The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1907-09-17
PRESIDENT BUTLER
OF COLUMBIA ON
THE TARIFF
President RooseveIt's Friend
For Revision.
BUSINESS WOULD NOT SUFFER
Lately Returned From Europe aud IN.
terview In New York, He Talks
Out Straight.

AHAaf " AVNhhr hA'Ihf 49,
Murray Butler, president OF Columbin
university aud close friend OF Presi'
dent Roosevelt. who has just returned
from Europe. has aroused much specu'
lation among politicians boy hts recent
utterances on the tariff question, la
which he declared that business viii
not suffer II revision is properly cur
ried out.
In an Interview here he spoke Of the
present situation. especially In rela-
ton 20 the forthcoming presidential
campaign and sounded note Of
warning 10 the Republican party Ia
connection with the tarli ana trust
problems
DR. Butler said:
1T seems o. me that. despite all that
has been said or written. the outlines
OF the next presidential campaign have
not yet bsen clearly defined
Il think that the present temper Of
the people will demand not merely the
usual conventional platform pledges.
but something definite In the way Of
constructive Legislation.
II think that. IN the first place, the
time has come when the Dingley tariff
has got 10 b. revised In the interest "
business itself and not In any sense as
an attack on business or as a disturb
anco 90 business II seems 90 me clear
that the vast majority ~ the people
OF the country 81 all parties virtually
accept the protectionlst principle. but
financial and commercial Developments
OF the last decade make II necessary
10 face without delay revision 81 the
existing tnriff. and this revision not a.
b. up. as some people are insane
enough 10 suppose. but down.
This can ~ accomplished without
the slightest injury 10 business n II Il
done In n fair minded and scientific
fashion. The expanding business of the
country ncVds every dollar 10 ~ cir
culatlng medium. and the collection IN
tariff taxes ~ larger surplus which
IL withdrawn from the normal course
u business aud offers constant temp
tntion 10 Legislative extravaganza T.
understandable AMI unecon0mlc. In
my Judgment. therefore. tho Republic
nn party will H. held by the voters
aud all the lcst sentiment Of the party
itself 10 definite pledge of tariff rsyl
sion
In the second place a great many
Intelligent people have become very
impatient at the failure 10 congress o.
deal with the proble-s % the currcn
cy. Excuse has been offered that the
larger banks had one interest Ia the
question. the smaller banks another
interest and the mass 81 the people yet
another Interest n this statement T.
correct, then Il can hardly h. disputed
that the solution demanded by the In.
ierests OF the mass OF tle people Il the
ono to bs undertaken. The creation Of
our national bank system In the mid
de % the civil war was an act u the
highest statosmanship. and Il remains
now for this generation 60 give 10 the
currency In addition Ia this sound
foundation the elasticity which the
course OF business requires u 10 have.
Canada. Scotland aud Germany have
all managed 60 solve the problem Of an
elastic currency In a reasonably salts.
factory way. and the time should no
longer 10 postponed when the prlnci.
Piles witch have governed the solution
OF The problem In other commercial
and trading nations should be- applied
TO our own domestic conditions.
These two questions seem a. me the
ones which should be put 60 the front
10 tbs next presidential campaign with
a view 20 relieving the business enter
prises Of the country from some OF the
difiiculiie. and handicaps under which
they now iabur"