The Washington times., 1910-06-24
IDA M. TARBELLS ACTIVITIES INCLUDE
EVERY INTEREST OF THE PEOPLE,

field. Of fearless and truthful political
writing.
AT this time I had established no in
huential magazine connections beeAnS
The need Cf a rest from my active edI-
torial duties on the Chatauquan. 1 went
abroad. II was in Paris, while stuGy-
ing French history, as well as current
Affairs in that country, that / met MI
Mcclure, and often discussed with MIN
his Plans FOR the establishment OF Nc
. Cures Magazine. In that periodical
appeared my first serious magazine
work.
In Paris Miss Tarben took a course
at the SorbOnne, wrote weekly letters
TO the newspapers, and collected ma
terial for a historical sketch OF the lie
of Madame Roland
Upon my return from Europe she
continued when impOrtuned FOR further
Information IN regard 10 her Work, L
became interested in the tariff / sa"
that it was responsible Tor many or
those social inequalities which are the
curse OF our body polite. 1 saw liltl
America had been able 10 cenJrallZe rs
wealth in the hands of few !ndlVla-
ualS within 100 years In Europe sucA
vast fortunes have not been punt up
by a limited number OF men IN -r9t'
years. / began TO learn thoroughly me
history Of the tariff. l then wrote on the
subject. / am going 70 write ds tAi- an
September l an 20 begin the puULcdJi5H
of a new series OF articles on The t1Tlu-
Miss Tar1eu believes that the present
tariff is about as hopeless a failure as
2 tariff could well be. she intends 10
night il with the same powerful pen ana
thorough knowledge with which she has
fought tariffs in The past.
What do 1 think Is the greatest
issue before the American people to-
Gay2" asked MISS Iarbell. repeating
the question of her interviewer NO.
IL is not wOman's suffrage 1t IS not
and IS not going to be, socialism, II IS
the question OF special privilege, ana
the unequal distribution OF wealth
which special privilege entails Now,
the tariff fosters special privilege. anG
unequal distribution Of wealth. ]"
humanize our present tarih, 20 make
il really moral, VIII be 10 solve the
problems now before the American
people. And IL Will be done
Miss Tarbeu was asked II she es-
poused the cause Of woman.s SUI
fra ge.
women can accomplish more good Tor
humanity in the spheres Of dlsinter-
ested effort, rather than in those OF
politics"
Thus spoke the woman whose mas
terful achievement and masculine
logic have been held up by many
suffragette as the strongest living
arguments in favor OF giving 10 WON
en- the ballot.
OH series came TO be written, MISS
Tarbeu said.
.'Nr. Mcclure and I had been dis
cussing for some time how we could
hes, handle the trust question IN the
uacazine. 7 suggested that one way
Of doing II would be 20 deal with tne
history Of a typical trust Ike the
Standard OH Company In three or
four months II was decided that
should write such a history OF tLe
Standard Oil. I went 20 OIL city ana
Titusvule Pa 20 Pitts burg. Fhlla-
delphia. New York. and Boston. leaV-
ips. no stone unturued 60 learn the In
nerpost secrets Of this great com olne-
I talked with many trust magrates-
7 had many a heated discussion with
nv old friend. Henry r. rogers
and. then. you know the rest
Miss Tarbeu Is an 0pJlmlst- as IL Vic
tor Murdoch Both believe that the
country IS moving forward. both have
faith IN the ultimate superb destiny o.
America
Every man or woman OF as GFo does
an honest days work IS doing his share
in the night against predatory wealth
and special privilege says Miss Tar
bell
The problems which face America as
a nation are many and grave SAYS Vic
tor Murdoch But just you count on IL
that the pendulum always swings back,
and this nation VIII YET fulfill a mag
rificent destiny
And because the gods gave Miss Tar
bell woman's heart as well as a mans
brain. she knows that the tariff can be
made a human thing and a moral thing
that Will set the country right.