Show PROTECTION FOR SPECULATORS The Kansas City Star draws attention atten-tion to one phase of Senator Mantles argument in favor of higher duties on wool that is liable to escape the consideration con-sideration it deserves It is that the wool growers will not receive much benefit for four years to come from a protective measure because of the enormous importations in anticipation of the enactment of a tariff bill by congress The Star says it is true that the speculators have been active and the importations large and then proceeds I pro-ceeds to declare that If Mr Mantles I estimate be correct it affords no reason rea-son for increasing the duties for in that event the Increase would not benefit bene-fit the wool growers during the four years but it would add to the profits of the speculators Congress has the undoubted right to levy impost duties for the purpose of raising revenue It is claimed by politicians of the protective pro-tective school that under the constitutional constitu-tional warrant to provide for the general gen-eral welfare the right to protect American Amer-ican industries is implied But Senator Mantle is the first statesman of anv school thus far developed to assert that congress has the right to tax the people peo-ple for the purpose of increasing the profits of speculators And why shouldnt speculators In wool have protection as well as speculators specu-lators In sugar or anything else We have Senator Cannons word for it that the Republican system of protection Is a system of robbery a system of which he was the champion in Utah and his party rewarded him for his advocacy of it by sending him to congress first asa as-a delegate and then as a senator and this being so why Is it any more wrongful for wool speculators to rob the wool grower than for the wool grower and wool manufacturer to rob the farmer The Stars criticism of Senator Mantles Man-tles argument Is nothing but captiousness captious-ness |