The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1910-04-01
dawn
OF A New Era OF Political
Liberty
Declares President Wilson Of
Princeton University

New York, March 31-1he political
tide Is now turning Democratic, and
the day when the Democratic party
must take charge OF this country's af-
fairs Is almost at hand, were declar.
ations made by Woodrow Wilson,
President of Princeton University, in
a speech at the Democratic dinner In
Elizabeth, N. j., last night.
Mr. Wilson outlined the character
of legislation which the Democrats
should give the country to meet the
present economic problems In this
connection he said
81 do not mean, of course, to be
guilty Of the egotism and audacity of
putting forth a program of specific
measure, but do think it possible to
state the character we should wish
to give to legislation.
an the first place we should wish
not merely to curb tt3 trusts, and
above all we should not wish to regu-
late them in such way as will make
either partners or creatures of the
Government itself.
1--WE should wish to square their
whole action and responsibility with
the general interest regarding them,
not as objects in themselves, but
merely as conveniences in our econ
omic life and development. Recent
proposals of regulation have looked
too much like a Wholesale invasion
by Government itself of the field of
business management.
Our regulations of public interests
must be legal regulation and direct
management.
"In the second place, 1t is clearly
our duty so soon as we get the op-
portunity to take the Government out
of the business of patronage, the busi-
ness of granting favors and privileges,
of arranging the laws so that this,
that, or the other group of men may
make large profits out of their busi-
ness, and draw it back to the func-
tions of safeguarding rights, general,
not particular, right; the rights which
make not so much for the prospect.
ty" which enables small groups of in
dividuals to pile up enormous for.
tunes, as for a general stimulation
universal opportunity for enlightment
and justice. | am thinking, of course,
of tariff legislation.
whatever may be our views with
regard to the policy vaguely called
the policy of protection, it is clear
that in fact it has long since, as dealt
with by Congress, ceased to be poll
cy of protection and become policy
of patronage.
I'VE are told that the present ex-
traordinary high price oil commodities
is due not to the tariff, but to the fact
that we are not producing enough to
keep up with the daily demand, and
that this is particularly true with re-
gard to the things we eat and have
daily need Of
"Take meats for example, and see
what the truth is. The truth is that
the Meat Trust has been able to
control the meat market to such an
extent that scores of ranchmen have
been driven out of the cattle-raising
business because it was improbable
The short supply of meat is due to
the monopoly created by the Meat
Trust.
at is true, therefore, that the sup,
ply is short compared with the vast
demand, but it has been made short
by the operation of trust unques.
ionably fostered by the legislation OF
the Government.
'In the third place, it is one of the
chief duties of the Democratic party
to initiate such reform, alike in local
and Federal government, as will Sc
cure economy, responsibility, honesty,
fidelity.
"And finally it seems to me that it
is the duty of the Democratic party to
challenge the people by every possible
means to depend upon themselves
rather than upon fostering powers
lodged in groups of individuals.
"There have been very encourag'
ing signs in recent years, particular
ly In some of our smaller cities, that
we have at least come upon time
when the people are arousing them
selves to give over being dependent