Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1912-11-02
Noted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow PrOgTesslves
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TARIFF is THE ISSUE.
Contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude the
Only Progressive One.
BY PROFESSOR IRVING FISHER.

lily on economies u lAlt university. lto
was a member OF President Roosevelt's
national conservation commission.-Ed.l
write not as a Democrat but rs an
independent Progressive and In the
hope that my letter may help other
Progressives who are wavering to
make up their minds To vote for VIII
son. So far rs can see the only hope
Of progressive legislation lies in the
election Of Wilson. Ny reasons. III
brief. follow:
/. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
If 1t were possible to elect MIR Taft
there would merely be repeated the
same deadlock with congress and fail.
ure TO secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced in his first
term.
II 1t were possible to elect Mr. Roose-
welt even less could be accomplished.
for the reason that he would not have
a sympathetic congress.
.. DEADLOCKED 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 Progresslves
unite for the most part in voting for
Wilson be can be elected, and. II elect
ed. can accomplish substantial lcgisla-
ton, because with him will BE elected
q sufficient number OF Democrats to
give a majority in both houses To
this my bull moose friends reply that
not all Democrats are progressives and
will not carry out progressive plat
form.
This argument overlooks the fact
that the paramount issue of this cam.
paign is the tariff and that progressive
tariff reform means progressive tariff
reduction. Ii Is Just because the Dem
ocrats have been party of negatlon.
SO far us the tariff IL concerned, that
they. II anybody. can be trusted to re
form II downward.
MIR. Roosevelt would be equally I'M
able and far more unwilling than Mr..
Taft to reduce the tariff. In his seven
years In office he left the tariff un-
touched. and now he speaks primarily
as a protectionist and not as tariff
reformer He yields grudgingly to the
demand for tariff reduction. but gives
no clear argument for IL. Instead. he
repeats the old fallaclous arguments
to make our poor workmen believe
that high tariff raises wages.
Governor Wilson and his 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 campaign when we have be-
fore Us the greatest issue OF all. the
tarlff. which CAN be settled?
T. ISSUES ECONOMIC. = Wilson's
grasp Of the problems OF the hour far
surpasses that OF Roosevelt or Taft.
Mr.. Roosevelt has frequently admitted
that economic problems such MS the
tariff. the cost 81 living. the currency
aud the economic problems connected
with trusts not only have no attrac-
ton for him. but have never been un.
derstood by him.
.. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson h more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrnmmeled IN
his devotion 70 the interests OF the peo-
pie as a whole. Those who
accuse Wilson OF recently adopting
new democratic doctrines because their
popularity would help him personally
should learn that on the contrary. be
adopted them lin his fight 10 democra.
tie Princeton university when their
unpopularity IN the circles In which
his activities then lag nearly threat
sncd TO destroy his influence aud ca
reer.
q. PURE FooDs.-Governor Wilson
and the Democratic party have shown
greater interest than either Taft or
Roosevelt In the protection OF the con.
sumner against food adulteration and
sther Injuries to the public health. DR..
Wiley. although previously a Republic
an. now has decided not only 10 vote
for Wilson. but TO help him actively In
the campaign.
Z. THIRD TERM. To elect Mr..
Roosevelt would deal a fatal blow 10
the useful tradition against a third
term. ''' Nor do think Il nltogeth-
er improbable that II Mr. Roosevelt
were again elected president he would.
whatever his present intentions. grad
ually assume the role OF benevolent
despot His natural temperament 10
that OF dictator.
write as one who still holds person
nj respect both for Colonel Roosevelt
and President Taft and 10 no spirit Of
personal hostility 10 either. I believe
that all three candidates intend 10 DO
right ''as God gives them 10 see the
right" but | think neither Taft nor
Roosevelt gees the right az clearly a.
Woodrow Wilson.