Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-10-07
PRES. TAFT SATISFIED.
Continued from Page one.)

Harding shipnents-such is the con-
dition of business throughout the
country as voiced by leading manu-
faeturers of every section
"The principal reason for the exist
ling prosperity is the assurance that.
under the Republican policy of home
protection and trade expansion, Amer
lean industry, while reaching for the
foreign market, is not in danger of
losing the home market. While our
foreign trade is growing more rapidly
than at anytime in our history, do
mestic commerce is making advances
fully DIS remarkable. Our population is
Increasing. the demand for the neces-
saries of life is increasing proportion
lately. and, thanks to active business
and good wages. the people are able
to pay for what they want, ard to
keep our industries busy supplying
their wants. Hence, general and grow
ing prosperity with a certainty of still
better times provided the machinery
of our NATIONAL activities is not dis
ARRANGED and brought to a standstill
| by undue reduction of tile tariff or
anarchistic assaults upon our institu
tions and upon the harmonious rela-
lions now existing, as rule, between
employer and employed.
There is no serious danger, / be-
lieve to our institutions from indus
trial agitations. SO long as such agi-
tation keeps within legal bounds ii is
not without wholesome significance
and may tend to improve conditions.
When it passes beyond the legal linn
. it whether those self-outlawed are
connected with capital or with labor
1T is a menace TO be dealt with by
lawful authority. Notwithstanding &C.
casienal outbreaks of violence in Ia
Dor dispues there lis a. growing tenden
[ cy to settle differences by peaceful
means and there-is- undoubtedly man.
ifest much elpore, friendly and hui.
made attitude on the part of employ
ers toward employed than was appar-
ent not many years ago. Tho Golden
Rule Is getting to be more and more
guide in business as well rs in re-
ligion. Social and economic conditions
are growing better not worse, and
Republican policies, fostering and
stimulating national prosperity I'M
doubtedly tend toward this better
ment.
"For the man or the community en-
+ joying robust health quack remedies
have little attraction, no matter how
recommended as cure-alls for the
body polite. The law of supply and
. demand, along with labor organiza
. ton and arbitration and such legis-
/ lation as may properly be enacted
governing hours of labor and rates
of compensation in the public service
. thereby giving an example for private
| employees are adequate to deal with
the wage question. A general mini
mum wage should have a tendency, to
bring down the maximum to the min
imum. The labor organizations are
well aware of this result where an
arrangement to that effect has been
entered into with employers. How
ever, as / have said, the American
people are in no need of quack nos
trums, and too busy to listen to their
vendors.
"The high cost of living, as have
said before. is ssworld wide. The aim
of the Republican party is to see that
American workers are enabled to meet
the cost of living by keeping employees
at good wages. 1t is a simple purpose
and as direct and practical as 1t is
simple, and does not need a volume
or rhetoric to explain, or get around
1t. While the cost of living, so far as
rqost of the necessaries of life are
| concerned, is not SO high here as in
Europe, the wage-earners here are
getting more than double to six. and
seven times the wages paid in Eu-
rope and in proportion better able to
meet any increase in the cost of liv-
ing.
II am pleased to note that former
Governor Douglas of Massachusetts. an
Earnest and most estimable member OF
the Democratic party, refused to be car
Iried away in the current of idle reasons
| for the high cost of living. He attri-
butes it chiefly o--tfre increased annuai
product of goitfsto $5DG0oo0oo from about
one-fourth that Hffoant 20 years ago, and
he expects that as long as tile present
output Of gold nentineus With kno..ehange