment. A. A. Harris now wants the republicans to help elect him sen ator. Some eastern humorist has said that the democrats lately held an election to which the republicans were not invited. It was not so in Kansas. Here everybody took part in the affair. Even the prohibition ists made a respectable showing. And John Shermnn, too, has been heard from. He says one cause of the trouble is that the wealthy manu facturers took advantage of the sit uation and refused to divide with their employes the profits accruing from the protective tariff. He thinks that would have been better than rob bing the employe and dividing with the republican national committee. Exactly so, John. But was there ever any provision in your tariff laws to dictate what the beneficiary should do with his profits? And if not, why should the laws ever have been called "protection to American labor?" THE INDUSTRIAL LEGION. Thia is an organization that was effected during the session of the supreme council of the F. A. & L U. at Memphis. It is designed to be educational and political and its aim will be to consolidate the forces of the People's party, systematize their work, and enlist for active service the recrnits who are breaking away from former political ties and allying them- selyes with the great tidal wave of reform that is now sweeping over the country. Steps will be immediately taken to institute the new organization in every state in the union. Organizers were appointed for the various sections of the country and they will push the work without delay. We 6hall give our readers further information upon this subject in a short time,