Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-09-27

American goods 81 the same character
and therebsS to increase Imports
Either they mean this or they do not
nfean it. ffIthey do not mean it, their
platitudes about tariff reform are a
fraud and delusion upon the Ameri-
can people. If they do mean 1t then
certain American interests must suf-
fer. Demand for certain goods cannot
be shifted from the American pro-
Queer to the foreign producer without
compelling the American producer to
slacken his mill wheels, reduce his
pay roll and dismiss some of his men.
Only an intellectual acrobat can ar
que that throwing down tile tariff will
have the instant effect of a rush of
imports into the country at low prices
and that not an American mill wheel
will slow down or an American work
er be thrown out of employment in
consequence. Entirely apart from the
question whether free trade, as de-
fined in the economic textbooks, would
be a good thing for a country oper-
ating in vacuum, the fact must come
home to the working man as well as
the business community that if radi-
cal tariff changes are to be effective.
there must be long period of pain
ful transition. Tariff changes will
either increase imports of, COMPETE
tive articles or they will not If they
will not, then the cost to. consumers
will not be reduced materially. If
they increase imports, they will cor
respondingly reduce the demand for
American made goods and certain
mills will be put on short time men
will be laid off and ultimately costly
investments in plants and machinery
viii be turned into junk. If this is not
| tie policy of the Democratic candi-
dates, 1t behooYes them to declare
what is their policy. If they do not
propose rsapctions, of duties which
will increMe imports, then their
measures for reducing the tariff will
not affect directly existing conditions.
they will not benefit the consumer and
they are put forward either as the
result Of intellectual fogginess or a
desire to mislead the public.
l. think it lis becoming clear to the
business community and the working
tmen that wasting their votes npon the
Third paEtX,.candidates is just as dan
geroHssao the. pr eserya tien ofsthe pro
lteetlNe;p rincinle as voting sdirectly for
thss qidaasition 5candidatesaatU seems
to- fbeathe purposessofs the. third party
managers to defeat snot onLyrthe Re-
publican National ticket. bat Repub-
Llean candidates for Congress, by
skimnfing off just enough votes for
their own candidates in every state
and district to wipe out existing Re-
publican pluralties The effect of this
policy would be appealing, If it should
succeed. 1t would result in the re-
turn of free trade Democratseto Con-
gress from district after district now
represented by Republicans. So far
as the plan succeeded, there would
not be left in Congress a eorporals
guard of members friendly even to II
moderate degree of protection. Even
If Gov. Wilson, elected President un-
der such conditions should repent of
the extreme policies of his party and
should veto measures aimed to carry
out the policy aof Champ Clark, of
levelling the custom houses to the
ground, there would not be votes
enough in the two houses to sustain
the veto. a radical majority, indif-
ferent to the interests rof the bust
ness community and of thesawerkers
would be able to ride rough shod over
the President if helshouid exercise the
veto power .l5taA4ls.s si4ssA
/ Tihiss rs the road along which the
third party candidate is seeking to
lead the country-not merely the de-
feat of a worthy Republican, President.
but turning the country over, bound
hand and foot to the Inercies of a
radical majority, which would be too
powerful to be influenced even by its
more sober and conservative elements.
Former Republicans. who vote for the
third party candidates. are voting for
this policy, but from the reports which
are reaching me from day to day, am
satisfied that most of them are be-
ginning to understand the danger and
are turning back from the brink of
the precipice."
PRESIDENT Tact cnIEc on.Nu1.,