Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1906-12-11

to perpetuate. There can be 40 question of
the ethical propriety of the government
thus determining the conditions upon which
any gift or inheritance should be received.
In its incidents, and apart from the main
purpose OF raising revenue. an income tax
stands on an entirely different footing from
an inheritance tax: because it involves no
question of the perpetuation of fortunes
swollen to an unhealthy size. The ques-
tion is in its essence a question of the
proper adjustment of burdens to benefits.
Education of the Farmer.
The only other persons whose welfare is
as vital to the welfare of the whole coun-
try as is the welfare of the wageworSers
are the tillers of the soil, the farmers. 1t
is a mere trUism to say that 40 growth
of cities, no growth of wealth, no industrial
development can atone for any falling off
in the character and standing of the farm
Ing population. During the last few de-
cddes this fact has been recognized with
eFer-increasing clearness There is no .ong
er any failure to realize that farming, at
least in certain branches, must become a
technical and scientific profession This
means that there must be open to farn<s
the chance for technical and scientific train
ing, not theoretical merely but of the most
severely practical type. This education of
the farmer is peculiarly necessary here in
the United States where the frontier con-
dltions even in the newest States have now
reariy vanished, where there must lie
SupHFituil vi Il more Intensive system OIL
cultivation for the old wasteful farm man
agement, and where there must be a better
business organization among the farmers
themselves.
Several factors must cooperate in the i'm
provement OF the farmers condition He
must have the chance to be educated in the
widest possible sense-in the sense which
keeps ever in view the intimate relationship
between the theory OF eduction and the facts
OF ire This is especially true of the farm
er. All students now realize that edaca-
tion must seek to train the executive pow
ers or young people and TO confer more
real significance upon the phrase dignity
of labor" and to prepare the plniis So
that in addition to each developing i'm the
hlSnest degree his individual capacity for
work, they may together help create a
right public opinion, and show in many
ways social and cooperative spirit. Or
gahzatlon mas become necessary in the bus
mess world, and it has ACCOMPLISHED much
Tor good in the world of labor. Ii is no
less necessary for farmers. Such a move
n i as the grange movement is good in
itselI and is capable of a well-nigh infinite
further extension for good so long as it is
kept 10 It's own legitimate business The
Denents to be derived by the association
VI turner's TOT mutual advantage are partly
economic and partly sociological.
Moreover, while in the long rim volpn-
tary effort will prove more efficacious than
government assistance, while the farmers
must primarily do most for themselves vet
tue government can also do much THE
uepaItuent Oh agriculture has broken new
GROUND IN many directions, and wear by
year lt hnds how it can improve its math
ods and develop fresh usefulness lis CON
slant effort is to give the governmental as
fIro,,,st "a the most effective way that is.
through associations of farmers m sner tban
10 or through individual farmers.
irrigation and Forest Preservation.
Much is now being done for fbe states
VI the Rocky Mountains and Great Plains
enrrou9h the development of the national
R ti! Oh irrigation and forest preserva-
nav no government policy for the better
meht OF our internal conditions has haan
more fruitful OF good than this. The for
ests OF tne White Mountains and Southern
appalachian regions should also ba nra
S nG &c ana they can not be unless rhe peo
PIE OF the States, in which thew lie tbropoh
tnelr representatives in ConorasS o,a't7.n
ment. Aai govern
marriage and Divorce Laws.
noe am Wen aware of how difficult If is to
pass constitutional amendment Noyor
If n9Ss.i ~ my Judgment the whole question
~ - 4ii"rrldse and divorce should be relocated
20 lhe authority of the National ConSraSs
a. present the wide differences in fine laws
oI the dlferent States on this subiect raS,,If
NJ IIaludls ana abuses +; and surely there is
e 'nitnS 80 vitality essential to the welfare
Oh the nation, nothing around wbicb tbo
ndsIon should so bend itself to throw every
safeguard, as the home life of fine averego
oI.nen me change would be good from
be good because it would confer on Tho GO
sreSS the power at once to deal radicaIIv
ana efhciently with polygamy: and fbis
should DE done whether or not marriage
anu ulVorce are dealt with. 1t is neither
saie nor proper to leave the question of
poIygamy to be dealt with by the several
otates' Power to deal with it should he
conferred on the national government.
development of American Shipping.
Let me once again call the attention of
the congress to the question of develoDing
All , shipping. l trust that a law en-
Dodylng IN substance the views or a major
part OF the views, expressed in the report
on ms subject laid before the House az
It's last session, will be passed 1t will
81 course dement, primarily our seaboard
states, such as Maine, Louisiana and WASH
lngton but what benefits part of our neo-
pie IN the end benefits all Just as govern
m 2t aid 10 irrigation and forestry in the
" est Is really OF benefit, not only to the
ROCKY Mountain States, but to all our coun-
try.
Need of Currency Reform.
l especially call your attention to the
condition of our currency laws The ma
tlonai Dank act has ably served great pur-
pose IN aiding the enormous business deyel-
opment of the country: and within ten
years there has been an increase in circu-
lation per. capita from $21.41 to S33.0S.
vi ocSN Adi years evidence mas been aceumn-
latlng that additional legislation Is need
ed. The recurrence of each crop season
emphasizes the defects of the present laws
Ihere must soon be a revision of them be-
cause TO leave them as they are means to
incur liability of business disaster Stree
your body adjourned there has been a finc-
tuation in the interest on call none from
per cent to 30 per cent; and the fuctu-
atloh was even create during the preceding
six months The Secretary Of the Treasury
had to step in and by wise action put a
stop TO the most violent period of oscilla-
ton. Even worse than such iuctuation is
the advance in commercial rates and the
uncertainty felt in the sufficiency of credit
even at high rates All commercial inter
ests suffer during each crop period Elk
ceSsive rates for call money in New York
attract money from the interior banks into
the speculative field; this depetes the fund
that would otherwise be available for com
merclal uses, and commercial borrowers are
forced to pay abnormal rates that each
fall a tax, in the shape of increased inter
est charges, is placed ON the whole com
MERGE of the country
The mere statement of these facts shows
that our present system is seriously defec-
tive. There is need of a change. l do not
press any especial plan.
The Philippine Tariff.
l most earnestly hope that the bill to
provide a lower tariff for or else absolute
free trade in Philippine products will be-
come law. No harm will come to any
american INDUSTRY anu W4lle there Will ne
some small but real material benefit TO the
FilipinOs, the main benefit will come by the
showing made as to our purpose to do all
in our power for their welfare. So far our
action in the Philippines has been abund-
ant!y justified, not mainly and indeed not
primarily because of the added dignity il
mas given us as a nation by proving that
we are capable honOrably and efficiently to
bear the International burden which a
mighty people should bear, but even more
because of the immense benefit that has
come to the people of the Philippine islands.
In these islands we are steadily introducing
both liberty and order. to greater degree
than their people have ever before known.
and next spring. IL conditions warrant, we
shall take a great stride forward in test
Ing their capacity for self government by
summoning the first Filipino legislative as
sembly; and the way in which they stand
this test viii largely determine whether the
self-government thus granted will be in
creased or decreased !: for if we have erred
at all in the Philippines it has been in pro-
eeeding too rapidly in the direction of
granting large measure of seif-government.
We are building roads. We have for the
immeasurable good OF the people, arranged
for the building of railroads. Let Us also
see TO it that they are given free access to