The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-01-04
DEMOCRATIC CLUB STRESSES TARIFF Will Make It Paramount
 Issue GOV. WILSON SPEAKS Declares Reform Movement Should Be Undertaken With Prudence. Resolution, Open Mindedness
 and Mutual Concession
GOV. WILSON SPEAKS

New York. January S.-The National Democratic Club launched tonight move ment to make tariff reform the para mount issue of the coming presidential campaign at largely attended dinner In it's new club house on Fifth avenue with Gov Woodrow Wilson of New Jer- sey as the principal speaker
 Governor Wilson insisted that the tune had come for the country to set itseif free from the burdens of the protective tariff
 we are rich enough, We are safe enough in our prosperity. sure enough Ill our capacity. of our skill and of our re- sourcefulness to do this, he said. lie declared that the reform movement shouid be undertaken with resolution, prudence, open mindedness and mutual concession. .There are no old scores to be paid off, he continued. There are no resentments to be squared: men of every interest must be drawn into the conference as to what 1t behooves us to do, and what 1t is pos sible for us to do. No one should pc excluded from council except those who will not come in terms of equality and the common interest,"
 Congressman William C. Redfield of Brooklyn and Francis Burton Harrison of New York were other speakers. The club has appointed committee to lead systematic and progressive campaign for tariff reform in aid of the democratic leaders in Congress.
 Gov. woodrow Wilson of New Jersey addressed the National Democratic club here tonight on the topic ''The Democrat ic Party and the Tariff" Once again, MT. Wilson said, the tariff had become "the chief and most critical of questions 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 adjustments of our life.
 He continued in part
 "Our tariff policy has not for several generations been based upon any prin- ciple whatever, but only upon system of favoritism, of patronage. or arbitrary fosterage by the federal government.
 '''rhe strength of American industry lies in the skill and intelligence of the Amer ican workman, and the capacity of Amer Jean superntendents and managers; ana the efficiency and glory of the working man depend upon all the moral and phy- sical clements involved in the clrcum- stances of his employment.
 If this country Is to be the snug harbor for those who are at a disad- vantage in the markets of the world, why should 1t not also by the con- venient method of combination, be refuge for those who are also at disadvantages in the markets of Amer tea itself Are there not evidences that 1t has become just that? Have not great T combinations recently effected in this country brought about just such re- suit? Of g 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 ma chinery has not been brought up to date; the plant is not built In a way 10 lend itself to the most efficient methods of productions; the market Is not quite so accessible: the source of raw materials is more difficult of ac- cess. Again and again it has happened that after the combination was effect ed the less efficient factories and mills were closed down and only the more efficient 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 com bination at a figure greatly exceeding their real value.
 This figure enters into the issue of the securities of the corporation; the profits must be made upon those figures if the stockholders are to get dividends: and so the country mus, carry for an indefinite period inefficient establishments which have been actu- ally closed and put out of business. And this very process itself shows the fu- tility of any attempt to base duties upon cost of production.
 ''When America was in her infancy, when her resources were undeveloped; when her industries were at their be- ginning, there was much to be said for a system of artificial stimulation and protection. But long after that period was passed, and that reason for the maintenance o. the system of pro- lection cut away, it was maintained upon other theories and with other purposes and 1t has grown until 1t has become a veritable incubus, not merely upon the consumer. but upon the business of the country itself, and on 1t have been built mp great com binations and monopolies. which have drawn upon themselves universal con demnation.
 We are rich enough. we are .safe enough in our prosperity. we are sure enough of our capacity. of our skill. of our resourcefuness, to set ourselves. free at last. We are ready now in our majority to return to the uses of government of which the mature can approve. Taxation must never be used for the benefit Of some at the expense of others. The power of the govern ment must never be loaned to those who cannot sustain themselves. The only legitimate object of taxation is revenge for the support of the govern