The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1913-04-08
WILSON'S MESSAGE
STICKS TO TARIFF
Continued from first page).

! to stand the tests Of efficiency and
economy, in our world of big busi-
ness, but everything thrives by con-
certed arrangement. Only new prin-
ciples of action will save us from a
final hard crystallization of mono
poly and complete loss of the in
f1uences that quicken enterprise and
keep, independent energy alive. -
I 1T is plain what those principles
must be. We must abolish everything
that bears even the semblance Of
privilege or Of any kind Of artificial
advantage, and put our business men
and producers: under the stimulation
of a constant necessity to be efficient,
economical, and enterprising, mast
4 ers of competitive supremacy, better
! workers and merchants than any in
the world Aside from the duties
laid upon articles which we do not,
and probably can not, produce, there
| fore, and the duties laid upon luxur-
les and merely for the sake of the
revenue they yield, the object OF the
tariff duties henceforth laid must be
effective competition, the whetting of
American wits by contest with the
wits of the rest of the world. =. <.
ut would; be unwise to move to-
ward this end headlong, with reck-
less haste, or with strokes that cut at
the very roots of what has grown up
amongst us by long process and at
our own invitation. It does not alter
a thing to upset it and break it. and
deprise it of a chance to change. It
destroys it. We must make changes
in our fiscal laws, in our fiscal sys-
TEN, whose object is development, a
more free and. wholesome develop
ment, not revolution or upset or con-
fusion. We must build up trade, .es-
pecially foreign trade. We need the
outlet and the enlarged field of ener-
gy more than we ever did before. We
must build up industry as we'll, and
must adopt freedom in the place of
artificial stimulation only so far as
it will build, not pull down. In deal
ing with the tariff the method by
which this may be done will be a
matter of judgment, exercised item
by item. To some not accustomed to
the excitements and responsibilities
Of greater freedom our methods may
in some respects and at some points
seem heroic, but remedies may be
heroic and yet be remedies. 1t is our
business to make sure that they are
genuine remedies. Our object is
clear. If our motive is above just
challenge and only an occasional err
ror of Judgment is chargeable against
/ us, we shall be fortunate.
\ "We are called upon to render the
country a great service in more mat
ters than one. Our responsibility
5I'should be met and our methods
4 should be thorough, as thorough as
moderate and well considered, based
. upon the facts as they are, and not
4 worked out as if we were beginners.
We are to deal with the facts of our
own day, with the facts of no other,
and to make laws which square with
those facts It is best, indeed it is
necessary, to begin with the tariff.
will urge nothing upon you now
at the opening of your session which
lean obscure that first object or divert
our energies from that clearly denned
duty. At q later time I may take the
liberty Of calling your attention to-
reforms which should press close up
on the heels Of the tariff changes, if
not accompanying them, of which
the chief is the reform Of our bank.
ling and currency laws; but just now
refrain. For the present, I put these
matters on one side and think only
OF this one thing of the changes in
our fiscal system which may best
serve to open once more the free
channels OF prosperity to a great peo-
iple whom we would serve to the ut
most and throughout both rank and
!. file. = szs.