The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1912-10-19
WILSON SPEAKS
PARTY POSITION
ON TARIFF LAWS
Predicts Forces of Reform
Will Dominate Both
Houses Of Congress.
FREE TRADE NOT ISSUE
Democratic Position, He Says
is Mere REIMBURSEMENT of
Tariff Schedules.
FREE TRADE NOT ISsUl
,esoc' ated Press Dispatch.

Pittsburgh, Pa, Oct. 1S.-T;e
position of the Democratic party or
| the tariff was discussed by Governor
Wilson In his speech here tonight.
He predicted that "the forces. of re-
| form will be dominant IN both
houses in the next congress and
declared that the election of a pres
lidenf out of sympathy with them
would generate uneasiness and dis
content. He said in part:
Il welcome the opportunity of
stating what | believe to be the we'll
considered position of the Demo-
cratic party with regard to the tariff.
Not For Free Trade.
"The Democratic party does not
propose free trade or anything ap-
preaching free trade. 1t proposes
merely a reconsideration of the tariff
schedules such as will adjust them
to the actual business conditions
| and interests Of the country, Every
observant business man must have
realized long ago that the tariff
schedules We're constructed in such
a way that business was not upon
lnerlpal basis in the United States.
They do not constitute system of
we'll considered protection. On the
contrary they embody innumerable
cunningIy devised and carefully con-
cealed special favors ana particular
groups of capitalists and manufac-
turers have taken advantage of these
soecial favors to build monopoly up
in way that is threatening and
dan gerous to every new and inde-
pendent enterprise.
at is obvious that the country de-
Imauds, and will sooner or later OBJ
tain thoroughly considered revis-
ion of the tariff and TIE serious prac-
teal question now is, when and how
shall 1T be brought about? 1t Is
practically out Of the question that
the Republicans should control the
majority of the next house of rep
resenlatives; it Is evident that those
who stand pat on the tariff will not
control the next senate: the forces
of reform will be dominant In both
houses. To he held at a standstll
in such circumstances by a president
entirely out of sympathy with con-
.eress will be to operate greater and
greater uneasiness, greater and
Greater restlessness, deeper and
deeper discomfort.
Industries Prosperous.
I'm spite of all the obstacles of
the existing tariff system, in spite of
all the embarrassment Of an inelastic
currency, in spite of the uncertain
ties of politics, the commercial and
industrial interests of the country
are moving forward in an irresist-
able stream. The argument is put
forth. therefore, to 'let we'll enough
alone. The argument would be
very impressive if we really thought
that The present conditions are well
enough, but we know that they are
not, that they constantly involve the
influences of monopoly, of manipua
tlon, ot private control, and even if
they were well enough II is not leay-
ing them alone to elect Mr. Taft
president, to hold a restless nation at
standstill for four years and ex-
asperate the very forces which may
now If properly guided and wisely
moderated, remove every obstacle to
free enteryrse and unlimited busl-
ness expansion.
There are more possibilities
panic cnsuring upon bounding
prosperity under the present system
than there could be under any other,
and every dictate OF prudence, every
instance of craftsmanship ought to
point TO those early reforms which
can be accomplished in good temper
by common counsel and in moderate
form. We cannot stand still, least
Of all when the opportunity of un-
bounded prosperity beckons us on
"To retain our present embarrass-
ments would be to miss our chance"