Ten Reasons for Voting for Wilson: Pamphlet
Title
Ten Reasons for Voting for Wilson: Pamphlet
Creator
Ten Reasons for Voting for Wilson: Pamphlet
Identifier
WWP21022
Date
1916 January 1
Description
A campaign pamphlet promoting Woodrow Wilson for President.
Source
Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library, Staunton, Virginia
Language
English
Text
Professor of Political Economy
Yale University
Professor Fisher is an Independent
in Politics
OLD GUARD PLOTTING TO SEESAW THE TARIFF
1
The so-called issue of Americanism, that has grown out of foreign affairs, appears to me to be merely a red herring across the trail intended to put the public off the scent. I have little doubt that, by diverting attention from themselves to this trumped-up issue, the Republican old guard hopes to put over on the public another Payne-Aldrich tariff. That so-called protection has become a national scandal, a prostitution of public interests to private interest, was, in effect, recognized by Mr. Taft and other conscientious Republicans. But his administration only demonstrated how difficult it is for a party, which draws its financial support from protected interests, to revise the tariff against these interests.
TARIFF NOW OUT OF POLITICS
2
Quite irrespective of the moral issue in protection it seems to me bad national policy to keep the tariff longer in politics. Mr. Hughes is talking of efficiency and consistency. Our government and our nation cannot become efficient, nor enjoy a consistent continuous national policy, by seesaw legislation on the tariff.
REALIZES MEXICOS NEEDS
3
Few of the American people realize, as Mr. Wilson realizes, that in Mexico, too, is a case of special interests capturing a government in their own behalf. The people of Mexico have, I believe, been exploited by a handful of unscrupulous foreign concessionaires. These exploiters, or their agents, sought to continue the system through the assassination of Madero and the elevation of Huerta. We must have order in Mexico, but we owe it to Mexico and to our own national ideals not to help to restore that kind of order, by which Mexicans have been systematically robbed.
CHANGE MIGHT BRING ON WAR
4
So far as our relation to European affairs is concerned, I do not think that we shall become more efficient by swapping horses while we are crossing a stream. A change may plunge us into war and it would certainly, in the four months between election and inauguration, paralyze our foreign policy completely.
DEADLOCK LIKELY IF HUGHES WINS
5
There is another great danger to our national efficiency in voting the Republican ticket. If Mr. Hughes is elected, he is likely to be deadlocked by a Democratic Senate.
PLATFORM IS PROGRESSIVE
6
The Democratic platform is more progressive and effective than the Republican. Its plank on public health, for instance, is the best which we have yet had in any national platform. The plank on Women Suffrage is also more progressive than the Republican. Mr. Wilson is more careful than Mr. Hughes to avoid giving the impression of making promises beyond his partys platform, promises which he cannot give any guarantees of keeping.
A CONSTRUCTIVE ADMINISTRATION
7
Taken as a whole, the Wilson Administration has been more constructive than any previous administration for a generation. The Federal Reserve Act, the Underwood Tariff Act, the Child Labor Act and half a dozen others of importance are a monument, and an imposing one, to Mr. Wilsons efficiency in proposing, preparing and pushing legislation through Congress.
HAS UPHELD CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
8
Mr. Wilson has withstood, with remarkable firmness, the tremendous pressure of office-seekers and maintained, as well as any previous president, especially at a change of administration, the principles of civil service reform. The attempt to prove the contrary has failed.
REPELLED BY HUGHES CRITICISM
9
Like many other voters, I am repelled, rather than attracted, by a campaign of carping criticism. Ridicule is a cheap political device which ill befits Mr. Hughes.
EXPERIENCE A SURE SAFEGUARD
10
Finally, whatever mistakes have been committed, constitute a safeguard against further mistakes. All experience consists of trial and error. In other words, four years experience constitutes, in itself, a reason for re-election.
Irving Fisher
Yale University
Professor Fisher is an Independent
in Politics
OLD GUARD PLOTTING TO SEESAW THE TARIFF
1
The so-called issue of Americanism, that has grown out of foreign affairs, appears to me to be merely a red herring across the trail intended to put the public off the scent. I have little doubt that, by diverting attention from themselves to this trumped-up issue, the Republican old guard hopes to put over on the public another Payne-Aldrich tariff. That so-called protection has become a national scandal, a prostitution of public interests to private interest, was, in effect, recognized by Mr. Taft and other conscientious Republicans. But his administration only demonstrated how difficult it is for a party, which draws its financial support from protected interests, to revise the tariff against these interests.
TARIFF NOW OUT OF POLITICS
2
Quite irrespective of the moral issue in protection it seems to me bad national policy to keep the tariff longer in politics. Mr. Hughes is talking of efficiency and consistency. Our government and our nation cannot become efficient, nor enjoy a consistent continuous national policy, by seesaw legislation on the tariff.
REALIZES MEXICOS NEEDS
3
Few of the American people realize, as Mr. Wilson realizes, that in Mexico, too, is a case of special interests capturing a government in their own behalf. The people of Mexico have, I believe, been exploited by a handful of unscrupulous foreign concessionaires. These exploiters, or their agents, sought to continue the system through the assassination of Madero and the elevation of Huerta. We must have order in Mexico, but we owe it to Mexico and to our own national ideals not to help to restore that kind of order, by which Mexicans have been systematically robbed.
CHANGE MIGHT BRING ON WAR
4
So far as our relation to European affairs is concerned, I do not think that we shall become more efficient by swapping horses while we are crossing a stream. A change may plunge us into war and it would certainly, in the four months between election and inauguration, paralyze our foreign policy completely.
DEADLOCK LIKELY IF HUGHES WINS
5
There is another great danger to our national efficiency in voting the Republican ticket. If Mr. Hughes is elected, he is likely to be deadlocked by a Democratic Senate.
PLATFORM IS PROGRESSIVE
6
The Democratic platform is more progressive and effective than the Republican. Its plank on public health, for instance, is the best which we have yet had in any national platform. The plank on Women Suffrage is also more progressive than the Republican. Mr. Wilson is more careful than Mr. Hughes to avoid giving the impression of making promises beyond his partys platform, promises which he cannot give any guarantees of keeping.
A CONSTRUCTIVE ADMINISTRATION
7
Taken as a whole, the Wilson Administration has been more constructive than any previous administration for a generation. The Federal Reserve Act, the Underwood Tariff Act, the Child Labor Act and half a dozen others of importance are a monument, and an imposing one, to Mr. Wilsons efficiency in proposing, preparing and pushing legislation through Congress.
HAS UPHELD CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
8
Mr. Wilson has withstood, with remarkable firmness, the tremendous pressure of office-seekers and maintained, as well as any previous president, especially at a change of administration, the principles of civil service reform. The attempt to prove the contrary has failed.
REPELLED BY HUGHES CRITICISM
9
Like many other voters, I am repelled, rather than attracted, by a campaign of carping criticism. Ridicule is a cheap political device which ill befits Mr. Hughes.
EXPERIENCE A SURE SAFEGUARD
10
Finally, whatever mistakes have been committed, constitute a safeguard against further mistakes. All experience consists of trial and error. In other words, four years experience constitutes, in itself, a reason for re-election.
Irving Fisher
Files
Collection
Citation
Ten Reasons for Voting for Wilson: Pamphlet, “Ten Reasons for Voting for Wilson: Pamphlet,” 1916 January 1, WWP21022, Cary T. Grayson Papers, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.