Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1912-11-05
Woodrow Wilson's Message
Sea cirt. N. III ost. 1s, 1919.

Sea cirt, N. J.p oct. 10. 1912.
TO the Voters of America:
/ am glad to have an opportunity to state very
simply and directly Why am seeking to be elect
ed President of the United States. feel very
deeply that this is not an ambition man should
entertain for hts own sake. ne must seek to
a cause. and must very clearly what
cause It is he is seeking to serve.
The cause an enlisted in lies very plain
20 nv own view: rne -Covernmenr Of the United
States, nov oound by the policies which have
become Characteristic OF Republican administers
tton in recent years, is not free to serve the
whole people impartia11y, and it ought t be set
free. It has been tied up, whether deliberately
or merely by uninte ional devel opment. with
particular interests, VIII ich have used their pow
er, both TO cont roll the government and to
troll the Industrial development OF the country.
1t must Do freed from such entanglements and al
people whole. Until it is freed, 1t cannot
undertake any programme Of social and economic
bettefnent, but must be checked and thwarted at
every turn by it's patrons and masters.
In practically every speech that make.
put at the front of what have to say the ques-
tion Of the tariff and the question of the trusts
but not because of any thought Of party STRAIT
because believe the solution Of these ques-
tions to lie at the very heart OF the bigger
question. whether the government shall be free
or not. The government Is not free because 1t
has grant ed special favors co particular classes
by means Of the tariff. The to whom these
special favors have been grant cd have formed
great comb mat ions by VIII oh to control enter
prise and determine the prices Of commodities.
They could not have done this had it not been for
propose to take away these special favors and
prevent monopoly absolutely in the markets of the
country much the most elementary
part Of the method by oh the government il
to be set free.
The control to which tariff legislation has
led, both In the field Of politics and in the
field Of business, is what has produced the most
odtous feature Of our present political situa-
tton, namely, the absolute domination Of power
ful bosses. Bosses cannot exist without busi-
alliances. With them politics Is hardly
distingui shab1e from business. Bosses maintain
their control because. they. are allied With
who wish their assistance In order to get con-
tracts, in order to obtain special legislative
edvant ages, in order to prevent reforms which
Will interfere vi tn monopoly or with their en-
3oyment OF special exemptions. Merely poltt-
ical leaders, not backed by money, not supported
by securely intrenched special interests, bosses
would be entirely manageable and comparat lively
powerless. By freeing the government, there
fore, at the same t ime break the power Of the
boss. He trades, he does not govern. He ar
ranges, he does not lead. He sets the stage for
what the people are to do /; he does not act
their agent or servant, but as their director.
For him the real bus mess Of politics is done 4
under cover. Z;
The that Will set the government
free from the ufluences vhic nov constantly