The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-08-16
IMMENSE CROWD OF
 FARMERS PRESENT
Governor Discusses the Relations of Panama Canal Bill to Farmers and Declares for Agricul-
 tural Education

at Washington park, where the farmers of New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsyl- vania, were participating in a celebra- tion The candidate dwelt mostly upon the protective tariff which he called tht restrictive tariff," attacked Senator Ald- rich and his tariff making associates pointed out the benefits of a. merchant marine in connection with the Panama canal, and blamed the influence of ex' press companies in halting parcels post legislation. The governor frequently was interrupted by applause and cheers When he finished speaking many of the farmers crowded to shake hands.
 The governor was at the park about two hours. returning to seagirt early E tonight.
 Wilson's Speech
 Governor Wilson said in part:
 "I am interested in politics not as a search for office. but as great contest devoted to something very definite and practical indeed. Politics ought not to be considered as mere occasion for oratory. Politics ought to be considered as a branch of the national business, and a man who talks politics ought to tell his fellow citizens very distinctly what he thinks about their affairs and what his own attitude towards them is. Here we are at q farmers picnic, and on this day l suppose ~e might say that the farmers occupy the center of the stage When did the farmers ever occupy the center of the stage in our politics l don't remember any time. have seen the interests of a great many classes specially regarded in legislation, but l .1-l.. I11r.t seen the interests of the farmer regarded in legislation. And one of the greatest inpostions upon the farmer of this conn- try that has ever been devised is the present tariff legislation of the United States.
 T have not heard of farmers waiting for hearing before the committee ~r finance committee of the Senate in order - So take part in de-ernliniag what the tariff schedules should be. While you were feeding the world Congress was feeding the trusts. Nobody doubts what the process of tarif legislation has been because everybody who has been curious enough to inquire knows what the pro- cess of tariff legislation has been.
 l would be ashamed of myself if tried to stir up any feeling on the part of any class against any other class. 1 wish to oisavow all intention of suggestion to the idfHlCi that ne go III ana 0O SOIneDOuN up. That is not the point. All that I am modestly suggesting to you is that you oreal. into your own house and live there. And 1 want you to examine very critically the character of the tenants who have been occupying it. It is very big house and very few people have been living in it, and the ront has been de- manded of you and not of them. You have paid the money which enabled them 10 live in your own house and dominate your cwn premises.
 Indicts the Tariff
 T regard this campaign as I regarded every campaign in which the people have taken part since the world began as sim pl. continued struggle to see to it that the people were taken care of by their own government. And my indictment aga1nst the tariff is that it represents spe- cial partnerships and does not represent the general interest. It is a long time since tariffs were made by men who even supposed that they were seeking to serve the general interests because tariffs are not made by the general body of members Of either house of Congress. They have 1n the past been made by very small groups of individuals in certain commit tees of those houses, who even refused information to their fellow members as 10 the basis upon which they had acted ili framing the schedules.
 One of the gentlemen who has been ost conspicuously connected with this thing has in recent years prudently with diitwn from rublc life. I mean Mr. AL erich. 1 at least give MT. Aldrich the credit of having had large weather eye. lie saw that the weather was changing in Rhode Island-as well as in the rest of the union; that men who had long known that he was imposing upon them fell that the limit had been reached and they were not going to be imposed upon any longer They saw that he wasn't even doing what he pretended to do, namely, to serve the special interests ct Rhode Island because he was serving only some of the specal interests oe Rhode Island.
 Questions for Farmers
 Now there are various questions which You gentlemen ought lJ realize are pend- ing. questions that directly concern the farmer. The tariff intimately concerrs the farmer or this country 1t makes a great deal Of difference to you that Mir. Taft The other day vetoed the steel bll. II makes difference to you in the eost ol practically every tool that you use. and It ought to be very significant 10 you that democratic House of Representa- tives has just passed the steel tariff re- duction bill over the presiaent's veto. a thng, ! am informed. is unprectdented in the history of the country that a House should have passed two tarif L4easures over the veto of the President.
 Tariff measures are not measures for the merchant merely, and the ,nanufac- turer The farmer pays just as biz a pro- portion ,of the tariff duties as anybody else. Indeed, sometimes when we are Challenged to say who the consumer is.as contrasted with the producer. 50 far as the tarif is concerned, I am ternpted to answer the farmer because he does not produce any of the things that get any material benefit from tae ta.iff and con suines all of the thines wlich are taxed under the tariff system"
 The governor explained the benefits tha f might accrue to the farmer from inc Pa n- ama canal if the merchant marine were restored.
 The Panama Canal
 He continued One of the great on,ec1s is. cutting that great ditch across me , iathmus of Panama is to allow far,ners | who are near the Atlantic to. ship to fine Pacific coast by way of the Atlantic ports. And ore of the bills pending just passen by Congress provides for free tolls for American ships through that canal and
 
 lCnntlnmed on Rawe Nfmel