The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-10-30
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow ProyTeSSives
With Cl5cr Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE
contras SITS Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude the
Only Progressive One.
By PROF.. IRVING FISHER.

| write not as Democrat but az
an independent Progressive and in the
hope that my letter may help other
Progressives who are waverirg to
make up their minds to vote for VIII
son So far as | can see the only
hope Of progressive legislation lies In
the election OF Wilson. My reasons.
in brief, follow:
/. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
If it were possible to elect Mr.. TAFT
there would merely be repeated the
same deadlock with congress and fall
ure to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced in his
first term.
II It were possible to elect MIR.
Roosevelt even less could be accom-
plished, for the reason that he would
not have a sympathetic congress.
g. DEADLOCKED ELECTION.-To
be still more practical. we should con-
slider that the result Of US independ.
ents voting for Taft or Roosevelt in
stead Of for Wilson may be to pre-
vent any one of the three from being
elected.
3. THE TARIFF.-If. on the other
hand, we independent Progressives
unite for the most part In voting for
Wilson he can be elected, and, II elect
ed, can accomplish substantial legis' l.
ton. because with him will be elect d
sufficient number Of Democrats 10
give a majority in both houses. 10
this my Bull Moose friends reply that
not all Democrats are prOgressives
and will not carry out progressive
platform.
This argument overlooks the fact
that the paramount issue Of this cam.
paign is the tariff and that progress
sive tariff reform means progressive
tariff reduction. It Is just because
the Democrats have been q party Of
negation, so far as the tariff Ia con.
cerned, that they. If anybody. can be
trusted to reform it downward.
Mr.. Roosevelt would be equally un-
able and far more unwilling than Mr..
Taft to reduce the tariff. In his seven
years In Office he left the tariff I'm.
touched. and now he speaks primarily
~ . protectionist and not - q tariff
reformer. He yields grudgingly to the
demand for tariff reduction, but gives
no clear argument for It. Instead. he
repeats the old fallacious arguments
to make our poor workmen believe
that high tariff raises wages.
Governor Wilson and his party. on
the other hand are ardent tariff re-
formers. In this respect the Demo.
cratic platform is the only progressive
platform of the three.
Why should we blind ourselves by
the introduction Of numerous other
issues which could not be settled in
the present campaign when We have.
before us the greatest issue Of all. the
tariff. which CAN be settled?
l. ISSUES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
grasp OF the problems of the hour far
surpasses that of Roosevelt or Taft.
Mr. Roosevelt has frequently admit.
ted that economic problems such az
the tariff. the cost Of living, the cur.
rency and the economic problems con.
nected with trusts not only have no
attraction for him. but have never
been understood by him.
;. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson is more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrammeled In
his devotion to the interests of the
people as whole. Those who
accuse Wilson of recently adopting
new democratic doctrines because
their popularity would help him per.
sonally should learn that on the con-
trary. he adopted them tin his fight
to democratize Princeton university
when their unpopularity in the circles
In which his activities then lay nearly
threatened to destroy his influence
and career.
6. PURE FOODS.-Governor VIII
son and the Democratic party have
shown q greater interest than either
Taft or Roosevelt in the protection
Of the consumer against food adul-
iteration and other injuries to the pub
lie health. Dr. Wiley. although pre-
viously . Republican. now has decid-
/ ed not only to vote for Wilson. but to
help him actively in the campaign.
| Z. THIRD TERM.-To elect Mr..
Roosevelt would deal a fatal blow to
the useful tradition against third
term Nor do l think it alto
gether improbable that IL Mr.. Roose-
Welt were again elected president he
would. whatever his present inten-
tons. gradually assume the role OF
benevolent despot. His natural tenn
permanent is that Of dictator.
write as one who still holds per.
sonal respect both for Colonel Roose-
Welt and President Taft and in no
spirit of personal hostility to either.
I believe that all three candidates in
tend to do right as God gives them
to see the right" but think neither
Taft nor Roosevelt sees the right q