Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-21


mon purpose with regard TO it.
Those who really desire a new relation.
ship between capital and labor eau readily
find way TO bring it about and perhaps
federal legislation can hclpomore than
state legislation could.
The members of the committees on labor
in the two houses will hardly need suggcs
tions from me as to what means they shall
seek to make the federal government the
agent of the whole nation in pointing outs
and. If need be, guiding the process of
reorganization and reform.
Whittier do we wander? Rather in a
circle, isn't it? Perhaps since Mr.. Will
son self-confessedly regarded himself in
addressing the Democratic Congress as
the chief Democratic leader, in address,
ing the Republican Congress he no longer
deems it his duty to lead. But we must
admit to having obtained little practical
enlightenment from the section on the
greater aspects of the labor question.
SO it is also with the tariff. He says
there is no occasion for undertaking a
general revision of the import duties.
Later he intimates the need of a protec-
tive tariff that will be political as well as
economic" in regard to at least one "in-
FAINT" induStry-that of dye manufacture.
Shades of Mckinley, Dingley, Aldrich!
The Republicans will grin at this, but
Mr.. Wilson seems naively sincere. And
then comes the suggestion that it might
be well to have some retaliatory tariff
weapons up our sleeves because eve must
frankly face the fact that hostile legsla
tion by other nations is not beyond the
range of possibility and that it may have
to be met by counter-legislation." There
will be rush to look up certain utter
ances by the Democratic candidate for
President and the Democratic platform
of 1912.
The upshot will be, of course, that the
Republicans, if they are smart, will apply
the traditional principles of the Repub-
Iican party to the tariff situation. yet Mr..
Wilson in his ambiguous remarks will
have taken some of the wind out of their
sails.
Mr.. Wilson mentions ships. but he does
not come out squarely either for or
against subsidies. He also touches
bithely upon the return of the railroads,
saying that if he were home he would
hand them back in jiffy, naming the
exact date, but as it is they will have to
llnger longer i'll the governments hands
till the end of the calendar year. Another
issue for 1920 exploded. Business of
weeping by Will Hays. Likewise the
Burlesoni2ed wire systems, which will be
returned to their owners as soon as the
retransfer can be effected without admin
istrative confusion" Administrative
confusion. Some might be unkind enough
to read d subtle rebuke to the Texas
P. M. G. in the colocation.
But the real singer for the politicians
is reserved for the end. Prohibition.
Wines and beers. This is fine mess to
hand over to hopeful political party
making a fresh start. The President
would release the lighter stimulants from
the provisions of the wartime agricul-
tural act, saving of six months and six
teen days of grace, or perhaps disgrace,
as you look at it, after July /. The brew
ers will rejoice; the "drys" will frown,
but be thankful that it goes no further.
Yet the onus Of lingering this political
dynamite will fall not upon the Demo-
cratic party, which enacted the laws. out
the Republicans, who will find it difficult
to please anybody.
In truth, to summarize, the President
has not done himself complete justice in
this message. 1t smacks of the kind of
thinking that inspired the appeal for
Democratic Congress last fall 1t feints
where it should thrust. But still it car
res the challenge.