New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-04-16
Or. Simon N. Patten, University
Of Pennsylvania Economist,
Believes Democrats Are
Doomed by Revision.
WORKERS TO SUFFER MOST
Moderate or Radical Cuts in
Duties Bound to Disappoint
Many - Republican Vic
tory Inevitable, Says
Professor.
By DIR. SIMON y. PATTEN.
Professor Of Political Economy. University
of Pennsylvania

Of Pennsylvania
The Republican party Clcansed
strengthened and made more respon-
sive 10 the people Will return to national
power. The Democratic party, / believe
and predict. will fail, because it can
not meet the expectations of even the
minority that voted it into control Of
the national government. Tariff will
prove the undoing of Democracy. H.
has before it two alternatives; one is
a small reduction of tariff and virtually
no change in the costs Of articles that
are deemed necessaries in the American
standard of living. The other alterna-
tive is a radical reduction in tariffs
and the consequent stoppage of many
important American industries.
Viewing the situation wholly as an
economist, it seems to me that, which
ever horn of the dilemma is selected.
President Wilson and his colleagues
are certain 10 disappoint a large body
of the people who have intrusted them
with power. Hundreds of thousands ex-
pect to see the cost of living meas
urably and speedily reduced.
If the President and his associates
accomplish this desideratum without
inficting hard times and consequent
suffering upon whole communities l
will be both surprised as a scientist
and delighted as a citizen. II the other
alternative is selected and only small
reductions made on the tariff President
Wilson will undoubtedly create disgust
and dissension in the ranks of those
who supported him with the under
standing that a tariff for revenue only
policy would be inaugurated.
Idle to Forecast Results.
have no desire at this time to
forecast in detail the effect of the tariff
legisla ton. Ny dissemination has its
root IN the doubt that surrounds the
projected tariff bill. We may have an
extremely law tariff or a moderate
tariff. and it is idle to speculate upon
conditions months hence until we know
exactly what we are 10 get in the way
Of customs regulations.
There is one matter. however, upon
which / may speak with some degree of
emphasis That is the inevitable re-
adjustment OF wage conditions by GER
tain protected manufacturers. The day
has gone by when 80 week is the
basis for a working woman's wage.
When the Republicans return TO power
-as / believe they will in the next ma
tional election--they must come as a
party pledged to definite reforms and
as a party whose energies will be de-
voted TO keeping these pledges. OF
these promises the most important will
be a readjustment of tariff benefits so
that the worker shall receive his fair
share Of the renewed prosperity. The
Republican party does not deserve sue
cess unless il secures a living wage for
workers
Forced to Reduce Wages.
As matters now stand the high
minded honest manufacturer who
gives TO his workers the greatest meas
ure Of tariff benefits in the way Of
wages and working environment Will
be the one who will be hit the hardest
and fined heaviest by a sweeping re-
duction in tariff duties. He will be
forced TO reduce wages and to meet
the competition Of his less scrupulous
rivals by economies in shop comforts.
Cnntinued on second page. nth column.