Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1912-11-01
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
TO Fellow PTOgTGSsIyes
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF IS THE ISSUE
Contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude tina
Only Progressive One.
Az PROFESSOR IRVING FISHER.

BY PhOf ESoOh thNiNS FioffEH
lNote.-pr. Fisher IL tho noted author
Nv on economics Of Yale university. lie
was member Of President Booaoveits
national conservation commissioning
| write not as Democrat but as an
independent Progressive and in the
hope that my letter may help other
prngressivcs who are wavcrinE to
make Up their minds to vote for vii.
son. so far rs | can see the only hope
OF progressive Legislation lies In the
election OF Wilson. My reasons. in
brief, follow.
/. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
II IL were possible TO elect Mr.. TAFT
there would merely be repeated the
sa Tue deadlock with congress and fail.
ura to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced In bis 1rst
term.
Ii IL were possible TO elect Mr.. Roose.
welt even less could be accomplished,
Tor the reason that he would not have
u sympathetic congress.
! 2. DEADL0CkED ELECTIoN.--To
be still more practical, we should con-
slider that the result of us independ.
ents voting for Taft or Roosevelt in
stead OF for Wilson may be TO prevent
any one Of the three from being
elected.
8 THE TARIFF.-~If. on the other
hand. we independent Progresslyes
unite for the most part In voting for
Wilson he can be elected, and. II elect
ed. can accomplish substantial legisla-
ton, because with him will be elected
sufficient number OF Democrats to
give a majority in both houses, TO
this my bull moose friends reply TINT
not all Democrats are progresslves and
win not carry out progressive plat
form
This argument oyerlooks the fact
/, that the paramount issue OF this cam
paign IL the tariff and that progressive
tariff reform means progressive tariff
reduction. 1t Is just because the Dem
ecrnts have been a party OF uegntion,
so far MS the tariff Is concerned, that
they, IL anybody can he trusted 70 re-
form Il downward.
AAft tAbbStNt4b Nbhta Nv ttlAHit3 w
able and far more unwilling than Mr..
Taft to reduce the tariff In bis seven
years In office he left the tariff un-
touched and BOW he speaks primarily
as protectionist and not M tariff
reformor. He Yields grudgingly to the
demand for tariff reduction, but gives
no clear argument for It. Instead, he
repeats the old fallacious arguments
to make our poor workmcn believe
that n high tariff raises wages.
Governor Wilson and bis party. on
the Other hand. are ardent tariff re-
formers In this respect the Demo
cratic platform Is the only progressive
platform of the three.
Why should we blind ourselves by
the Introduction OF numerous other is
sues which could not be settled In the
present campnign when we have be-
fore US the greatest Issue OF nil. the
tariff. which CAN be settIed2
4. ISSUES ECONOMIC. = Wilson's
grasp OF the problems OF the hour far
surpasses that OF Roosevelt or Taft.
MI. Roosevelt has frequently admitted
that economic problems such as the
tariff the cost OF living. the currency
and the economic problems connected
with trusts not only have no uttrac-
ton for him. bat hive never been un-
derstood by him.
8. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson ia more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrammeied In
his devotion TO the interests Of the peo-
pie as n whole Those who
accuse Wilson OF recently adopting
new democratic doctrines because their
popularity would help him personally
should learn that. on the contrary. nc
adopted them lin his fight 10 democrat
tie Princeton university when their
appropriately IN the circles In which
his activities then my neariv threat
- a. z. - a a. a. a. IA.