Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1912-08-14

mined and the comforts of enlighten
ment be impossible in the country
communities"
The Tariff.
On the tariff he said: al believe In
protective tariff, but l believe in It
as principle approached from a
standpoint of the interests of the
Whole people, and not as bundle Of
preferences to be given fayorite indi-
Vlduais 1t is not merely the tariff that
should be revised. but the method Of
tar1ff-making and of tariff administra-
ton" THE first steps should be the
creation of a permanent commission
OF non-partisan experts" of ample
| powers to secure exact and reliable
scientifically determine 'the difference
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-earner. 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 revised schedule by schedule to
avoid the staggering blows to bust
ness" incident to former general re-
visions. The effect will be to wipe out
the "log-rolling and vote-trading" Sc
cured by special interests in the past.
High Cost of Living.
1.-THE cost of living" said 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.
intelligent, and searching inquiry into
the whole subject, made absolutely by
a non-partisan body of experts with no
prejudice to warp their mind, no pr1-
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 or
| the people as a whole" The Repub-
licans promise such an inquiry, but
their rank dishonesty of action at the
! Chicago convention makes their ev-
/ cry promise worthless" 1t is hopeless
| to turn to the Democratic party for re-
| lief, because first the Democratic par
ty affects to find the entire high cost
of living in the tariff" ignoring the
patent fact that the problem is world
wide, equally pressing in free-trade
England and in highly protected Ger
many. Moreover, if the Democrats
are sincere they must take all duties
oef4 81 hn 60
certainly cannot afford to have the
| farmer struck down." Various ele-
ments, economic, political, and social,
were pointed out by Mr.. Roosevelt as
contributing to the high cost of living.
| But effective legislation regarding 1t
can only be framed on comprehen-
sive scale after a thorough, scientific,
and prompt inquiry.
The Currency.
Mr. Roosevelt declared that our
present bank currency based on gov
eminent bonds is unscientitic and
urged the adoption Of system which
shall provide elasticity in the credit
and currency necessary for the con
duct of business, free from recurring
panics.'' The control of such sys-
| tenn should be in the hands of the gov
eminent, and must be free from mani
pulation by Wall street or the large in
| terests."
| Conservation.
Under this head Mr.. Roosevelt reaf-
firmed his well-known policy on the
conservation and reclamation Of ma
| tional resources We must conserve
| our soil. our forests, our mines, NOS
only for our own benefit but for the
benefit of our children and descend
ants. "The public should not ALLEVIATE
| its fee in the water-power which Will
| be of incalculable value as a source OF
power in the immediate future" and
Eve should undertake the complete
| development and control of the Missis-
sippi as a national work, just as we
have undertaken the work of building
| the Panama canal"
Alaska.
'In Alaska the government has an
opportunity of starting in what is al
most a fresh field to work out various
problems by actual experiment" 1t
should at once construct, own, and op'
crate all the railways in Alaska; 1t
should keep the fee of all coal-felds
and allow them to be operated by les
see with the condition in the lease
that non-use shall operate as a for
felt; a system of land taxation should
he tried which promotes the actual use
Of land and discourages the holding
of land for speculation; the telegraph
lines should be owned and operated
by the government"
international Affairs.
"Tn international affairs this coun'
trv should behave towards other ma
lions exactly as an honorable private
citizen behaves towards other private
citizens" Our small army should
have large efficiency; the navy must
be steadily built up until 1T proves
nossible to secure by international
agreement a general reduction of ar
maments;" the Panama canal must
be fortified. Panama canal tolls on
deep-water commerce should be uni
form to all nations, including our
solves. American coastwise vessels
should pass through the canal free, for
..1I M diCprimina finn