Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1906-08-30

condition that organised l-bor and organ
lied capital alike act in spirit of justice
and fair dealing, and with due regard To
both the letter and the spirit Of the law.
We heartily favor trades unions and we
recognize In them, as in the corporations,
when properly conducted, Indispensable in
struments in the economic life of the pres
ent day; but where either type Of organ
fZation IS guilty of abuse, we do not pro-
pose TO weaken the remedial powers of the
government TO deal with such abuse.
We are anxious to help, alike by law
and by executive action, so far as in our
power lies, every honest man, every right
dealing labor union, and for the matter of
that, every right dealing corporation. But
as corollary TO this, we intend fearlessly
and resolutely TO uphold the Ia and to
strengthen II, so that we can put down
wrong, whether done by rich or poor; II
done by the most powerful corporation or
the most influential labor union, just as
much as II done by the humbleSt and least
influential individual in the land.
The fact that we heartily recognize an
organization or Gia3 Of organization as
useful will not prevent our taking action to
control it or TO prevent its committing
abuses when 1t uses in wrong fashion the
power which organization cOnfers
The enactment into law of tie bill re-
moving the tax on alcohol used in the arts
will ultimately be Of marked ben EFT to us
in more ways than one. 1t shows likewise
the entire willingness of those responsible
for the handling of the present Congress to
by taxation on imports or intecnsl taxa
tion, whenever it is necessary so to do
Stands by Protective Tariff.
We stand unequivocally for protective
tariff, and we feel that the phenomenal in
dustrial prosperity which we are now en-
joying is not lightly TO be jeOpardized, for it
would be TO the last degree to secure here
and there a small benefit at the cost of a
general business depression. But whenever
a given rate or schedule becomes evidently
Instantaneous to the nation, because Of
the changes which go on from year to year
in our conditions, and where 1t is feasible to
change this rate or schedule without too
much dislocating of the system, it will be
done; while q general revision of the rates
and schedules will be undertaken whenever
it shall appear to the sober business sense
of our people that on the whole the benefits
to be derived from making such changes
will outweigh the disadvantages that is,
when the revision will do more good than
harm.
Let me add one word of caution, however.
The question of revising the tariff stands
wholly apart from the question of dealing
with the so-called 'trustS''-that IS, with
the control Of monopolies and with the su-
perTsIon of great wealth in business, espe-
cially in corporate form. The only way in
which 1t is possible to deal with those trusts
and monopolies and this great corporate
wealth is by action along the line of the
laws enacted by the present Congress and
its Immediate predecessors.
The cry that the problem can be met by
any changes IN the tarln represents, Wheth-
er consciously or uncOnsciously, an effort to
divert the public attention from the only
method of taking effective action.
| shall not attempt to enumerate all the
good measures of less Importance which the
present Congress has enacted into law, al
though some of these measures, as, for in
stance, the consular bill and the naturaliZa-
ton bill, are of wide reaching effect. l have
said enough to show why, in my judgment,
you and your colleagues are entitled to the
good wishes of all those American citizens
who believe that there are real evils In our
Industrial and economic SYSTEM and that
these evils can be effectively grappled with,
not by loose defamation but by resolute and
intelligent legislation and executive action.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
James E. Watson, NJ. c., Rushville, Ind.