The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-10-12
WILSON'S LOGICAL CAMPAIGNING.

It is rare good fortune to have this year at
least one presidential candidate who bases his argu
ments sound economic principles. That candi-
date is Woodrow Wilson. It is not always popular
to stick to logic and common sense in discussing
current problems
There people who will applaud sug-
gestion to send trust magnates to jail than will ap
preciate the suggestion to deprive trusts of the
privileges which give them power. More will de-
mand arbitrary minimum wage law than under
stand the fact that freedom instead of less is
what workers need to get what they produce.
So when a candidate discusses such questions
TRUSTS and minimum wage and appeals to reason
and logic rather than to ignorance and prejudice
there is good ground for hope that his election will
result in establishing policy that will deal with
evils in such way that their cause will be removed
and make spectacular but useless efforts to strike
at symptoms.
In speaking on the trust problem, Wilson leaves
to his opponents the advocacy Of such quack rem
edies regulation, prosecution and litigation. He
points to the privileges which have given them pow
er, the privileges which his opponents would leave
undisturbed, and says that these must be removed
1t is the first time that great party has had a
presidential candidate who has spoken so sensibly
on the trust question. No matter what the result
of the election may be Governor Wilson will have
performed great public service in directing pub
lie attention toward logical methods of dealing with
existing evils.
That Governor Wilson is possessed of great
moral courage shown two years ago. He then
showed that he was big enough to admit that he
had been mistaken. To the ordinary man that may
not seem rare quality But of the three leading
candidates of this year he to be the only one
who possesses it. Although one of his opponents is
advocating many things inconsistent with and
dramatically opposed to many acts of his previous
his position still is of stubborn insistence
that he has always been right
Before his election governor and for brief
period afterward, Mr. Wilson was known as a
strong opponent of the Initiative and Referendum
and looked upon as more inclined toward reaction
airy than progressive views. But one day he was
visited by w. S. U'Ren Of Oregon who, in the
course of an hours conversation made clear to him
many things regarding direct legislation which he
had misunderstood before. This soon led to pub
lie admission that he realized the error of his for
mer position.
That the honesty and bigness which prompted
frank admission should have been misunder-
stood misrepresented by the organs of predatory
interests is not surprising These organs can rarely
understand anything especially if it be honest
and progressive well.
That little talk with Governor Wilson was bv no
means the least of the many great public services
for which the American people are indebted to W.
s. U 'Ren. 1t gave to the progressive cause the
services of man who might otherwise have been
kept from it.
It gave to the American people candidate who
adopts the novel policy of speaking frankly and
logically on national issues and will probably give
the country president who to the extent of his
power will deal sensbly with the practical Dues
tions that come before him.