Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-08-07

| couraBeu- 30 long as the farmer leaves
cooperative activities with their profit
sharing to the city man Of business, so
long will the foundations of wealth be
undermined and the comforts of enlight-
enment be impossible in the country
communities.
| The Tariff.
| on the tariff he says: 'I believe in a
| protective tariff, but I believe iii its d
] principle approached from stand
| point of the interests of the whole peo-
pie, and not as bundle of preferences
| to be given faverite individuals He
believes the American people favor the
principle of protective tariff. but are
in rebellion against the wrohg-doing and
| unjust application of that policy and
the abuses in past legislation. at is
not merely the tariff that should be re-
yised, but the method of tariff-making
and of tariff administration" The first
steps should be the creation of per-
manent commission of non-partisan x
pertst of .tample powers" to secure ex-
| act ard reliable information. 1.-THE
present Tariff Board is entirely inade-
| quate in point of powers reposed in 1t
and scope Of work undertaken The
Tariff Commission in Germany affords a
| splendid model This commission must
scientifically determine ''the difference
| In the cost of production here and
abroad the effect on prices TO the con-
sumer," insure fun justice to the pay
envelope of the wage-earner. The COM
| mission must not attempt TO eperoach on
the tariff-making power of Congress. 1t
shall report with full publicity and
| promptly The tariff shall be revised
schedule by schedule to avoid the stage
gering blows to business" incident to
former general reyisions. The effect will
be TO wipesout the "log-rolling and vote
trading secured by special interests in
the past. "oniy by this means can the
tariff be taken out of politics. 1.-THE sub
stitution of a tariff for revenue only az
proposed by the Democratic platform
would plunge this country into the most
widespread Industrial depression We have
ever seen" The revision shall be down
ward and not upward and secure
square deal not merely to the nanufae-
turer but to the wage-worker and to
the general consumer.
The High Cost of Living.
"The cost OF living" says Mr. Roose-
velt has risen during the last few years
out of all proportion to the increase of
most salaries and wages" What is first
necessary is fearless, Intelligent and
searching inquiry into the whole subject.
made absolutely by a non-partisan body
of experts with no prejudice to warp
their minds, no private object TO serve,
who shall recommend any necessary
remedy needless of what interest may
be hurt thereby, and caring only for the
interests Of the people as a whole" The
Republicans promise such an inquiry but
their rank dishonesty of action at the
Chicago convention makes their every
promise worthless 1t is hopeless to
turn to the Democratic party for relief,
because, first, the Democratic party 'saf-
fects to find the entire high cost of liv-
ing in the Tariff ignoring the patent
fact that the problem is worldwide
equally in the free-trade England and in
highly protected Germany Moreover, IL
the Democrats are sincere, they must
take all duties off the products of the
farmer, and we sscertainIy cannot afford
to have the farmer struck down." Va
iious elements. economic, political, and
social. are. pointed out by Mr. Roose-
welt as contributing the high cost of
living But effective Legislation regarding
| it can only be framed on comprehen-
sive scale after a thorough, scientific
and prompt inquiry.
The Currency.
| Mr.. Roosevelt declares that cur pres
ent bank currency based on government
bonds is unscientific. and urges the adop-
ton of system which shall provide
.eiasticity in the credit and currency
necessary for the conduct of business.
| free from recurring panics' The control
of such a system should be In the hands
| of the government, and must be free
from .manipulation by Wall street or
| the large interests
Conservation.
Under this head Mr. Roosevelt re-
affirms his well-known policy on the con-
| servation and reclamation of national
resources. We must conserve our soil,
our forests, our mines. not only for our
| own benefit but for the benefit of our
| children and descendants. "The public
| should not ALLEVIATE its fee in the water
power which will be of incalculable val
ue as a source of power in the immediate
| future and 1--WE should undertake the
! complete development and control OF
| the MISSISSIPPI ds a udtAohHi WIN jNHN
has we have undertaken . the werk OF
building the Panama canal.
Alaska.
| "In Alaska the government has an
| opportunity of starting in what is almost
a fresh field to work out various prob
lens by actual experiment" 1t should at
| once construct, own, and operate all the
| railways in Alaska; it should keep the
fee of all coal fields and allow them to
be operated by lessee with the condition
| in the lease that non-use shall operate
as a forfeit: system Of land taxation
| should be tried which promotes the ae-
| tual usepf hand and diseourages the hold
ing of land for speculation; the telegraph
| lines should be owned and operated by
the government
/ international Affairs.
''In international affairs this country
| should behave towards other nations ex-
actly as an honorable private, citizen be
| HAYES towards other private citizens
Our small army should have large eff
ficiency; The navy must be steadily built