The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1912-10-21
THE DEMOCRATS
NOT FREE TRADERS
Part Of Speech Delivered by Governor
Wilson at Pittsburg, Pa, Friday,
October 18th.

| welcome the opportunity of stat
ing what | believe to be the well con
sidered position of the democratic
party with regard to the tariff. 1t is
absolutely essential that we should be
entirely frank with one another in the
discussion of this fundamental CUES
tion.
The business mAn of the country owe
1T to themselves to face the facts as
they are and to meet them in a spirit
of accommodation which has no touch
either of radicalism or of more theore-
tical reconstruction in it.
The democratic party does not pro
pose free trade or anything approach
ing free trade. II proposes merely a
reconsideration of the tariff schedules
such as viii adjust them to the actual
business conditions and interests of
the country. livery observant busi-
ness man must have realized long ago
that the tariqff schedules were CON
structed in such a way that business
was NOT upon "a normal basis in the
United States. They do not consti-
tute q system of we'll considered pro
lection. On the contrary, they en-
body fnnumersble counningly devised
and carefully concealed special favOrs,
and particular groups of capitalists
and manufacturers have taken advaH-
age OF these special favors to buiEd
monopoly up in way that is threat
ening and dangerous to every new and
Independent enterprise. Our field of
industry is like an untended garden.
Some of the plants have so overshaw-
owea the rest as to give them no
chance of light or air. Their ro0tE,
moreover have monopolized the soil,
and new growths are all but impos-
sibbe. If we would have stable pros
perity, we must admit light and air
and freedom into the whole process Of
our industrial life, and it is with that
object that the democrats will ap-
proach the revision of the tariff. Their
desire is not to check, but to aid; not
to embarrass, but to quicken.
They will not undertake the task
lige amateurs, either. They will seek
and obtain the best possible advice
in the country, but they will seek it
far and wide, and not only in the quar-
ters from which it has usually come.
1t is obvious that the country de-
mands, and will sooner or later OBJ
tain thoroughly considered revision
of the tariff, and the serious practical
question now is, when and how shall
it be brought about? 1t is practically
out of the question that the republi-
cans should control the majority of
the next house of representatives. It
is evident that those who stand pat
on the tariff will not control the next
senate. the forces of reform will be
dominant in both houses. To be held
at standstill in such circumstances
by a president entirely out of sym
pathy with congress will be TO gen
crate greater and greater uneasiness,
greater and greater restlessness,
deeper and deeper discomfort, and so
to mass the forces which may ulti-
mately make change when it comes
too rapid and too radical
In spite of all the obstacles of the
existing tariff system, in spite of all
the embarrassments of an inelastic
in spite of the uncertainties
Of politics, the commercial and indus
trial interests of the country are NOV
ing forward in an irresistible stream.
The argument is put forth, therefore
% 'Let well enough alone" The argu-
nent would be very impressive if we
really thought that the present condi-
ions are we'll enough, but we know
hat they are not, that they constantly
involve the Influences of monopoly, of
of private control, and
sven if they were we'll enough, it is
not leaving them alone to elect Mr..
Taft president to hofd a restless ma
ion at a standstill for four years and
the very forces which may
now, if properly guided and wisely
moderate, remove every obstacle to
rec enterprise and unlimited business
expansion
There are more possibilities of panic
ensuing upon abounding prosperity un-
Ter the present system than there
,ould be under any other and every |
lictate of prudence, every instinct of |
craftsmanship, ought to point to those
Early reforms which can be accom-
,lished in good temper BY common
counsel and in moderate fern. We
,annot stand still, least o. all when !
he opportunity OF unbounded pros