Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1913-04-12

direct patronage Of the government
For n long time-a time so long Tint
the men now active In public policy
hardly remember the conditions that
proceeded we have sought 10 our
tariff schedules to give each group OF
manufacturers or producers what they
themselves thought that they needed
In order TO maintain q practically ex
elusive market us against the rest Of
the world. Consciously or unconscious
~ vse have built up n SET of privileges
and exemptions from competition be-
hind which 1t was easy by any. even
the crudest. forms Of combination to
organize monopoly, until ut last moth
ing is normal, nothing is obliged TO
stand the tests of efficiency and econo
my. in our world of big business, but
everything rhrives by concerted ar
rangement. Only new principles of
action viii save Us from a hnal hard
capitalization of monopoly and n com
plete loss of the influences that quick.
en- enterprise and keep independent en-.
ergy alive
Must Abolish Privilege.
1t Is plain what those principles must
be. We must abolish everything that
bears even the semhlance of privilege
or of any kind Of artificial advantage
and put our business men and pro
ducers under the stimulation of a con
slant necessity 10 be efficient. econom-
ical and enterprising. masters of com.
petitive snpremacy. better workers and
merchants than any in the world
Aside from the duties laid upon acti-
Giles which we do not and probably
cannot produce, therefore. and the
duties laid upon ~luxuries and merely
for the sake of the revenues they yield,
the object OF the tariff duties hence
forth laid must be effective compel.
ton. the whetting of American wits by
contest with the wits Of the rest of the
world.
1t would be unwise to move toward
this end headlong, with reckless haste
or with strokes that cut at the very
roots of what has grown up among
us by long process and ut our own in
vitation. 1t does not alter a thing 10
upset it and break it and deprive it OF
a chance TO change. It destroys il.
We must make changes in our fiscal
laws, In our fiscal system. whose OBJ
ject is development. a more free and
wholesome development, not revolution
or upset or confusion. We must build
up trade. especially foreign trade. We
need the outlet and the enlarged field
Of energy more than we ever did be.
fore. We must build up industry as
well and must adopt freedom in the
place of artificial stimulation only 81
far ms it will build, not pun down. In
dealing with the tariff the method by
which this may be done will be a mat
ter Of judgment. exercised item by
item To some not accustomed 70 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 bnsl.
ness to make sure that they are genu-
inc remedies. Our object is clear. If
our motive is above just challenge
and only an occasional error of judg-
ment is chargeable against us we shall
be fortunate.
Thorough, but Moderate.
We are called upon to render the
country a great service in more mat
ters than oGe. Our responsibility
should be met, and our methods should
be thorough. as thorough as moderate
and well considered, based upon the
facts as they are, and not worked out
as If we were beginners. We are 10
deal with the facts of our own day.
with the facts of no other. and 10 make
laws which square with those facts.
II is beSt-iudced. it Is necessary-to
begin with the tariff. / will urge moth
ing upon you now at the opening Of
your session which can obscure that
FIRST UhIprl ur divert our puerpies from