The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-10-29
Tariff Program

I welcome the opportunity of stat l ing what believe to be the well con sidered position of the Democratic party with regard co the tariff. It is absolutely essential that we should be entirely frank with one another in the discussion of this fundamental question.
 The business men of the country owe it to themselves to face the facts as they are and to meet them in a spirit of accomm odation which has no touch either of radiealism or of mere theoretical reconstruction in it.
 The Democratic party does not pro- pose free trade or anything approach ing free trade. It proposes merely 8 reconsideration of the tariff sched- u1es, such as will adjust them to the actual business conditions and inter- ests of the country. Every observ- ant business man must have realized long ago that the tarin schedules were constructed in such a way that busi- ness was not upon a normal basis in the United States. They do not con Stitute system of well considered protection. On the contrary, they embody innumerable conningly devis- ed and carefully concealed special fa- yors, and particular groups of capi- talists and manufacturers have taken advantage of these special favOrs to build monopoly up in a way that Is threatening and dangerous to every new and independent enterprise. Our field of industry is like an intended garden. Some of the plants have so overshadowed the rest as to give them no chance of light or air. Their rools moreover, have monopolized the soil and new growths are all but impos- sible. If we would have stable pros perity we must adn.ft light and air and freedom into the whole process of our industrial life, and 1t is with that object that the Democrats will approach the revision of the tariff. Their desire is not to check, but to aid; not to embarrass, but to quicken.
 They will not undertake the task like amateurs either. They will seek in obtain the best possible advice in the country, but they will seek 1t far and wide, and not only in the quarters from which it has usually come.
 It is obvious that the country de- mands and will sooner or later ob- tain, a thoroughly considered revision of the tariff, and the serious practi- cal question now is, when and how shall it be brought about? It is prac- tically out of the question that the Republicans should control the major ity of the next house of representa- tives It is evident that those who stand pat on the tariff will not con- trol the next senate. The forces of reform will be dominant in both houses To be held at a standstiil in such circumstances by a president entirely out of sympathy with con- eress will be to generate greater and greater uneasiness, greater and great CT restlessness, deeper and deeper dis content and so to mass the forces which may ultimately make change when it comes too rapid and too rad ical.
 In spite of all the obstacles of the acz the embarrassm ents of an inelastic currency, in spite of the uncertainties of politics, the commercial and in- dustrial interests of the country are moving forward in an irresistible stream. The argument is put forth therefore. to s1et we'll enough alone The argument would be very impres- sive if we really thought that the present conditions are well enough. but we know that they are not, that they constantly involve the influences of monopoly, of manipulation, of pro- vate control. and even if they were well enough, it is not leaving them hold a restless nation at 8 standstill for four years and exaSperate the very forces which may now. if properly guided and wisely moderated, remove every obstacle to free enterprise and unlimited buusiness expansion.
 There are more possibilities of pan- ic ensuing upon abounding prosperity under the present system than there couuld be under any other. and every dictate of prudence. every instinct of tesmanship, fought to point to those early reforms which can be accom- plished in good temper by common counsel and in moderate form. We cannot stand still, least of all when the opportunity of unbounded pros perity beckons us on.
 To retain our present embarrass- ments would be to miss our chance.- Pittsh11reh Oct. 1T.