Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1913-10-10
President Wilson Signs The Tariff
Bill.

Surrounded by the leaders of united
Democracy, President Wilson signed the
Underwood Simmons Tariff bill at 900
o'clock last Friday night at the White
House.
A happy group of Legislators, members
of the cabinet and friends encrcled the
President as he smilingly sat down and
slowly affixed his signature with two gold
pens. He presented to Representative
Underwood the pen that had written the
word Woodrow" and the one which had
completed his name to Senator Simmons.
Both recipients bowed their appreciation.
In impressive silence the President rose
and delivered in easy. natural tones an
extemporaneous speech that brought pro-
lOnged applause.
Gentlemen, | feel very peculiar pleas
ure," said the President. "in what have
just done by way of taking part in the
completion of a great piece of business.
1t is pleasure which is very hard to ex-
press in words adequate to express the
feeling, because the feeling that have is
that we have done the rank and file of the
people of this country great service. 1t
is hard to speak of these things without
seeming to 60 off into campaign elOquence,
but that is not my feeling 1t is one very
profound feeling of profound gratitude
that, working with the splendid men who
have carried this thing through with stu
dious attention and doing justice all round,
| should have had part in serving the peO-
pie of this country as we have been striving
TO serve them ever since can remember.
"lhave had the accomplishment of some
thing like this at heart ever since was a
boy, and know men standing around me
who can say the same thing have
been waiting to see the things done which
it was necessary to do in order that there
might be justice in the United States. And
so it is solemn moment that brings such
business to conclusion, and hope
will not be thought to be demanding too
much of myself or my colleagues when
say that this-great as it isis the accom-
plishment of only half the journey. We
have set the business of this country free
from those conditions which have made
monopoly not only possible but in sense
easy and natural. But there is no use TAX :
ing away the conditions of monopoly II we
do not take away also the power to create
nd fhat &c al no
than merely circumstantial and economic
power
The power to control and guide and
direct the credits of the country is the
power to say who shall and who shall not
build up the industries of the country, IN
which direction they shall be built an
which direction they shall not be bulit.
ave are now about to take the second
step, which will be the final step in setting
the business of this country free. That is
what we shall do in the Currency bill, which
the House has already passed and which
have the utmost confidence the Senate
will much sooner than some pessimistic
individuals believe. Because the question,
now that this piece of work is done, will
arise all over the country. For what do we
waltz Why should we wait to crown our
selves with consummate honorS Are we
so self-denying that we do not wish TO
complete our SUGGEST
Il was quoting the other day to some of
my colleagues in the Senate those lines
from Shakespeare's Henry v which have
always appealed to me, If it be a sin to
covet honor then am the most offending
soul alive and am happy to say that
do not covet it for myself alone covet it
with equal ardor for the men who are as
ISOLATED with me. and the honor is going
to come from them. ] am their associate.
can only complete the work which they
do. | can only counsel when they ask for
my counsel. can come in only when the
last stages Of the business are reached.
And covet this honor for them quite as
much as covet il for myself, and covet
it for the great party of which am a
member, because that party is not honor
able unless it redeems its name and serves
the people of the United States,
$50 feel tonight like man who is
lodging happily in the inn which lies half
way alons the journey and that in the
morning with fresh impulse we shall 60
the rest of the journey and sleep at the
journeys end like men with quiet con-
science. knowing that we have served our
fellOw-men and have thereby tried to serve
Cod A"