Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-04-13
Harmon Pleads for Harmony;
Sees Democratic Success

OF his party, not only signed the Pay ne
Aldrich-Smoot tariff bill, but praised
1t as the best ever devised by man.
AT the next election the voters
smote him and his party all over the
union and sent up a democratic house
to give them relief and justice. They
would have sent a democratic SEN
ate and president, too, if they could.
1.-THE house promptly set to work, re-
ducing its own expenses to begin with,
and set its committees to enquiring in
to departments with view to reduc-
ing them, too. And it passed bills to
reduce the tariff taxes and correct the
monstrous injustice in the existing
schedules. Tine elections were not en-
tirely without effect on the republi-
can senate, because it concurred in
these bills, with Some notifications,
and they went to the president for APP
proval.
He vetoed them, and the reasons
he gave were, if anything, worse than
his action. He will doubtless veto the
bills passed at the present session if
they get through the senate. He in
sists that the favored manufacturers
shall be guaranteed a reasonable prof
it at the expense of the consumers Of
the country, though everybody else
has to take his chances of profit.
1.-THE republican tariff has been the
chief breeder of trusts and combina-
tons TO suppress competition and
raise prices. 1t has encouraged ex-
travagance as an excuse for high dut-
les. II has aggravated the inequalit-
les in wealth which have spread so
cialism among the people. Its reform
on democratic principles will accom-
plish more for the welfare Of the
country at large than any other sin
gle measure.
"On this there is hardly a dissent
among democrats. We favor it as
strongly as we oppose a central bank
The need of such reform is confessed
The voters have demanded it. II will
be the key of the democratic posi-
ton this fall.
THE house by its action has given
dnb VI dAAAt vi hAt tGAC Al htalAAA6 Will
Questions which affect the business oil
the country and at the same time Civ
en- an earnest of the fulfillment of oul
promises Of economy. And II has
caused the long forgotten pruning
knife TO be brought forth in the var
ious executive departments. 1t ha:
pointed out and cleared the way
which leads TO success.
I'VE are fortunate, too, In having So
many democratic administration
which have made good in states W,
must carry 10 succeed. The party ha,
been so Gong out OF power in them
as we'll as in the nation, that our op
ponents had created the impression
among the voters that it had no mem
bers capable OF managing public ai
fairs. And this was long a serious
handicap TO us. 1t now appears tina
II is possible TO have too much exper
fence in public life and many of on
anniversaries have been retired in con
sequence.
while the executive has duties con
nected with legislation, it is the busi
ness department of the government
which expends the peoples money ant
is looked 70 for the results which tina
money is provided TO obtain: AMI
: the same qualities and methods ar
; required there as in any other enter
] prise. The incentive OF personal gal
is lacking, but patriotism more thal
fills fits place with the right sort of mel
for what Is better worth while tina
: really 10 help make our free institu
: tons bring forth the good they wer
founded 70 secure. I never could III
derstsnd how anybody can miss thi
ennObling view Of public Office and res
content with being mere place holC
er while economies and practical r
forms are suggesting themselves a
around him, especially in times whe
the fast growing cost of living strain
the resources of almost every home
And standing for or permitting sp,
!, cial privileges OF advantages Of an
!. kind through the action of a COVER
ment maintained by all the people fC