Los Angeles herald., 1909-11-05
CRISIS INVITED


on print paper. After ten months
thorough investigation, the Mann COM
mittee reported a rate of 81 would COW
er the difference in cost Of production
at home and abroad. The draft or
iginally proposed safeguarded Ameri-
can paper mills, against the serious
business crisis which has been pre-
cipltated.
The fixing of the rate on print paper
at 1915 per ton HAS DECIDED THE
PROVINCE OF QUEBEC TO PRO-
HIBIT THE IMPORTATION OF IT'S
PULP WOOD, and the American paper
industry, one Of the greatest and most
important. far from being protect
ed" is threatened with the direst dam
ger which has ever menaced any great
American industry. The tariff on paper
is a tax on knowledge. 1t is a tax on
the dissemination Of that public in
formation which is vital TO the exis-
tence of the United States.
The province Of Quebec having de-
cided to prohibit the expectation of
pulp wood, many American paper mills
MUST CLOSE or must go to Canada
for supplies of raw material.
AS a result of quixotic tariff inter-
ference with industries and quack
doctoring of the economic and indus
trial situation, our country is now In
a fair way of engaging In a trade war
with Canada, which, whatever may be
the outcome in the long run, cannot
fail to cause inconvenience and dis
tress in the United States, besides
bringing two neighbor nations, closely
allied by ties of blood and common
traditions (many citizens of both
speaking their common language with
precisely the same infection and ac-
cent?, into relations Of trade hostility
which will provoke political bitterness
and create and foster enmities which
may have most serious results on the
history of the North American conti-
nent.
Not only has Canada been treated
in a manner which will boomerang
a great American industry, but an In
dustrial disturbance is threatened
which will involve business inter-
changes with Canada amounting to
$2S5 900 900 per annum.
Now, there is danger aheadl
A trade war with Canada may mean
disaster to Canadian business and in
dustrial interests, for the weakest must
go to the wall, but the United States
cannot afford to weaken Canada. and
destroy what under normal conditions
would be an ever-increasing market
for our ever-increaslng output of manu-
featured products.
John Norris, chairman OF the stand
ing committee on print paper OF the
American Publishers association, made
the following statement: 1.-THE Cana
dians are aroused and believe that.
with the United States sticking for a
duty, they will pull the s50O,OO0,000 in
vested in this country in paper manu-
featuring properties over into Canada.
That is the talk Of the pulp men, their
paper manufacturers and their news
pepers. And any change in the atti-
tude of the Canadian government to-
ward a compromise duty would mean
the downfall of the men at the head
of that government"
Not only is there danger of q trade
war with Canada, which, with the
recollection of the last financial panic
still fresh In the minds of the people,
this nation positively cannot under
take, would not dare 70 undertake by
reason of imminent peril of inter-
nal social disturbance which might be
preeipitated by hard times and busi-
ness entanglements so directly trace
able to bull-headed, reactionary Repub-
lican policies as tarlG-caused troubles;
but Furthermore, there is imminent
danger of a tariff war Of gigantic pro-
portions with a nation which by blood,
tradition, sympathy and language is
closely allied with great part Of the
Dominion.
France, incensed at the deceitful and
unfair tariff policy pursued by the Re
publican majority in despite of the
protest of a Republican minority and
the opposition of the true Democrats,
threatens a tariff war which may lead
to the prohibition of French imports to
the United States.
owing to Franch retaliation, Presi-
dent Taft may feel compelled or may be
driven by the tariff-maniacs to exclude
French products altogether under sec
ton 8 of the act of August 80, 1890,
which gives him authority to declare
illegal imports from countries which
unduly discriminate against American
products.
With the Canadian market in active
rebellion, and the French market out
lawed, such a disturbance of domestic
conditions will be invited as only dn
quaint old-fashioned phrase) "the grace
OF God and the common sense of the
people" may prevent from developing
consequences so serious to the Ameri-
can republic as to constitute a crisis
in the history of the nation.
Mr.. Mushets artless prattle suggests
'twere time to buy rattle. What's all
this about the overtures of the Good
Government organization? Tut, tut,
Mushet! We prithee tut. We do not
think you should be nominated and
are sure you should not be elected, be-
cause no man who is unfriendly to ed
ucational interests should hold any
.--...-.... Nv ,,nritinrn Of influenza