The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1912-10-25
Woodrow Wilson, in Five
Short Speeches, Presents
the Vital Issues of this
!, Campaign

THE TARIEE

we stand III Cn0 presence OL uIl
awakened nation. Plainly 1t is a
new age. There are two great things
to do. One is to set up the rule OF
justice and right in such matters as
the tariff, the regulation of trusts
and the prevention of monopoly. The
business Of government is to separ-
ate special and particular interests
from the beneral interests of wide
communities The initial task this
year Is 10 gee our government in such
shape that we can use 1t for our own
purpose, not against anybody in par
teular, but for everybody in general.
We want to establish real partner
ship between all the people and the
Federal government instead of be-
tween special interests and the Fed
eral government. We must effect a
great readjustment and get the forces
OF the whole people once more into
play.
The tariff question, as death with
In our time, has not been business.
1t has been politics The tariff has
become a system of favors. Tariff
schedules have been determined in
committee rooms and conferences.
The tariff becomes matter of legiti-
mate business only when the under
standing 1t represents is between the
leaders of Congress and the whole
people of the United State, instead
OF between the leaders of Congress
and small groups of manufacturers
demanding special recognition and
consideration That is the heart OF
the whole affair. It is at bottom
question OF good faith and morals.
Our conviction as Democrats is
that the only legitimate object of tar
in duties is to raise revenue for the
support OF the government. We de-
nounce the Payne-Aldrich Tariff Act
as the most conspicuous example ever
afforded of the special favors OF mon
opolistic advantages which the lead
ers of the Republican party have so
often shown themselves willing to ex-
tend to those to whom they looked
for campaign contributions, The
changes which we make should bel
made only at such rate and In
such a way as will least interfere
with the normal and healthful course
OF commerce and manufacture. There
should be an immediate revision
downward 1t should begin with the
schedules most obviously used to kill
competition and raise prices in the
United States, and should be ex-
tended to every item which affords
opportunity for monopoly and special
advantage, until special fayors shall
have been absolutely withdrawn and
our laws of taxation transformed into
a system of just and reasonable
charges which shall fall where they
will create the least burden.
The Republican party doesn't pro-
pose to change any Of the essential
conditions which mark our present
difficulties. Mr.. Roosevelt proposes
In his platform not to abolish mon
opoly but to take il under the legal
protection of the government and to
regulate 1t, to take the very men into
partnership who have been making it |
impossible to carry out these great |
programs by which all of us wish to
help the people. We don't want to
disturb the industry of the country,
but to destroy the control over the
Industry OF other people which these
men have established and which
makes 1t impossible that we should
give ourselves free field of service