Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-22

Record of Prosperity for
Workmen and Manufac-
turers Bulwark Against
Critics, Taft Declares.

Beverly. Mass, Oct. 21.-President
Taft last night issued a statement pre-.
dieting republican victory next month
and declaring it obvious that either
the republican or democratic nominees
will be elected" He asserts 1t to be
an open secret that the third party
does not expect success"
The president reviews business con-
ditions of the country, which, he says,
are unprecedentedly prosperous, and
asserts the belief that sober judgment
of the voters will continue present con-
ditions. The statement reads, In part:
"Fifty-two years ago seceders from
the union thought they were facing
q divided north and would win an easy
victory.
There had been division among the
loyal people, but all united in face of
the common danger, and in addition
a great number of democrats Joined
the republicans in the successful strug.
giles for the nations life.
Into Placid Waters.
Then it was said by hostile
critics that the ship of state was drift
ing. Il drifted-yes, with Lincoln at
the helm-from the reefs OF secession
and slavery into the placid waters Of
union and liberty.
Under Lincoln's successors 1t has
sailed on, propelled by the winds Of
prosperity, save when it's voyage has
been halted by just such visitation Of
storm and stress, of torn protection
sails and broken business bulkheads,
as we are now threatened with,
should Baltimore supplant Chicago,
which it did not in 1860, and will not
in 1912.
"Our friends the enemy say that the
democracy has learned it's mistakes.
and does not mean to repeat them.s In
some measure true as to the past, end
the republican party has had q difficult
II successful, task In teaching the
democracy its mistakes, SO far as it
has been taught, but somehow the
four years to be taught again.
Learned Lesson We'll.
II am glad to say, however, that
many democrats have learned their
lessons we'll, and are refusing to leave
the firm ground of prosperity for the
quagmire of business disruption, trade
depression and commercial and indus
trial depletion.
From all parts of the country assur-
ances are coming that democrats in
tend to vote for the republican candi-
business conditions and against the
programs of economic confusion and
socialistic subversion of our institu-
tions supported by the democratic
candidates and their allies.
Democratic workingmen refuse to
be led from the factory and good
wages of 1912 back to the democratic
hard times of 1s93-97 They prefer in
dependence and money in the savings
bank to loss of employment and de-
pendence on charity.
Democratic business men feel the
same way. They know that when in
dustries languish their business lang
uishes too. The pay envelopes are
the feeders of trade in every form.
When they are empty or scrimpy, the
biggest department store feels the ef-
feet, as we'll as the corner grocery.
Advantage In Drift.
Drifting, well let me glance at
some Of the drift. Our home market
has drifted from $7,0O0,O00,OOO in 1870
to ,000,000-not bad drift,
that And it is this magnificent home
market, without equal in the past or
present. that the democrats propose
to dismember and disorganize and in
vite every nation in the world to prey
upon. while those same nations keep
the barriers to their own markets Just
as high as they please.
Then look at our foreign trade. A
favorite democratic argument is that
republicans build up and cultivate the
home market at the expense of our
foreign commerce, when the fact is
that the growth of foreign trade has
almost kept proportionate pace with
the domestic-from $1,000, 100000 in
1870 to $4,000, 100000 in 1912.
"Our exports for the last year
to s2,170,319,32S, OF which
$674,302.93 were manufactures ready
for consumption, the largest export
trade and the largest proportion Of
ready for consumption
the country has ever known.
Would Xiii Spirit.
"The American manufacturer and
the American worker would not have
much spirit left for invading the for
eign market if deprived by demo-
cratic tariff for revenue only Of the
best market Of all, more than equal
in purchasing power to all Europe-the
home market which they now control,
thanks to the republican protective
tariff.
"And this unprecedented growth Of
our foreign trade is accompanied by
as unprecedented in our
home trade from one end Of the coun-
try to the other.
"It is not sudden imitation, but
gradual advance under favorable con-
ditions from the prostration Of 1907