St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1915-12-15
The Presidents Attitude.

The address of a president before
congress is always of interest, but this
year it is especially so because Presi-
dent Wilson is the acknowledged
leader of the democratic party 1t is
generally recognized that he, if any
body, can push through the measures
he has proposed to congress. The
seriousness of the conditions in this
country and the necessity for broad
and constructive statesman are evil
dent and it is proper to scan the mes
sage delivered last week to see what
promise it gives.
1t must be admitted the president
has stood for many constructive
things. The development of Pan
Americanism, program for prepared
ness. the demand for national eff
cheney and security and development
of a merchant marine are all construc-
tive propositions Entirely different
is his attitude on the Mexican situa-
ton, the raising of revenues and the
protection of American industries. He
offers nothing in regard to Mexico, he
fails to provide sufficient revenue and
proposes to still further hamper our
industries with burdens of taxation.
Americans regardless of party lines
will endorse the development of the
four constructive propositions as
things that should be done. There is
these things shall be accomplished.
We believe it will be difficult to inter
est American capital in South Ameri-
can countries and develop the large
and profitable commerce We should
have with them so long as the presi-
dent persists in his attitude of com
plete neglect of American interests in
Mexico. With between 200 anc 900
Americans murdered and millions of
dollars worth of property of American
citizens without protest on the part of
our government these declarations by
the president sound strangely. Her
(Mexico's) fortunes are in her own
hands" 1--WE will aid and befriend
Mexico, but we will not coerce her"
Americans cannot venture into new
commercial fields unless American life
and property mean more than they
have in Mexico. So the presidents
plea for Pan-Americanism is construc-
tive but his pledge of practical support
is entirely lacking.
While everyone admits the neces-
sity of a strong merchant marine he
majority of Americans will not en-
dorse government ownership and OPP
Grafton of lines where American capt.
tai dare not at present undertake to
develop. The most successful nations
in handling commerce on the seas DO
not have government ownership and
America should not attempt to build
its success on the discarded methods
of its successful rivals. Furthermore
the president failed to suggest even
how such an undertaking should be
financed. Certain it is current re-
ceipts will not do it and we would re-
peat some Of the presidents own
words in his message, for one. do
country approve of postponing the
payment of their bills. Borrowing
money is short sighted finance" 1t
seems to me a clear dictate of prudent
craftsmanship and frank finance that
in what we are now, hope, about 10
undertake we should pay as we 60"
If the president should insist that in
establishing a merchant marine we
should pay as we go he has failed to
suggest a possible resource from
which we can secure the necessary
funds. If he proposes to borrow, the
weakness of the plan is shown in his
expression that Borrowing money is
short sighted finance
In his proposition to increase the
revenues of the government the pres
ident showed his greatest weakness.
He admits that even with the duty on
sugar and all of our present war taxes
continued the government would face
a deficiency Of $297,OOO.OOO, July 1.
1917. To prevent this deficit he pro
poses:-
A tax per gallon of one cent on gas
oline and naptha would yield, at the
present estimated production, Si0,-
OOO. 600; a tax of so cents per horse
power on automobiles and internal
explosion engines. $15.OO0,0OO.
stamp tax on bank checks. probably
$4,000. 900; a tax of % cents per ton
on pig iron. $1O,O00.O0O; a tax Of p