The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1912-11-01
IRVING FISHER
FOR WILSON.
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
TO Fellow PrOgTHSSlV0S
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE
Contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude the
Only Progressive One.
BIZ PROFESSOR IRvINe FIsHER.

Only Progressive Ono.
BY PROFESSOR IRVING FISHER.
[Note.-Dr Fisher is the noted author
ity on economies OF Yale university. He
was a member OF President Roosevelts
national conservation commission.-Ed.l
write not as a Democrat but as an
Independent Progressive and In the
hope that my letter may help other
Progressives who are wavertng 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 fail
ure to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced In his first
term.
If 1t were possible to elect Mr.. Roose-
welt even less could be accomplished,
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 Taft or Roosevelt in
stead of for Wilson may be to prevent
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 legisla-
tion, because with him will be elected
a sufficient number Of Democrats to
give q majority In both houses. To
this my bull moose friends reply that
not all Democrats are progressives and
will not carry out pre- essive plat
form.
This argument overlooks the fact
that the paramount issue Of this cam
paign is the tariff and that progressive
tariff reform means progressive tarin
reduction. 1t is just because the Dem
ocrats have been a party Of negatiOn,
so far as the tariff is concerned, that
they, If anybody, can be trusted to re-
form 1t 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 un-
and now he speaks primarily
as a protectionist and not as a tarin
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 |
he Introduction of numerous other IS
,ues which could not be settled In the |
present campaign when we have be-
,ore US the greatest issue OF all, the
ar1ff, which CAN be settled?
4. ISSUES ECONOMIC. - Wilson's
yrasp of the problems of the hour far
that of Roosevelt or Taft
dr. Roosevelt has frequently admitted
hat economic problems such as the
ariff, the cost of living, the currency
nd the economic problems come ted
With trusts not only have no attrac-
ion for him, but have never been un-
erstood by him.
5. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
wilson is more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrammeled in
is devotion to the interests Of the peo-
lie as a whole. Those who
ccuse Wilson of recently adopting
ew democratic doctrines because their
opularity would help him personally
hould learn that, on the contrary, he
dopted them lin his fight to democra-
re Princeton university when their
npopularty In the circles In which
is activities then lay nearly threat
1ed to destroy his influence and ca
ser.
@. PURE TOODS.-Governor Wilson
ld the Democratic party have shown
greater interest than either Taft or
oosevelt in the protection Of the con-
inner against food adulteration and
her injuries to the public health DR..
'iley, although previously Il Republic
|, now has decided not only to vote
r Wilson, but to help him actively In
e campaign.
Z. THIRD TERM. To elect Mr..
oosevelt would deal Il fatal blow to
Q useful tradition against a third
rm. 80" Nor do / think it alt0geth-
improbable that II Mr.. Roosevelt
sre again elected president he would,
his present intentions, grad
lily assume the role Of benevolent
spot. Els natural temperament is
at Of dictator.
write as one who still holds person
respect both for Colonel Roosevelt
d President Taft and in no spirit Of
rsonal hostility to either believe
1t all three candidates intend to do
hit "as God gives them 10 see the :
hit" but ! think neither Taft nor
osevelt gees the right as clearly as /