New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-07-06
Mr.. RDOSETELTH VIEW ISSrE.

VIZ. HODSEI ELI > w W 1901 =.
Mr.. Roosevelt's proposed cost of liv-
ing" issue for his third term party move
mcnt is at once a bid and n confession.
He started out as the apostle Of the
New NaticnaiSm." supplemented that
platform with adhesion to the initiative.
referendum and recall Of judicial de-
CiSiOnS. tackled on advocacy Of wOmanS
suffrage. and finally at the climax pro
nounced himself the champion and sole
hope Of the people and the cause of
honesty. To turn from this high ground
to the details of costs and prices is
something of an antl-ClimaX. 1t suggests
that the former all-Sutficlent platform
has not been found sufficient; the SUI
preme vital issue has not proved vital {;
the would-be rescuer is not sure Of II
multitude wanting to he rescued. So n
new note Of appeal is sought, and what
is more natural i'm such an emergency
than touching every man on the pocket
book. with the invitation: come with
me and will do Won good:
We hope that Mr.. RooScvcIt-if he
really runs-Will 90 into the campaign
offering n comprehensive solution Of this
problem. He has given no hint about it
as yet Some, ne said. thought the high
cost Of living was due TO the tariff but
II was also high I'm free trade countries.
Others, he was willing 10 concede. hon
estly believed" it was the fault Of the
Ia pnI, l., 20 g.,
that one Of the principal aims Of the
third term party would be 10 make
pledges 10 the people 10 ascertain the
facts and remedy conditions. But both
the Republicans and Democrats have
gone further than that. Mr. Taft has
already started the movement to furnish
farmers with needed working capital at
reasonable rates, which if successful
means larger and consequently cheaper
food supply. There is something con-
crete there Anybody can promise TO
investigate The Socialists beat Mr.
Roosevelt all hollow on this subject
They promise millennium and put you
on a definite road to tiff you only be
lieve them. What is wanted for the
third term party to arouse the whole
country Is not a promise of inquiry. but
n clear cut programme We all want the
cost Of living reduced and are ready TO
follow man who will really reduce It
without depriving us Of our income or
comforts.
If Mr.. Roosevelt has the secret and
can show just how, if he secures third
term. he will infalllby give all men
lark pie without making the sky fall on
their heads. he will not be permitted 10
contine himself 10 the Presidency of the
United States. England, France and
Germany are just as anxious for cheap
larkS as we are. and the headShip of the
parliament Of Man awaits him. He
has great popular issue I'm a practical
and definite programme 10 reduce the
cost of living-while everybody con
tinues TO live Just as we'll But there Is
nothing popular I'm the promise 10 in
vestigate and 10 see If he can find out
why the cost Is high, and what will cure
the trouble. and. If no can learn the rem
edy. 10 endeavOr to apply it, \ physi-
clan who demonstrated a cure for cancer
would be a popular hero One who, after
thousands .haye been studying the sub
iect, suddenly announced that cancer
was a bad thing. which old-line physi-
clans neglected, and that he was now
going 10 investigate the disease, would
he laughed at.
The high cost of living is no new
trouble. Investigations and prescrip-
lions have been many. Demagogues