The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1912-10-31
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow Progressives
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE
Contrasts Three Party Programs ara
Declares Democratic Attitude ens
Only Progressive One.
Bv PROF. lRvING FISHER.

ity on economics or Y ale unlNelSAtJ.
was a member of President Rooseyelts
national conservation commiss1on-Eo-
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 up their minds to vote for VIII
son. So far as l can see the only
hope of progressive legislation lies IN
the election of Wilson. My reasons,
In brief, follow:
l. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
II it were possible to elect Mr. Tart
there would merely be repeated the
same deadlock with congress and fall
ure to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced in his
first term.
II it were possible to elect Mr.
Roosevelt even less could be accom-
plished, for the reason that he would
not have a sympathetic congress.
!. 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 pre-
vent any one of the three from being
elected
g. THE TARIFF-If, on the other
hand, we independent Progressives
unite for the most part in voting fof
Wilson he can be elected, and, II elect
ed, can accomplish substantial legisla
ton, because with him will be elected
a sufficient number OF Democrats to
give a majority in both houses. To
this my Bull Moose friends reply thai
not all Democrats are progressives
and will not carry out progressive
platform. ,':~'' ~
This argument overlooks the fact
that the paramount issue Of this cam
paign is the tariff and that pEogres
sive tariff reform means progressive
tariff reduction. 1t is just because
the Democrats have been a party Of
negation, 30 far, as the tariff is con
,cerned, that they, II anybody. can BE-
trusted to reform It downward.
Mr. Roosevelt would b equally IN
able and far more unwilling than Mr.
TAFT to reduce the tariff. In his sever
years in once he left the tariff un
touched, and now he speaks primarily
~ q protectionist and not Is Z tariff
reformer. He yields grudginSly to thu
demand for tariff reduction. but g1vei
no clear argument for it. Instead, HI
repeats the old fallacious arguments
to mako our poor werkmen believe
that 4 high tariff raises wages.
Governor Wilson and his party, OF
the other hand, are ardent tariff 70
formers. In this respect the Demo
cratic platform is the only progressive
platform Of the three.
Why should we blind ourselves b.
the introduction Of numerous othe,
issues whch could not be settled II
the present campaign when we have
before US the greatest issue of all, the
tariff, which CAN be settled?
I. ISSUES ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
grasp of the problems of the hour fal
surpasses that of Roosevelt or Taft
Mr.. Roosevelt has frequently admit
ted that economic problems such a
the tariff, the cost Of living, the cur
rency and the economic problems con
nected with trusts not only have nc
attraction for him, but have never
been understood by him.
5. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson is more truly democratic thar
Roosevelt and more untrammeled IL
his devotion to the interests of the
people as a whole. Those whe
accuse Wilson of recently adopting
new democratic doctrines because
their popularity would help him per
sonally should learn that. on the con
trary, he adopted them Tin his fight
to democratize Princeton university
when their unpopularity in the circles
in which his activities then lay nearly
threatened to destroy his influence
and career. .n'
8. PURE FOODs.--Governor vii
son and the Democratic party have
shown a greater interest than either
Taft or Roosevelt in the protection
OF the consumer against food adul.
teration and other injuries to the pub
lie health. DR.. Wiley. although pre-
viously Republican, now has decid.
ed not only to vote for Wilson, but to
help him actively in the campaign.
Z. THIRD TERM.-To elect Mr.,
Roosevelt would deal fatal blow to
the useful tradition against a third
term. Nor do think it alto
gether improbable that If Mr.. Roose.
welt were again elected president he
would, whatever his present inten.
tions, gradually assume the role Of
benevolent despot. His natural tenn.
permanent is that of dictator.
I write as one who still holds per.
sonal respect both for Colonel Roose.
welt and President Taft and in no
spirit Of personal hostility to either
I believe that all three candidates in.
tend to do right "as God gives them