The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1916-09-22

tnelr favored 0octrlne OF tAS10 TOT
revenue than they spoke a little while
ago. Four years ago It was uncon-
stitutional to have protective tariff.
Now they propose protection in dye
stuffs. Perhaps we have . special
constitution for the protection Of dye
stuffs. At least. the argument as to
unconstitutionality Is not so readily
pressed. Not so very long ago tar
iff commission was derided, - no
friends among our opponents for
tarin commission.
1t was denounced by the leading
spokesman Of the administration. But
now a tariff commission is proposed.
The other day In, Congress, however.
one Of the leaders Of our opponents
arose to say that he supposed that It
had to do with the furnishing Of sta
tistics. believe In tariff commission
because 1t Is one Of my fundamental
principles, and If am entrusted with
executive responsibility, l propose to
apply the principle then when I want
to know fact ! want to get all the
most expert opportunities for informa-
ton that the country affords. We de-
sire to have experience and investiga-
ton and talent devoted to the examin-
alton of facts.
No Favoritism Needed.
do not propose that abuses shall
creep through tariff adjustment We
have settled as l have said the ques-
ton that the public interest Is SUI
preme and that selfish exploitation
shall not be allowed. But / do not
propose to see honest enterprise Ian
guish and suffer in this country be-
cause we are afraid to use wisely
great governmental power for fear
that abuses will come in. Let us check
the abuses, let us correct evils, let us
cut down the selfish and let us go
ahead with the prosperity Of the coun-
try (Applause.)
I say ! believe in tariff commits
sion. We want all the information we
can get, but tariff commission does
not legislate; it Is Congress that legis-
lates; and, II you believed that in this
economic era when we are to face
commercial rivalry more keen than we
have ever experienced before, with dis
ciplined nations more alert than ever
before and more competent than ever
before; If we are to have protection
for American industry, it is plain COM
mon sense to say that you must put in
power an administration that believes
in protection.
Means Broad Sense.
Now I put under this head OF PRO
lection" not only this particular appli-
cation Of protection, but protection in
the broad sense. AS intimated a mo-
ment ago in speaking of our human re-
sources, would ask why do we want
a tariff adjusted so as have said, to
promote American enterprise? Is
American enterprise sort of thing in
itself that we should worship? That is,
is it an abstraction? Not at all. What
we are after is the lettering of the
lives Of American citizens throughout
this country. (Applause)
We want work, stability Of enter
prise; we want conditions under which |
man can plan little ahead. 1t is |
perfectly idle to suppose you can go
ahead and have prosperous conditions
in the country where nobody knows
what is to happen next.
You must plan and prepare with
wise regard for future exigencies.
Offers Open Door.
Now propose that the business men
Of this country shall have an open
door for every honorable achievement;
that we shall have stable achieve
ments under which planning can be
done, and to the end not that a few
men may prosper at the expense of
the many, but to the end that all may
share in the generous prosperity, and
that we shall have foundation on
which to erect social justice. You can
not have social justice unless you
have foundation. You can have agi-
tation, you can have disturbance, you
can have social disorders, because de-
sires are not met; because wholesome
conditions of living are not obtainable,
because work is not to be had, and be-
cause men do not understand the rea-
sons of their distress.
I see very easy road to disaster In