The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-02
SATURDAY. NOVEMBER :, 1919
CUT OUT PRIVILEGE.

Blinded by personal friendship and business
surprising that DR. Lyman Abbott should view
with friendly prejudice whatever this st.
George of today should say 1t is natural
that the good doctor should see him and his
policies through colored glasses. For his sup
pert of his Contributing Editor no one will
blame him but il is little surprising that
pne OF his intelligence and of his reputation
for powers of analysis should fail utterly to
understand the purport of Governor Wilson's
dsliverances on the Importance of the tariff
issue II is surprising that he should fail
absolutely to get a glimpse of Mr.. Wilson's
pint of view in his article in a recent
number OF the Saturday Ereaing Post under
the caption Cut Out Privilege.
DR. Abbott seems to think--in fact he says
that Governor Wilson rests all his hopes OF
social and industrial betterment on the reduc-
ton OF the tariff. Nothing could be further
from the truth Governor Wilson believes
that "a lower tariff would mean lowex prices
without corresponding cut in wages; he be-
l.sres that II would benefit the consumer and
the nottingham and the manufacturers them
the question at prices >ssz not the
only one involved Freedom from industrial
oppression can come only through freedom
yfrom the oligarchy which gains its powers
through control of the government. He would
literally cut our privilege. and the tarin sched-
ules as now arranged give to Big Business the
privilege of control OF the government. Cut
the tariff and you cut out the privilege held
by few at the expense of the many. Grad
ually do away with the policy OF protection
IL those industries which need no protection
Tor the legitimate conduct of their business
and you obtain decree of divorce for the
government from the special interests. Cut
ont privilege, says Governor Wilson. and you
restore opportunity to the mass of the people.
ard the way to cut out privilege is to cut 1t
ou, Protection is the greatest privilege en-
ioyed by Big Business, so let's start with that
When We have restored to great degree
equality of eppoFtunity,zwe have taken a long
step toward bringing about naturally the social
reforms which Mr.. Roosevelt advocates and
with which Mr.. Wilson has so often expressed
sympathy The difference between the two is
that Governor Wilson believes in giving the
people the opportunity to work out their own
salvation. helping them with wise laws and
tudicious legislation where necessary, while
Colonel Roosevelt would preserve to Big Bust
ness the privileges IL now possesses by law
and iegalize those ii has taken by Illegal and
>nmorai control of the government. and then
bv way of compensation put in the hands of
tic people other laws weapons with which
III fight the use OF those privileges granted
Fig Business Governor Wilson would take
from Big Business its special privileges. the
weapons with which it fights against the inter
ests OF the people; Colonel Roosevelt would
arm the people in defense of those whom he
ard his former party have already armed
with more effective weapons. The Republican
rarty has given Big Business dreaduaught.
and Colonel Roosevelt would give the people
4 snnboat: Governor Wilson would take away
the dreadnsught. He would cut out privi-
lsge.