Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1910-11-28
Party's Victory and Duties
Impressive, Says Former U. S.
Senator James Smith, Jr.
PARTY'S OPPORTUNITY
GREATEST In GENERATIONS
Tariff, Public Economy and Con-
troll of Corporations Are Car
dinal, Says Former Senator.


conceives to be the duty of the Demo-
cratic party in the nation in order to
retain the peoples confidence.
In an interview yesterday, at the
New willard. at which he stopped en-
route to the South, he stated that the
tariff, public economy and control Of
corporations were the great problems
which his party must solve to meet
the demands of the public.
He expressed himself as committed
to a downward revision of the tariff.
which he considered the most Solemn
duty" of the hour.
The Democratic party has oppor-
tunity now not equaled in a generation
to carr lasting credit" said the former
senator.
1.-THE people are awakened. They
are taking an interest in public
affairs today u%nthought of in the
last. They have come to realize
their power, and they will WELD it
hereafter on the side of those who
serve them best. The present is an age of
enlightenment. The man or party who
would keep abreast of the times must
catch the step of the movement that
Is heading toward civic progress, or
drop back into the rear, apart from the
peoples confidence and support.
Democratic Party About to BE Tested.
1.-THE Democratic party is about to be
put to the test. / am hopeful of the
outcome, but | would suggest that we
approach the task In a spirit of general
fairness. The people are protesting
against burdens which are not uni
formly borne. They complain of the
Is<rL -N-t 80 lf.rt4- f n.rbIfo aXfra va .
gance. and of the tariff. The present
cost of living is due to many causes. to
the tariff, to public extravaganza and
to abuse of corporate power. Wnen
these three causes are under proper
control the cost of living will seek its
natural level, for 1t will then be free
from illegal manipulation"
Have you a plan in mind as to the
course your party shorld pursue!" he
was asked.
II have. I favor a fixed and definite
program. There are minor reliefs to
be afforded and policies to be adopted,
but the three great problems for solu-
tion are the tariff, public economy and
control of corporations.
1.-THE tariff should receive early at
tention. The present law Is generally
considered as evidence of a party's
breach of faith. A revision downward
is expected, especially with reference
to the necessities of life. To my mind,
hat is the most solemn duty of the
Democratic part at the moment. But
its duty Is two-fold, to the people and
to the business interests of the coun-
try. That both may we'll be served,
announcement should presently be
made of a congressional plan in this
regard. Buainess halts while tariffs
are being ~q~s~. In the interest then
of the common welfare, the Democratic
program should include a f1xed pur-
pose to proceed without delay to a
downward revision of the tariff where
needed and a resolute and speedy ac-
com%plishment of that purpose.
Economy in the administration OF
Federal AFFAIR." e also demanded. Put
those affairs upon-~a business basis
and handle them as carefully as We
do our private affairs. 1t has become
a habit to speak of billions as measur-
ing our necessities in this regard. We
are pouring out millions at a rate that
may excite the admiration Of the
stranger, but the taxpayer sees In It
only further burdens. Retrenchment
should be the Democratic watchword.
Accomplish this and one of h em-
barrassments of the proper handling
of the tariff will have been removed"
How would VIZ control corpora
tions?"
Uniform state Corporation Laws.
by uniform State action. Corpora
titins are chartered in one State. and
81 bject to little or no restraint, do
business where they will. Their sphere
is nation wide and the practises OF
some of them cause hardship n dis
tress. Corporations are essential to
commercial development. Without them
we would not have attained the heights
which we occupy today In the world OF
trade. But we have created them. We
have made it possible for them to be-
come big and great, and they should
not complain IL we now seek to restrain
them from becoming oppressive. In my
own State of New Jersey many cor
porations are charteredA Heretofore
more care has been given to their Gre
alton than to their control. But cor
porate regulation and control was made
an issue in our recent campaign and
hereafter that principal Is to be en-
forced, Encourage corporations. for
they are aids to the development OF
business. DuL nODDt6 tHcLi just tuouSu
to prevent them from becoming detri-
ments."
,"How do you view the recent cleo
ton results?"
"As a splendid certificate of conf
dence in the Democratic party. This
is especially true in my own State.
There woodrow Wilson conducted q
campaign that was one long. earnest
and eloquent appeal to he convictions
of the people. Their response was his
election as Governor and the return OF
the party to power by the unprece-
dented plurality Of $4,000. The result
generally was a reputation of Repub-
lican tendencies and leadership and an
expression of trust in Democratic
1t should be the aim now of
the Democratic party to so act that
the confidence of the people may not
only be retained, but that it may be
evidenced in a larger way in the COM
ing Presidential election"
20 FIREMEN, UNCONSCIOUS,
- Tunr