Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-27
WILSON EXPLAINS
CHANGE OF MIND
Now Urges Creation Of Tariff
Commission. Which For
merly He Opposed.
WRITES LETTER TO KITCHlN
Has No Thought Whatsoever of
Altering Attitude Toward
Protection Question.

WASHINGTON. January 2G-presi-
dent Wilson today sen, "a letter TO
Chairman Eitchiu. OF the House Ways
and Means Committee. explaining why
he had withdrawn his opposition 20 a
tariff commission. and now was urging
the creation of such a body by Con-
Ercss. lie wrote frankly that he had
changed his mind because "all the cir
cumStancns of the world had changed"
Declaring that he had mo thought
whatever Of change in attitude to-
ward the so-callcd protection ques-
ton" tho President said the proposed
commission would have nothing TO do
with theories Of policy. but would hc
charged only with tn. duty of seeking
facts to guide Congress in Legislation.
In another letter to MIR. Kitchin on
Monday he had set forth fully his ideas
Of what a tariff commission should be
and urged that the Ways ana Means
Committee consider tho matter imnc-
diatcly. He favored VIII a1y non
partisan. expert organization.
IN NEED OF COMPETENT
INSTRUMENT OF INQUIRY
nave CnanEed my NINA, SalI TO-
days letter, because all the circum-
stances Of the world have chang cd.
and i; seems 10 me that. in view Of
the extraordinary and far-reachinE
changes which the European war has
brought about, II is absolutely neces-
sary that we should have a competent
ins,rumen; Of inquiry along the whole
line OF the many questions which might
affect foreign commerce.
Il have in this change OF mind no
thought whatever of change of atti-
tude towards the so-called protection
question. That is neither here nor
there. \ commission such as | have
suggested would have nothing TO do
with theories of policy. They would
deal only with facts. and the facts
which they would seek ought TO he the
actual facts OF inquiry. and of the con-
ditions OF economic exchange prevail
ing in the world, so that Legislation of
every kind that touched these matters
might be guided by the circumstances
disclosed in its inquiries.
II dare sag. you feel as ] do. that it
would be folly at this time, or until
all the altered conditions are clearly
understood. TO attempt 10 deal with
I questions OF foreign commerce by leg
! islation. and yet. having dealt direct
Is and clearly with the whole question
of fair competition within our own
borders, i, is clear that as soon as we
know the facts, We ought Ia deal with
unfair methods of competition between
our nation and others, and this is only
one Of the many things that we would
probably wish 10 deal with. The other
matters / have attempted 10 indicate
/ N @ IN
glad to supplement that letter by this
explicit statement of tn" considera-
/ tions which have been most influential
, with me.
jFORESHADOWED CONDITIONS
IL HIS LAST MESSAGE
You Will remember that in my last
message to Congress forcshadowcd
just the conditions which were operat-
ing in my mind at the time. The pass
age TO which | refer was this:
Many conditions about which VIC
have repeatedly legislated are being
, altered from decade TO decade, ii is
evident under our very eyes. and are
| likely TO change even more rapidly and
more radically in tho days immediately
ahead OF us. when peace has returned
the world and the nations OF Europe
once more take up their tasks OF COM
mcrcc and industry with the energy
OF those who must bcstir themselves TO
build anew lust what these changes
! will be- no one can certainly foreSce
or confidently predict. There are no
calculahle. because no stable. elements
| in the problem. The most we can do
is 10 make the most Of the instru-
! mcntalitics OF information constantly
| at our service so that We may he sure
! that we know exactly what We are
dealing with when We come to act. if
! il should be necessary 10 act at all
We must first certainly know what it
! is that we are seeking 10 adapt our
| selves To. | may ask the privilege OF
| addressing you more at length on this
! important matter IL little later in your
session
Il need hardly say that | apprccia G
very fully inc motives by which YOU
1 yourself are actuatcd. and ii is. there :
! fore with the greatest confidence that
/ I lay the whole matter thus fully be-
! fore YOU. Congress has so much to
do ~ lii" present time that it is clearly
! impossible that il should be able 20
collect :,ll tho data which such n COM
mission would gather, and ! feel that
| i, would presently find such "A commits
sion indispensable to it,"
| WANTS no PARTICULAR THEORY
Of Fiscal. POLICY SERVED
| In his letter sent 10 Mr.. kitchin on
Monday, the President said:
/ II am convinced as | suppose every
! interested person is, that il would he
n mistake to provide for such a board
! with The idea of serving any particular
! theory or fiscal policy What we would
need would be, above all things else.
IL board much as possible free from
any strong prcpossession in favor OF
any political policy aud capable OF look :
ing at the whole economic situation OF