The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1910-09-01

our people that 1nier the methods OF
making ta-!ffs which have hitherto OBJ
tanned. the special interests are too in
fiuential. Probably this is true Of both
the big interests and the little interests
These methods have put a premium on
selfishness, and naturally the selfish big
interests have gotten more than the sell
fish small interests. The duty OF congress
is TO provide a method by which the In
terest Of the whole people shall be all
that receives consideration. To this end
there must be an expert tarin commits
sion. wholly removed from the possibility
of political pressure or Of improper busi-
ness influence. Such a commission can
find out the real difference between cost
OF production, which is mainly the differ
ence of labor cost here and abroad. As
fast as its recommendations are made
believe in revising one schedule at time.
general revision Of the tariff almost In
evitably leads to 1og-rolling. and the sub
ordination OF the general public interest
to local and special interests.
The absence of effective state. and
especially National, restraint upon unfair
money getting has tended to create a
small class of enormously wealthy and
economically powerful men. whose chief
object is to hold and increase their power.
The prime need Is to change the condi-
tions which enable these men to accumu-
late power which It is not for the general
welfare that they should hold or exercise.
We grudge no man a fortune which rep
resents his own power and sagacity, when
exercised with entire regard to the well
fare of his fellows. But the fortune must
be honorably obtained and well used. 1t
Is not even enough that II should have
been gained without doing damage to the
community. We should permit 1t to be
gained only so long as 1he gaining rep
resents benefit to the community. This,
I know, implies policy Of far more
active governmental interference with So
cial and economic conditions in this coun-
try than we have yet had, but think we
have got to face the fact that such an
increase in governmental control is now
necessary.
Income and Inheritance Taxes.
No man should receive a dollar unless
that dollar has been fairly earned. Every
dollar received should represent a dollars S
worth of service rendered. The really
big fortune, the swollen fortune, by the
mere fact OF its size, acquires qualities
which differentiate II in kind as we'll as
in degree from what is possessed by men
Of relatively small means. Therefore
believe In q graduated income tax on big
fortunes. and in another tax which Is far
more easily collected and far more eff
fective-a graduated inheritance tax or
big fortunes, properly safeguarded
against evasion, and increasing rapidly
in amount with the size of the estate.
The people Of the United States suffer
from periodical financial panics to de-
| gree substantially unknown among the
other nations which approach US in finan-
| cial strength. There Is no reason we
1I,o I,ok Yhaxr ID n
| profound importance that our financial
system should be promptly Investigated
| and so thoroughly and effectively re.
vised as to make it certain that hereafter
| our currency will no longer fail at criti-
cal times to meet our needs
1t is hardly necessary for me to repeat
that I believe In an efficient army ano
a navy large enough to secure for ut
abroad that respect which Is the sures
guarantee of peace. Justice and fair deal
ing among nations rest on principle:
identical with those which control justice
and fair dealing among the individuals o,
which nations are composed; with thu
vital exception that each nation must dt
its own partin international police work
| National friendships, like those betweer
| men, must be founded on respect as wei
| as on liking on forbearance as we'll a:
| upon trust. In all this 1t Is peculiarly the
duty of the United States to set goot
| example.
OF conservation shall speak more a
| length elsewhere. Conservation mean:
| development as much as 1t does protec
| ton. I recognize the right and the duty
| of this generation to develop and use thu
| natural resources Of our land but I dC
not recognize the right to waste them, Of
\ to rob, by wasteful use. the generations
that come after US. The natural resources
must be used for the beneft of all ou
| people and not monopoliZed for the bene
| fit Of the few That is one of the funda
| mental reasons why the special interests
must be driven out of politics. OF all thu
| questions which can come before thi!
Nation, short Of the actual preservation
| of Its existence in q great war, there !!
none which compares In Importance Will
the great central task of leaving thi!
land even a better land for our descen
dants than 1t is for us. and training then
into a better race to inhabit the land anC
pass it on. Conservation is great mora
| issue, for It involves the patriotic duty
| of insuring the safety and continuance
of the Nation. Let me add that tht
health and vitality Of our people are a
least as we'll worth conserving as thei
forests waters, lands and minerals, ant
that in this great work the National gov
ernmont must bear a most importan
part.
I have spoken elsewhere also Of th'
| great task which lies before the farm
ers Of the country to get for themselves
and for their wives and children not onl!
the benefits of better farming, but ais
| those of better business methods anC
| better conditions of life on the farm. Th
| burden of this great task will fall, as 1
should, mainly upon the great organiza
tions of the farmers themselves. 1 an
| glad 1t will, for I believe they are wei
able to handle It, In particular, ther
are strong reasons why the department.
| Of agriculture of the various states, tn
United States department Of agriculture
and the agricultural colleges and expert
ment stations should extend their worl
to cover all phases of life on the farm
instead of limiting themselves as the.
| have far too often limited themselves Il
the past, solely to the question Of tn
| production of crops.
Human Welfare Comes First.
| Nothing is more true than that exces
| Of every kind Is followed by reaction;
fact which should be pondered by reform
| er and reactionary alike We are face t,
| face with new conceptions OF the rela
tions Of property to human welfare, chief
| ly because certain advocates OF the right
of property as against the rights Of mel
have been pushing their claims too far
| The man who wrongly holds that ever!
| human right is secondary to his prof
must now give way to the advocate o
human welfare. who rightly maintains
| that every man holds his property sub
| tect to the general right of the commun
ity to regulate its use to whatever degre,
the public welfare may require 1t. Bu