Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-09-24

somewhat exposed, but, as has since been
learned, he had previously resigned him
self to an abandonment of his present tour
and was anxious to give his views on tariff
revision before returning to Washington.
Not wholly Political.
He said. in part:
The business world must exist largely on
credit and to credit confidence is essential
Any tampering with the currency, no mat
of dishonesty I'm result, is fatal
In its effects on business prosperity. Very
ignorant and primitive communities are
continually obliged to learn the elementary
truth that the reputation of debts is in
the end, ruinous to the debtors as a class,
and when communities have moved some
what higher In the scale of civilization they
also learn that anything in the nature OF
a debased currency works similar damage.
A financial system of assured honesty IS
the first essential Another essential for
any community Is perseverance in the
economic policy which for a course of years
Is found best fitted to its peculiar needs.
The question of combining such fixedness
of economy as regards the tariff, while at
the same time allowing for necessary and
proper readtustment of duties in particular
schedules as such readjustment becomes a
matter of pressing Importance, Is not an
easy one. II is perhaps too much to expect
that from the discussion of such a question
II would be possible wholly to eliminate
political partisanship. Yet those who be-
lieve. as we all must when we think seri-
of a party system is, after all, to subserve
the party good, cannot hope that where
such partisanship on matter of this kind
conflicts with the public good It shall at
least be minimized.
TariH is a Business Proposition.
What we really need in this country is
TO treat the tarin as a business proposition
and not from the standpoint of the tempo
rary needs of any political party. 1t surely
ought not to be necessary to dwell on the
extreme unwisdom from a business stand
point, from the standpoint of national pros
perity, of violent and radical changes
amounting to the direct upsetting of tariff
policies at intervals of every few years. A
nation like ours can adjust its business
after fashion to any kind of tariff. But
neither our nation nor any other can stand
the rulnous policy of readJusting its busi-
ness to radical changes in the tariff at
short intervals. This is more true than
variety of our product. The tariff schedules
OF today carry rates of duty on more than
1000 articles, Continual sweeping changes
in such tariff, touching so intimately the
commercial interests of a nation, which
stands as one of the two or three in the
whole industrial world, cannot but be dis
astrous. Yet. on the other hand where
the Industrial needs OF the nation shift as
rapidly as they do with us, It is a matter
OF prime Importance that we should be able
to adjust our economic policy as rapidly
as possible and with as little friction as
possible to these needs.
What is Needed.
We need a scheme which will enable us
TO provide an application OF the principle
therefore, is to devise some scrSrne 5y; 5,,;
which these shifting needs can be recog-
amtiSs zgS ana the Necessary TeadJustment OF
business community and, therefore, the en-
tire nation to submit to surgical opera
tion, the mere want of which, and still
more the accomplished fact of which,
would probably paralize, for a considerable
time, the industries of the country. Such
"a 1irh
the conditions from which we suffered
nine years ago, in 1893. 1t is on every ac-
problem can be solved in some manner
into which partisanship shall enter as a
purely secondary consideration, If at all;
that Is, in some manner which shall pro-
vide for an earnest effort by non-partfsan
inquiry and action to secure any changes,
the need OF which is Indicated by the ef.,
feet found to proceed from a given rate of
duty on a given article. its effect II any,
as regards the creation of a substantial
upon the revenue OF the government, upon
importations from abroad, upon home pro-
ductions and upon home consumption.
To Meet Requirements.
In other words, we need to devise some
machinery by which, while perseVering in
the. policy of a protective tariff in which j
orally acquesced, we would be able To cor
rect the Irregularities and remove the In
congruities produced by the changing CON
ture.
perative need Of preserving the America
standard of living for the American work.
ingman The tariff rate must never fall
below that which will protect the Amer
lean workingman by allowing for the differ.
ence between the general labor cost here
and abroad, so as TO at least equaiize the
conditions arising from the difference ir
the standards of labor here and abroad 2
difference which II should be our aim tc
better educated, better paid, better fed ant
better clothed workingmen of a higher
class than any to be found in a foreign
country At all hazards and no matter
what else is sought for by changes OF the
tariff, the American workman must be pro
tected in his standard of wages-that IS n
his standard of living-and he must be Sc
cured the fullest opportunity OF employ
ment.
Three Hours In Indianapolis.
INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 2S. - Presiden
Roosevelt was the guest Of Indianapo
for three hours today. The special traiI
bearing the party arrived shortly befor,
noon. The party was driven to TomlinsoI
hall, where the president addressed tn,
spanish-A American war veterans, now hold
ing their annual reunion in this city. Thl
afternoon program was as follows:
l oclock-LuncheOn to the president a
the Columbia club.
2 o'clock-The president addressed tn
people in Monument place from Columbi
club balcony,
3 o'elock-President left via the Big Fou
for Muncie. Ind.
The weather was "made-to-order" variet
and long before the arrival OF the president
Washington street, which had been rope
OF to prevent the crowd surging toward tn
center of the thoroughfare was packed wit
people eager TO see and hear the president.
All along the route TO Tomlinson hall tn
chief executive Of the nation was kept bus,
bowing his acknowledgements 70 the cheers
] great ovation awaited him at the hall
where he made his principal address.
The hall had been elaborately decorate
and there was nothing lacking to make tn
| presidents welcome hearty and enthusi
| astic.
Senator Beveridge introduced the presi
dent at Tomlinson hall and Senator Fair
banks presented him 10 the people from tn
| Columbia club balcony.
The president spoke as follows at Tomlin
son hall
Part in Affairs of World.
! In speaking to the men who volunteers
/ for the Spanish war ! wish 10 lay speCia
| stress on the need OF preparedness. MOder
! war OF "a serious kind Is determined quit
| as much by what the antagonists hav
| done in advance OF the outbreak as b