River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1912-08-08

nation" The country school should
be brought in touch with country life.
For this reason the Progressives ap-
prove Of government cooperation with
the farmer to make the farm more
productive Cooperative associations
of farmers both for the production
and the selling of agricultural prod
ucts should be encouraged. $50 long
as the farmer leaves cooperative &C
tivities with their profit-sharing to
the city man of business, so long will
the foundations OF wealth be under
mined and the comforts of enlighten-
ment be impossible in the country
communities"
The Tariff.
On the tariff he said: tT believe in
protective tariff, but I believe in 1t
as a principle approached from a
standpoint of the interests of the
whole people, and not as bundle OF
preferences to be given favorite indi-
viduals. 1t is not merely the tariff that
should be revised, but the method OF
tarif-making and Of tariff administers
ton" 'The first steps should be the
creation of permanent commission
OF non-partisan experts" of ample
powers to secure "exact and reliable
information" This commission must
scientifically determine "the difference
in the cost of production here and
abroad" the effect on prices to the
consumer" insure full justice to the
pay envelope of the wage-earner. The
commission must not attempt to en-
croach on the tariff-making power or
congress. It shall report with full pub
licity and promptly. The tariff shall
be revised schedule by schedule to
avoid the Staggering blows to bust
ness" incident to former general re-
visions. The effect will be to wipe out
the "1og-rolling and vote-trading" Sc
cured by special interests in the past.
High Cost Of Living.
"The cost of living" said Mr.. Roose-
welt, "has risen during the last few
years out Of all proportion to the in
crease of most salaries and wages.
What is first necessary is fearless,
intelligent. and searching inquiry into
the whole subject, made absolutely by
a non-partisan body Of experts with no
prejudice to warp their mind. no pri-
vate object to serve, who shall recon-
mend any necessary remedy needless
of what interest may be hurt thereby,
and caring only for the interests OF
the people as q whole" The Repub-
their rank dishonesty Of action at the
Chicago convention makes their eV-
cry promise worthless" 1t is hopeless
to turn to the Democratic party for re-
lief, because first the Democratic par
ty affects to find the entire high cost
of living in the tariff" ignoring the
patent fact that the problem is world
wide, equally pressing in free-trade
England and in highly protected Ger
many. Moreover, If the Democrats
are sincere they must take all duties
off the products of the farmer, and We
certainly cannot afford to have the
farmer struck down" Various ele'
ments, economic, political, and social.
were pointed out by Mr.. Roosevelt as
contributing to the high cost Of living
But effective legislation regarding 1t
can only be framed on comprehen-
sive scale after thorough. scientific,
and prompt inquiry.
The Currency.
Mr.. Roosevelt declared that our
present bank currency based on gov
eminent bonds is unscientifc and
urged the adoption Of system which
shall provide elasticity In the credit
and currency necessary for the con-
duet of business, free from recurring
panics." The control of such sys-
tenn should be in the hands of the gov.
eminent, and must be free from mani
pulation by Wall street or the large In
terests."
Conservation.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt reaf-
frmed his well-known policy on the
| conservation and reclamation Of ma
| tional resources. We must conserve
our soil, our forests, our mines, not
only for our own benefit but for the
benefit of our children and descend
ants.
international Affairs.
''In international affairs this coun-
try should behave towards other ma
tons exactly as an honorable private
citizen behaves towards other private
citizens" Our small army should
have large efficiency; the navy must
be steadily built up until cit proves
possible to secure by international
agreement general reduction OF ar
maments;" the Panama canal must
be fortified. Panama canal tolls on
deep-water commerce should be uni
form to all nations, including our
selves: American coastwise vessels
should pass through the canal free, Tor
this would be no discrimination
against foreign nations and would give
us reasonable competition with trans
continental railways. No foreign treaty
should be entered into which We do
not mean to scrupulously observe In
every particular.
! In conclusion the colonel said:
Surely there never was fight bet
| ter worth making than the one in
which we are engaged. 1t little mat
tiers what befalls any one of US who
for the time being stand In the fore
| front of the battle. 1 hope we shall
win, and l believe that II we wake
/ the people to what the fight really
means we shall win. But win, or
lose, we shall not falter."