New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-07
ED|SON'S OWN |LK IN T.R.
As Experimental, Roosevelt
Makes Hit with Inventor.
AND AS MAN-HANDLER, TOO
Recall and Referendum the
Great Issues of Current Cam.
paign, Declares Wizard"

R~A6 SNSASsk ~ w A68A Ne
West Orange. n. j., Oct. 6.-Thomas A.
Edison told reporters to-day that he was
for Theodore Roosevelt because IN,
colonel had a dominant personality am
knew men better than the other two
candidates
He is capable OF handling the bunch
that he has to come In contact with. II no
is elected President" said the inventor.
by the bunch I mean all the politicians
OF the United States, and that rare co.,
lection In the Washington administra-
ton"
The great issues of the campaign. he
believes, are the recall and the referen-
dun.
THE Americans are experimenters," he
said. I'VE want to try experiments 4.
government. They're trying them out IN
Oregon and California, and II seems to
work all right there. II we carry out the
Oregon idea we can try a lot OF expert
ments without any danger. I have that
same system in my factories. I hire
man to take charge Of a branch OF the
factory and say, I'll give you two months
to make good II you don't make good
I'm through with you I don't hire mer
on four-year contracts TO put them In
charge of departments.
THE tariff as an issue is a political
BLUM. It is what we call In merchandising
talking point There are some souses
in the tariff. but It is not all wrong. III,
were changed. the changes ought TO b
made over a period Of years. A man can
take enough strychnine to kill an ele-
plant, and take 1t without harm, II he
takes It in small doses first, and gradual
ly increases II. / suggested that 10 the
newspapers. and they took II UP. Now
Wilson urges the same thing. II Is q
good idea.
That Is such bungling set down there
at Washington. There are too many
lawyers in Congress and not enough
manufacturers. Roosevelt would win
easily IL there were not so many sheep
in the world who won't think"
The inventor declared the agitation
against campaign contributions was also
all a bluff-another talking point" for
the Democrats. Roosevelt merely did
what ali the rest did, he said.
so long as can remember" he de-
clared, Presidents have accepted such
contributions. Lincoln did so, and so did
Mckinley. through Mark Hanna. rs tn.
system. He couldn't help IT, He wouldn't
take II knowingly. You can't blame
President. Democratic or Republican, for
doing II.
THE high cost OF living is an economi"
question" he continued, taking another
tack. Forty Senates and forty Houses
of Representatives could not change thai
We want to live better. and were living
little higher in this country. Only In 'he
last eight years have the farmers peen
paying of their mortgages. For years
previous they were making no money
Putting on a wage basis the work he and
his family were doing, he was losing out
Now the farmer has his innings. The ma
chinists and clerks are suffering. The
farmer had the dirty end OF the stick
forty years and now he's got the other
end. During that forty years the East
made money. while the farmer MADE
nothing. Now the farmer Is making
bunch of II, and the East is not making
much"
How long have you been a Progress
slye? Mr.. Edison was asked.
Pm q natural born Progressive no
replied 81 believe in change. because all
progress Is the result of change. shouiu
love to see the referendum and the recall
tried. You've got to start In the puoHe
schools TO educate the children when
they're eight years old 10 get them 10
realize the benefit OF the referendum ana
the recall"
Should Roosevelt succeed. his election
would create no disturbance In business
Mr.. Edison said. adding that the country
was getting used TO business disturbances
What we want is some protection for
the small man." he went on. Make
illegal 10 sell goods for less than II cosu
to make them. The big fellows under
that rule would be able to make more
money than the little fellows, but ihe
little fellows would stu be making
profit. Put the limit, say, SO that the
cost of production plus the legal rate q
interest shall be the minimum price "
any article. and let the cost be what
means for the small manufacturer, rathT
than the larger.
Trusts are a good thing, but they
ought to be regulated, just as the ran
roads are regulated. l oon't believe IN
government ownership. but II We must
have It. let the government lease, but no'
operate The Postoffice Department 10
operated as efficiently as any government
department could be operated, but not a.
efficiently as II its branches were leasee
to private corporations. 49,.
You can't blame these fellows OF INC
trusts for what they do. Even the most
honest Of them will get all they can Inc
thing is to make laws that will stop them
These things are to be corrected but 'ne
fellow that is to do II Is the man with tne
Australian ballot"