Duncan Arizonian., 1912-12-18
.RvING fisher
FOR wilson
Voted Yale Economist Appeals
to Fellow Progressives
With Clear Logic.
SAYS TAFlFF IS THE ISSUE
contrasts Three Party Programs and
Declares Democratic Attitude the
Only Progressive One.
BY PRoF. IRVING FISHER.


[Note.-Dr Fisher is the noted author
| ty on economics of Yale university He
vas member of President Roosevelt's
atlonal conservation commisson.-Ed.l
| write not as a Democrat but as
n independent Progressive and in tn
ope that my letter may help othe.
| lProgressives who are wavering to
make up their minds to vote for WI
on. So far as / can see the onl
lope of progressive legislation lies in
he election of Wilson. My reasons
brief, follow:
l. DEADLOCK IN CONGRESS-
1t were possible to elect Mr.. Taft
here would merely be repeated the
same deadlock with congress and fail
ire to secure progressive legislation
which has been experienced in his
lrst term
| If it were possible to elect IIr.
Roosevelt even less could be accom-
| plished, for the reason that he would
lot have a sympathetic congress.
2. DEADLOCKED ELECTION.~sro TO
be still more practical, we should con-
slider that the result of us indepead-
ents voting for Taft or Roosevelt in
stead of for Wilson may be to pre-
vent any one of the three from be
elected.
8. THE TARIFF.-If, on the OF n
hand, we Independent Progressi, os
unite for the most part in voting or
Wilson he can be elected, and, if el IT.
ed, can accomplish substantial leg a.
ton, because with him will be cleo I'd
4 sufficient number Of Democrats to
give a majority in both houses 20
this my Bull Moose friends reply ; at
not all Democrats are progressives
and will not carry out a progress iYe
platform.
This argument overlooks the fact
that the paramount issue of this cam
paign is the tariff and that progr as-
sive tariff reform means progress i've
tariff reduction. 1t is just because
the Democrats have been a party of
negation, so far as the tariff is con-
cerned, that they, if anybody, can be
trusted to reform it downward
Mr. Roosevelt would be equally un-
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 protectionist and not as a tariff
reformer. 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 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
issues which could not be settled in
the present campaign when we have
before us the greatest issue of all, the
tariff, which CAN be settled?
4. ISSUES ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
grasp of the problems of the hour far
surpasses that of Roosevelt or Taft
Mr.. Roosevelt has frequently admit
led that economic problems such as
the tariff, the cost Of living, the cur
rency and the economic problems con-
nected with trusts not only have no
attraction for him, but have never
been understood by him.
5. THE PEOPLES INTERESTS
Wilson is more truly democratic than
Roosevelt and more untrammeled in
his devotion to the interests of the
people as q whole. Those
accuse Wilson of recently adopting
new democratic doctrines because
their popularity would help him per-
sonally should learn that, on the con-
trary, he adopted them Tin his fight
to democratize. Princeton university
when their unpopularity in the circles
in which his activities then lay nearly
threatened to destroy his influence
and career.
6. PURE FOODS-Governo Will
son and the Democratic party have
shown a greater interest than either
Taft or Roosevelt in the protection
of the consumer against food adul
teration and other injuries to the pub
lie health. DR.. Wiley, although pre-
viously Republican now has decid
ed not only to vote for Wilson, but to
help him actively in the campaign.
Z. THIRD TERM.-To elect Mr.
Roosevelt would deal fatal blow to
the useful tradition against third
term. :. Nor do | think 1t alto !.
gether improbable that If Mr. Roose
velr were again elected president he
would, whatever his present inten
tions, gradually assume the role of
benevolent despot His natural tenn
permanent is that of dictator
I write as one who still holds per-
sonal respect both for Colonel Roose-
velt and President Taft and in no
spirit of personal hostility to either.