The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1910-08-31

0uentlal. Probably this Is true Of both
the big interests aud The li,tle inter
ests. These methods have put pre-
MUM on selhshness. and naturally the
selfish big interests have got more
than the selfish small interests. The
duty Of congress is to provide a meth.
cd by which the interest OF the whole
people shall be all that receives con
sideration
To this end there must be an expert
tariff commission wholly removed from
the possibility Of political pressure or
OF improper business influence.
Such a commission can find out the
real difference between the cost Of
production. which is mainly the diff
ference of labor cost here and abroad
As fast as its recommendations are
made / believe in revising one SEIZED
ule at a time. general revision Of
the tariff almost inevitably leads TO
log rolling and the subordination OF
the general public interest to local and
special interests.
The absence Of effective state and
especially national restraint upon un.
fair money getting has tended to
create small class OF enormously
wealthy aud economically powerful
men whose chief object is 10 hold aud
Increase their power.
The prime need Is TO change the
conditions which enable these men to
accumulate power which it is not for
the general welfare that they should
hold or exercise.
We grudge no man a fortune which
represents his own power and sagacity
when exercised with entire regard 10
the welfare Of his fellows. But the
fortune must be honorably obtained
and well used. IL is not even enough
that II should have been gained with
out doing damage 70 the community.
We should permit IL 10 be gained
only so long as the gaining represents
/ benefit TO the community. This. ]
know. implies a policy OF far more
active governmental interference with
social and economic conditions In this
country than we have yet had. but
think we have got TO face the fact that
such an increase in governmental con
troll is now necessary.
Money Fairly Earned.
No man should receive n dollar IN
less that dollar has been fairly earned.
Every dollar received should represent
dollars worth OF service rendered.
The really big fortune. the swollen
forfu,o ~ tba moro f,,e - e.. 81.
acquires qualities which differentiate
II in kind as well as in degree from
what Is possessed by men Of relative
ly small means.
Therefore | believe in a graduated
income tax on big fortunes and In an
other tax which is far more easily
collected and far more effective-a
graduated Inheritance tax on big for
tunes. properly safeguarded against
evasion and increasing rapidly In
amount with the size OF the estate.
The people OF the United States suf.
fer from periodical financial panics 70
a degree substantially unknown among
the other nations which approach us
In financial strength. There is no
reason why we should suffer what
they escape.
II Is OF profound importance that
our financial system should be prompt.
ly Investigated aud so thoroughly and |
effectively revised as to make Il GER
tain that hereafter our currency will /
no longer fail at critical times to
meet our needs.
II Is hardly necessary for me TO re-
peat that believe In an eaicient army |
and navy large enough TO secure for /
us abroad that respect which is the 1
surest guarantee OF peace Justice 1
and fair dealing among nations rest on 1
principles identical with those which |
control justice and fair dealing among
the individuals OF which nations are
composed. with the vital exception
that each nation must do its own part /
IN international police work. National
friendships. like those between men,
must be founded on respect as well as
on liking. on forbearance as wei as
on trust In all this It is peculiarly
the duty Of the United States TO set a
good example.
OF conservation l shall speak more
az length elsewhere. Conservation
means development as much as Il does
protection. recognize the right and
the duty Of this generation TO develop
and use the natural resources of our
land. but I do not recognize the right
10 waste them or 90 rob by wasteful
use the generations that come after
us. The natural resources must be
used for the benefit OF all our peo-
pie and not monopollzed for the bene-
nc of few. That Is one of the fun.
reasons why the special IN
terests must be driven out of politics.
OF all the questions which can come
before this nation short of the actu.
Al preservation of its existence in a
great war there is none which COM
'ares In Importance with the great
'entral task Of leaving this land even
| better land for our descendants than
I is for us and training them into a
better race TO inhabit the land and
pass II on.
Conservation is a great moral issue.
Tor II Involves the patriotic duty of I'm.
surfing the safety and continuance Of
he nation. Let me add that the