Show THE MASSES BEFORE THE CLASSES That protection is legislation for certain cer-tain classes to be benefitted at the expense ex-pense of the masses must be clear to every unbiased investigator of the tariff question One of the falsehoods of the theory as expounded by its champions is that it is for the special good of the working people That has been exploded effectually The worst poverty and the most gigantic labor troubles are in the protected districts among the classes said to receive the greatest help from high tariff protection protec-tion But suppose it was true that the workers in manufacturing districts received re-ceived the benefits of protection That would still be legislation for the classes instead of the masses The number of persons engaged in working work-ing for their living in this country is placed by the last census at 22000 000 Of these a few less than ten percent per-cent are engaged < i in the industries specially favored by protection That is about 2000000 The other 20000000 are the masses who are taxed for the benefit of the classes Now if it were true that the benefits of protection went to the employed instead of the employer or if as a matter of fact both classes enjoy the special benefits of the high tariff why should theigreat masses of the people be compelled to contribute to the support sup-port or the increased emoluments of the comparatively few The manufacturing districts have had the monopoly of the purported I benefits of the protective policy it is time the people in the other parts of the United States were relieved from the burdens imposed upon them that those classes may flourish The agricultural millions must not be imposed im-posed upon for the enrichment of the manufacturing few whether they be II the capitalists and corporations and I trust companies or the people whom they employ The laws must be so arranged that they shall be for the welfare of the whole people the masses instead of the classes I |