The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-01-04
DEMOCRATIC PARTY
and TIE TARIFF
Woodrow Wilson Makes Strong Ad.
dress On This Subject In New
York Last Night.
BY Associated Press

Woodrow Wilson of New Jersey ad-
dressed the National Democrat,
Club here tonight on the topic "The
Democratic Party and the Tariff.
Once again. Mr.. Wilson said, the
tariff had become the chief and
most critical question of a campaign
which must decide the policy Of our
government, not only in this great
matter, but in regard to score OF
things which touch the general ad-
justments OF our life"
He continued in part:
Oar tariff policy has ret for sev-
eral generations been based upon any
principle whatever, but only upon
system of fa,Oritism, of patronage,
of arbitrary fosterage by the Federal
government
"The strength of American in
dustry lies in the skill and intelli-
gence of the American workman, and
the capacity OF American superin-
tendents and managers, and the eff
cheney and the glory of the working
man depend upon all the moral and
physical elements involved in the
circumstances of his employment.
IF this country is to be the snug
harbor for those who are at a dis
advantage in the markets of the
world. why should it not also by the
convenient method of combination,
be refuge for those who are also
at a disadvantage in the markets of
America itself Are there not evil
dences that 1t has become just that?
Have not great combinations recent.
ly effected in this country brought
about Just such a result? OF a dozen
mills or factories brought together in
a single trust or combination. there
is always very considerable variety
In the sO-called cost OF production.
In some the machinery has not been
brought up to date; the plant is not
built in a way to lend itself to the
most efficient methods of production:
the market is not quite so accessi-
BILE; the source of raw materials Is
more difficult of access. Again and
again it has happened that after the
combination was effected the less ef.
iicient factories and mills were
closed down and only the more eff.
u cient continued in operation; but
the business as newly constituted
had to carry the cost of the original
merger of the inefficient mills and
factories. They were probably put
. into the combination at a figure
greatly exceeding their real value.
This figure enters into the isuue
Of the securities OF the corporation
J the profits must be made upon thOs.
figures II the stockholders are to gel
dividends; and 50 the country must
, carry for an indefinite period ineffi
cient establishments which have beer
actually closed and put out of bust
ness. And this very process itsel
shows the futility Of any attempt I,
#, base duties upon cost Of production.
VI when America was In her in
fancy: when her resources We're un
+ developed; when her industries were
B. at their beginning; there was mucl
to be said for a system OF artificial
stimulation and protection. But lon.
after that period was passed. an,
that reason for the maintenance o
the system of protection cut away
II was maintained upon other thee
I ries and with other purposes. and i
I has grown until II has become veri
4 table incubus. not merely upon thu
l consumer. but upon the business o
2 the country itself; and on it have
e been built up great combinations ant
y monopolies. which have drawn upO,
= themselves universal condemnation
q I'VE are rich enough. We are SAT,