The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1913-03-20
is WOODROW WILSON TO BE AN
OTHER ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
By Clyde II. Tavenner, NJ. G
Especial to The Reporter


Especial to The Reporter
Washington, March 1T.-Wood
row Wilson, man of the hour, has ar
opportunity to make himself the
greatest president since Abraham
Lincoln and to keep the democratic
party in power for years to come.
This is true not merely because he
is today president of the United
States. There have been other big
men president since Lincoln. 1t is
because Woodrow wilson realizes
that the one great principal issue
that confronts the republic is not
the tariff issue, the currency issue,
or the trust issue. but the issue of
| humanity. Taft did not realize this,
hence his failure. The tariff issue,
the currency issue ana the trust is
sue are simply arithmetical problems
| that may be worked out, but the
issue of humanity is one of con-
science and soul. The first named is
sues are business propositions, and
concern dividends and dollars chief
ly, while the issue of humanity re-
fers to human rights, the protection
of women and children and all those
who are being oppressed by organic
ed greed.
If the American public will read
Woodrow Wilson's inaugural speech
second time, better interpreted
ton of the light that he sees may
be had No inaugural speech save
the first one of Abraham Lincoln
ever read like it.
I'VE know our task is to be no
task of politics. he says, but a
task which will search us through
and through. Mems hearts wait
upon US; mems lives hang in the
balance. | summon all honest men,
all patriotic, all forward-looking
men to my side. God helping me, !
will not fail them, if they will but
counsel and sustain me-
People Behind Wilson.
1t is an old tradition in congress
sional circles in Washington that
president must not interfere" with
either branch of congress. He may
submit whatever views he may have
on a subject, and recommended the
passage of any legislation he may Dc
sire but after that, according to ira
dii;on. he must sit with hands told
ed and watch legislation which may
be highly desirable to the people,
be peacefully chlorOformed in COM
mittee and pass into oblivion.
1t is said that Woodrow Wilson is
going to disregard this tradition.
This will be for the public good. The
only ones who will protest will be
those opposed to the progressive
ideas that Woodrow Wilson stands
for.
The president will be sustained
by popular sentiment. The people,
republicans as we'll as democrats,
have for years been demanding a
square deal at the hands of their
public servants in Washington. They
still demand it. They don't care
whether it comes from democrat or
a republican, they simply want 1t.
President Woodrow Wilson proposes
to give it to them. The people know
full we'll he will have to fight, and
they will hold up his hands, even
should he find it necessary, in their
interest, to break down half dozen
traditions!
What the People Pay. MI
The people OF the United States
pay a subsidy in artificially high
prices to the wool industry of at
least $1O4, 100000 year, according
to calculations of Hon. Oscar w.
Underwood, of Alabama, chairman OF
the Ways and Means committee of
the house of representatives.
THE Payne-Aldrich tariff tax of
81 cents per yard, to say nothing of
any increase in tax as it passes to
the jobber, makes not less than
$1O4, 100000 paid each year to sub
sidize the wool industry of Ameri-
ca" says Mr. Underwood. Now the
entire duties actually paid the United
States on all imports Of woolens
and worsteds in 1910 amounted to
less than $15,00O,000, which means
that of the $1O4,0OO,O00 extorted
from the purchasers of woolens
nearly 90,0O0,0O0 went to the wool
Ell industry.
"Is it just or right to maintain
these enormous taxes unduly to
foster the business of less than one
fourth of one per cent, of the people
and to require ninety-nine and three
fourths to stagger under this enor-
nous burden?'
Copyrighted, 1913, C. H. Tavenner)