Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1912-10-18

tariff that protects the American wage,
and asserts, as it has always asserted,
that if we are to have a tariff it should
be as a revenue-raising scheme rather
than as a means of protection.
Moreover, not only is it opposed to a
worthwhile tariff, and to the economic
policies under which we have recorded
such marvellous prosperity, but it is
archaic to degree. 1t doesn't fit the
period. 1t holds sacredly to the anti
quated States rights ideas, and opposes
whatever looks to national bigness and
national power.
1t is charged by Mr.. Roosevelt's
enemies that he did nothing, when he
was President, to remodel the tariff
and eliminate its abuses. This is true,
and the reason for it is that Mr.. Roose-
welt was doing bigger things at that
time.
We were in period of great national
prosperity under the tariff as it then
existed. If Mr.. Roosevelt had found
the country in the soup-house condition
in which Mckinley found it on taking
over the reins of government after four
years of Democratic rule, he would
have jumped in on tariff legislation,
and there would have been something
doing. But since this was not the
urgent call of the hour, he grappled the
things that were crying to heaven for
reform. He awakened the nation to
sense of civic righteousness, and forced
through an unwilling Congress refor ms
of the most important and most far
reaching character.
Here is the evidence which shows why
Roosevelt hadn't the time for reforming
the tariff:
ROOSEVELT'S ACHIEVEMENTS.
l. Dolliver-Hepburn Railroad Act,
enabling the Interstate Commerce Com
mission to control railroad rates.
2. Extension of Forest Reserve,
3. National Irrigation Act.
a. Improvement of waterways and
reservation of waterpower sites.
5. Employers Liability Act.
6. Safety Appliance Act.
7. Regulation of railroad employees
hours of labor.
8. Establishment of Department of
Commerce and Labor.
9. Pure Food and Drug Act
10, Federal meat inspection.
II. Navy doubled in tonnage and
greatly increased in efficiency.
~. Battleship fleet sent around the
world.
10. State militia brought into CO.
ordination with Army.
IA. Canal Zone acquired and actual
work of constructing Panama Canal
begun.
Is. Development of civil self-gov-
eminent in insular possessions.
16. Second intervention in Cuba;
Cuba restored to the Cubans.
II. Finances of Santo Domingo
Strengthened out.
Is. Alaska Boundary dispute settled.
10. Reorganization of the consular
service.
20. Settlements of the coal strike of
1902.
q. The Government upheld in North
ern Securities decision.
%. Conviction of post office grafters
and public land thieves.
%. Directed investigation of the
Sugar Trust customs frauds and the
resultant prosecutions.
"a. Suits begun against the Standard
Oil and Tobacco companies and other
corporations for violation of the Sher-
man Antitrust Act.
rs. Corporations forbidden to con-
tribute to political campaign funds.
26. Keeping the door of China open
to American commerce.
81. Bringing about the settlement
of the Russo-Japanese war by the
Treaty of Portsmouth.
-. EhNOihii6 tiC iii CdtCiSN HOo
tility created by Pacific coast prejudice
against Japanese immigration.
20. Negotiating twenty-four treaties
of general arbitration.
80. Reduction of the interest-bear-
ing debt by more than 800, 900, 900.
81. Inauguration of movement for
conservation of natural resources.
80. Inauguration of the annual con-
ference of Governors of States.
33. Inauguration of movement for
improvement of conditions of country
life.
POLICIES URGED BY ROOSEVELT
|, Reform of the banking and cur
rency system.