Duncan Arizonian., 1912-11-27
Sea eirt, N. j., oct. u, l9l2.

sea G1rC, NJ Jss OcIe 4Ss 4SA-5s
I am glad to have an opportunity to state very
simply and directly why [ am seeking to be elect
ed Presi dent Of the United States. Ifeal very
deeply that this is not an ambitio man should
entertain for his own sake. He must seek to
serve a cause, and must know very clearly what
cause IT Is he is seeking to serV9s
The cause enlisted in lies very plain
TO my own view: The Government OF the United
States, as bound by the policies which have
become charact eristic OF Republican admin stra-
tton in recent years., is not free TO serve the
whole people impart tally, and it ought to be set
free. It has been tied up, whether deliberately
or merely by unintent onal devel opment, with
parti interests, which have used their pow
er, both to control the government and to con-
troll the Industrial development Of the country
Tt must be freed from such entangle lements and al
1iances. Until it is freed, it cannot serve tho
people as whole. Until it is freed it cannot
undertake any programme OF social and economic
betterment but must be checked and thwarted at
every turn by it's patrons end masters.
In practically every. speech that I make,
put at the front Of what have to say the ques-
Of the tariff and the question Of the trusts,
but not because Of any thought OF party strategy,
because believe the solution Of these Ques-
tions TO lie at the very heart Of the bigger
question, whether the government shall be free
or not. The government is not free because it
has granted special favors to particular classes
by means Of the tariff. The men to whom these
special favors have been granted have formed
great comb mat ions by which to control enter
prise and determine the prices Of commodities.
They could not have done this had it not been for
the tariff. No party, therefore, which does not
propose to take away these special 3aVorS. and
prevent monopoly absolutely in the markets Of the
country sees even so much the most elementary
part of the method by which the government is
be set free.
The control to which tariff legislati ion has
Led, both in the field OF politics and in the
field OF business, is what has produced the most
odious feature Of our present political situa-
tion, namely, the absolute domination Of power
ful bosses. Bosses cannot exist without busi-.
ness alliances. With them politics is hardly
distinguishable from business. Bosses aintain
their control because they. are allied with men
who wish their assistance in order to get con-
tracts, in order to obtain special legislative
advant ages, in order to prevent reforms which
Will interfere with monopoly or With their en-
joyment Of special exemptions. Merely as po1tt-
ical leaders, not backed by money, not supported
by securely intrenched special interests, bosses
would be entirely manageable and comparatively
poWerless. By freeing the government, there
fore, we at the same t 1me break the power Of the
boss. He trades, he does not govern. He ar
ranges, he does not Lead. He sets the stage for
what the people are to do he does not act as
their agent or servant, but as their director.
For him the real business OF politics is done
under cover.
The same means that Will set the government
free from the influences which now constantly