The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-10-31
IRVING FISHER !
FOR WILSON
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow ProgreSsiyes
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE
Contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude tho
Only Progressive One.
BY Proc. LIVING FISHER.


J was a member OF President Ro0seVelts
national conservation commission. Ed
write not as a Democrat but as
an independent Progressive and in the
hope that my letter may help other
Progresslyes who are wavering TO
make up their minds to vote for VIII
son So far as can see the only
hope or progressive legislation lies in
! the election OF Wilson. My reasons.
In brief. follow:
L. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS -
n II were possible to elect Nh Taft
there would merely be repeated the
same deadlock with congress and fsii-
ure to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced In hts
first term
IL It were possible to elect Mr..
Roosevelt even less could be accom-
pished for the reason that he would
not have sympathetic congress.
2. DEADLOCKED ELECTION--To
be still more practical, We should con-
slider that the result of us independ-
ents voting for Tart or Roosevelt in
stead OF for Wilson may be to pre-
vent any one OF the three from being
elected
3. THE TARlFF-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 legisla-
tion, because with him will be elected
a sufficient number OF Democrats to
give majority in both houses. TO
this my Bull Moose friends reply that
not all Democrats are progressiyes
and will not carry out a progressive
platform.
This argument oyerlooka the fact
that the paramount issue OF this cam
paign is the tarifr and that progress
siye tariff reform means progressive
tariff reduction. 1t Is just because
the Democrats have been party OF
negatlon, SO far as the tariff is con-
cerned that they, If anybody. can DO
trusted to reform 1t downward.
Mr. Roosevelt would be equally UNI
able and far more unwilling than Mr.
Taft 10 reduce the tariff. In his seven
years In office he left the tariff un-
touched, and now he speaks primarily
AS a protectionist and not as tariff
reformer lie yields grudgingly to the
u Rc, tav vif ~ frf. ht4f eyfu
no clear argument for It. Instead he
repeats the old fallacious arguments
to make our poor workmen belieys
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?
T. ISSUES ECONOMIC.-Wi Wilson's
grasp OF the problems OF the hour far
surpasses that Of Roosevelt or Taft.
Mr.. Roosevelt has frequently admit
ted that economic problems such as
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
s. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson is more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrammeled In
his devotion to the interests of the
people as a 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 hts fight
to democratlze Princeton university
when their unpopularity in the circles
in which his activities then lay nearly
threatened to destroy his influence
and career.
s. PURE FOODS.-Governor VIII
son and the Democratic party have.
shown a greater interest than either
Taft or Roosevelt Ia the projections
of the consumer against food adul-f
teratlon and other injuries to the publ
lie health Or Wiley, although pre-
viously a Republican, now has decid-A
ed not only 10 vote for Wilson, but TOT
help him actively In the campaign.
:. THIRD TERM-To elect Mr.
Roosevelt would deal fatal blow to
the useful tradition against a thild
term. Nor do | think 1t alto
gether improbable that If Mr. Roose-
welt we're again elected president he
would. whatever his present inten-
tions. gradually assume the role OF
benevolent despot. His natural tenn
permanent IS that OF a dictator
| write as one who still holds per
sonal respect both for Colonel Rooss-
welt and President Taft and IN 40
spirit OF personal hostility 10 either.
! believe that all three candidates In
tend to do right "as God gives them
20 see the right" but ] think neither,
Taft nor Roosevelt sees the right a.
CLEARLY "a Oyooarrxr Vx-fTS,,,