The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1912-08-09

+, price of the articles raised on the farm.
Important although education is ev-
erywhere, it has a special Importance
in the country. The country school
must fit the country life. In the coun-
try, as elsewhere, education must b.
hitched up with life. The country
church and the country Young Mems
and Young Women's Christian asso-
Citations nave great parts to play. The
farmers must and work their w
land. Steps must be taken at once to
put a stop to the tendency toward alb
sentee landlordism and tenant farm
ing"
The Tariff.
On the tariff he says: II believe In
a protective tariff, but | believe in 1t
as a principle approached from a stand
point of the interests of the whole peo-
pie, and not as a bundle of preferences
to be given %favorite individuals" He
believes the American people favor the
principle Of a protective tariff, but are
in rebellion against the wrongdoing and
unjust application of that policy and
the abuses in past legislation. 1T is
not merely the tariff that should be re-
vised, but the method Of tariff making
and of tariff administration" 1.-THE
first step should be the creation of a
permanent commission of ~nonpartisan
experts Of ample powers to secure
exact and reliable information" THE
present tariff board is entirely made
quate in point of powers repOsed in it
and scope Of work undertaken" The
tariff commission in Germany affords
a splendid model. This commission
must scientifically determine 1.-The diff
ference 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 Garner. The
commission must not attempt to en-
crOach on the tariff making power OF
congress. 1t shall report with full pub
licity and promptly. The tariff shall be
the staggering blows to business in
cident to former general revisions. The
effect will be to wipe out the log roll
ing and vote trading" secured by spe-
cial interests in the past. "Only by
this meal can tariff be taken out of
politics." 'sThe substitution of a tariff
for revenue only, as proposed by the
Democratic platform, would plunge this
country into the most widespread in
dustrial depression We have ever SEEN"
The revision shall be downward and
not upward and secure a quare deal
not merely to the manufacturer, but to
the wage worker and to the general
consumer. g..-
@ The High Cost of Living.
"The cost of living" says 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, in
telligent and searching inquiry into
the whole subject. made absolutely by
a ~nonpartisan 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 a whole" The Republicans
promise such al inquiry, but their rank
dishonesty of action at the Chicago
convention makes their every promise
worthless" 1t is hopeless to turn to
the Democratic party for relief. be-
cause first the Democratic party aft
fects to find the entire high cost of liv-
ing in the tariff" ignoring the patent
fact that the problem is world wide.
equally pressing in free trade England
and in highly protected Germany.
Moreover, if the Democrats are sincere
they must take all duties off the prod
ucts of the farmer, and we certainly
cannot afford to have the farmer struck
down." Various elements, economic,
political and social, are pointed out by
Mr.. Roosevelt as contributing to the
high cost of living. But effective legis-
lation regarding it can only be framed
on a comprehensive scale after a thor
ough, scientific and prompt inquiry.
There is no more curious delusion
than that the Democratic platform is
a progressive platform. The Demo
cratic platform, representing the best
thought of the acknowledged Demo
cratic leaders at Baltimore, is purely
retrOgressiye and r~eactionary. There
is no progress in it. 1t represents an
effort to go back-to put this nation of
100, 200 900, existing under modern
conditions, back to where it was as a
nation Of $4,000, 600 in the days of the
stagecoach and canalboat. Such an at
titude is toryism, not progressivism."
The Currency.
Mr.. Roosevelt declares that pres
ent bank currency based on govern
ment bonds Is unscientific and urges
the adoption of a system which shall
provide elasticity in the credit and
currency necessary for the conduct of
business, free from recurring panics."
The control of such a system should
be in the hands of the government and
must be free from manipulation by
Wall street or the large interests"
Conservation.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt reaf-
firms his well known policy on the con-
servation and reclamation of national
resources. We must conserve our soil,
our forests, our mines, not only for our
own benefit. but for the benefit Of our
children and descendants. 1.-THE public
should not ALLEVIATE it's fee In the water
mower which will he of incalculable