The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-23
ANDREW JACKSON'S VIEWS
Would, If Alive, Today, Be a Muck Raker''- Always
 for the People

Northampton, Mass, Jan. 2S-"If
 Andrew Jackson were on earth to-
 day he would, believe, be a muck
 raker.''
 This is the statement of Prof. John
 Spencer Bassett, the authorized bio
 grapher of the former President whose
 day was recently celebrated.
 His biogra pher was asked: If An
 drew Jackson should came back to
 earth, what would he do; where would
 he stand 2''
 "I am no prophet" he replied, "and am not discussing politics, but
 will tell you how I think he would
 feel about modern conditions, judging
 this from my study of his life.
 "Jackson's keenest impulse was against political jobbery and he would
 be in sympathy with the present day muck raker. He opposed internal inn provementS because he thought local ities were taking advantage of the government to get roads built. There
 was group of road contractors in promoting the demands for roads for private profit. He opposed the Unit ed States Bank because the men be- hind it were to profit from its liberal charter. He did not ask what ser vice the bank would render. but what
 it would make out of the common man. Today, therefore, Andrew Jackson might be expected to oppose any special privilege and of course this has very broad meaning now.
 How did conditions in Jackson's time compare with ourS?'
 There are some similaritieS between political conditions in our day and in Jackson's," replied the historian. The people feel the same as regards mo nopoly, they have the same suspicion of what Is called a money trust, and there is the same demand for stronger leader whom special interests cannot control or corrupt. The tariff was almost as live an issue in Jack sons day as at present. Protection has had two palmy days in our his> tory-from 1916 to 1883 and from 1865 to date In Jackson's day it was vided for reduction so gradual that it did not damage industry, and when the schedule had been brought down to a revenue basis there followed near l ly twenty years of public economy and l business prosperity.
 "One of Jackson's principles which | sion to a national debt. He not only 1 wished that the debt should not in crease, but he actually worked to pay It off. He believed the nation was l happy when out of debt To-day with 1 our bonds for the Panama Canal is suing in large quantities and with the country looking to advance the system of interior waterways, to fol- ow the construction, we seem to have come to consider a national debt ed in our day he would probably have desired to make the annual revenues contribute a large part of such ex- 1enses.
 '.When Jackson opened his fight on he bank, his leading advisers object ed. He ignored their objections and 'ested his case with the people When he returns came in, the politicians were pleased enough to give in their 
 'Tn his fight on the bank, Jackson committed some errors. Some of his harges were not true, and the people ould see it. Sometimes he was need essly harsh toward opponents and he people could see this. But for III that, they supported him, and these were not merely the ignorant stupid portion Of the communities, but the verage people. small merchants, far ners and planters. and intelligent em- loyes of all classes. They were con erned with one chief purpose. and n that they were satisfied with the aader. They thought of the harges against him the mere exag. 1 t eration of partisanship. and others I true, of such minor importance that , hey could be ignored in view of the I rand purpose 2