Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow PTOgrGSSIVGS
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE.
Contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude the
Only Progressive One.
BY PROFESSOR IRVING FISHER.

was a member Of President Roosevelts
national conservation oommlssion.-Ed
| write not as a Democrat but as an
independent Progressive and in the
hope that my letter may help other
Progressives who are wavering to
make I'D their minds to vote for VIII
son. So far as | can see the only hope
of progressive legislation lies in the
election Of Wilson. Ny reasons. in
brief, follow:
/. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
II it were possible to elect Mr.. Taft
there would merely be repeated the
same deadSk with congress and fail
ure to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced in his hrst
term
If it were possible to elect Mr.. Roose-
welt even less could be accomplished,
for the reason that be would not have
a 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 ProgresAyes
unite for the most part in voting Tor
Wilson he can be elected, and, If elect
ed, can accomplish substantial ieSisla-
ton, because with him will be elected
sufficient number of Democrats to
give a majority in both houses To
this my bull moose friends reply that
not all Democrats are progressives and
will not carry out a progressive 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 tariff
reduction 1t is Just because the Dem
ocrats have been a party of negation.
SO far rs the tariff is concerned, that
they, II anybody. can be trusted to re-
form it downward
Mr. Roosevelt would be equally IN
able and far more unwilling than Mr..
Taft to reduce the tariff. In his seven
years in office he left the tariff I'M
touched, and now he speaks primarily
as a protectionist and not as tariff
reformer He yields grudgingly to the
demand for tariff reduction. but gives
no clear argument for it. Instead. he
repeats the old fallacous arguments
to make our poor workmen believe
that high tariff raises wages.
Governor Wilson and bis 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
the Introduction of numerous other is.
sues which could not be settled in the
present campaign when We have be
fore US the greatest issue or all, the
tariff. which CAN be settIed1
l. ISSUES ECONOMIC. - Wilson S
grasp of the problems of the hour far
surpasses that OF Roosevelt or Taft
Mr. Roosevelt has frequently admitted
that economic problems such as the
tariff, the cost of living, the currency
and the economic problems connected
with trusts not only have no attrac-
ton for him. but have never been IN
uerStU1 It ny nm ItDi r,.e, ,,,,,,,,,,r,e,,rs
- = ~ - . -, ! - 10 -.
Wi'Son ~ 'no'e 'u'S Oen''''"'lG In@u
nooSeNeIt anu nor u'', ''liIile'e1 -
MS ue' ol'ou u inc Ii .''' eN'S .. Tue Peo
p'e uS """'e' AuoSV w
accuse wilson OF recently auoptuE
ne" uenlocr"uc uoc'rlueS because tne ,.
popularity "ouId neIp MN personally
shouid learn mat Oh the contrary he
adopted them I'm bis hsht to democfa
uze princeton university when thel'
unpopularity In the circles IN ~hicl
MS acuVltieS lheh lay nearly threat
ened to destroy bis influence and ca
reer.
g. PURE FOODS.-Goyernor Wilson
and the Democratic party have shown
Roosevelt in the protection Of the con