The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-05
MARSHALL'S SINCERITY is
CHARACTERISTIC WHICH
IMPRESSES ALL VISITORS
Plain Spoken His Ideas About Old Fashioned Democracy
But Does Not Believe Deep Rooted Policies Can Be Sud-
denly Changed Without Great Disturbance and Unrest
BY c. e. STEWART

receive a party of personal friends. lie
had box or two of good cigars handy
he enjoys them himself. but not by him
self.
Although he made 1t plain that he was
not speaking as a representative OF the
new administration, Mr.. Marshall readily
agreed that IL Mr.. Wilson wanted him
to sit around the cabinet table, he would
be pleased to contribute whatever wis
dom or counsel he was able for the ben
eft of the party. And after meeting him
and talking with him one cannot doubt
the wisdom of President Wilson IL he
includes the vice president In those he
has around him and upon whose Judg-
ment he is largely to rely.
Tariff Most Important Issue
The tariff he considers the most i'm
portant issue with which the democratic
Congress must grapple.
The high protective tariff is at the
bottom OF most of the evils Of the coun-
try he declared II made some people
in Maine very angry during the cam
paign when ] asked what would be
thought of a baker who went to the
city council and asked for aid Yet when
a big manufacturer goes to Congress and
asks for protection for his business and
the guarantee of a reasonable profit
that is thought to be all right. 1t was
published all over the country that I had
called the big manufacturers beggars,
but to me the principle was the same
in both cases.
When men who are in a position to
give example to a great number of peo-
pie, do these things, the effect is wide
spread. The little merchant and the lit
tie trader thinks it fair to underweigh
and to palm off spurious goods to gain
small profits since the big manufacturers
are getting special favors at the expense
of all the people, fs'
Asked if ne did not think men OF prop
erty were part of the people and We're
entitled to be considered by the govern
ment, he said, that he was not against
any honest business.
THE size of mans pile does not seem
to me as important as how he got it."
said Mr. Marshall. IT would protect
vested rights, but I am opposed to vested
wrongs.
when Mr.. Wilson made his speech in
Chicago saying that IL any man sought
to start panic he ought to be hung on
a gibet as high as Haman's, he was
much criticised. I think he was right.
In enforcing laws we do not want to
proceed against any class of individuals,
but We should name the man.
Change Cannot Be Sudden
II may not be entirely orthodox in
saying this. but / realize that sudden
and sweeping changes cannot be made
without creating a great deal of disturb
ance and Unrest. Personally / am a
strict tariff for revenue democrat. But
q system that has been in vogue as long
as has the protective tariff system, can
not be wiped out with one blow.
But when a corporation can sell its
goods abroad cheaper than at home, it
is time to cut down its protection. The
answer usually made to this is that only
the surplus is being sold abroad. prices
being cut to get trade so that mills can
be run full time. But notice that these
same operations have gone on building
extra mills to manufacture more surplus.
when these men come to Congress
and ask for high protective duties, to
safeguard their wealth at the expense of
the people who must pay higher products
for commodities, it makes me wish they
would eat their money"
Mr.. Marshall expressed approval of the
physical valuation bill under which the
actual value of the material property of
common carriers is to be gotten at He
thought this would furnish a fair basis
for fixing rates, regardless of the amount
of watered stock on which the company
was trying TO pay dividends On the
corporations should be allowed to earn
six or seven per cent dividends.
He believes that judicial reform which
will make litigation simpler and speedier
is great need of the country.
"Since / am no longer practicing law,
can talk very freely about this" said
Mr.. Marshall, 'sjust as people who haven't
any children are free with advice to
others on how to raise theirs"