The comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1884-1916, 1912-10-31

vestmentS proceed: How is IT that
manufacturers all over the country are
increasing their plants;
Mr. Wanamakcr seems ignorant alsc
of the actual lahnr conditions High
wages are not EeCeSSurily II sign OF
prosperity. AS Professor Fisher points
out, a century and half ago laborers
in Rhode Island received wage OF
$40 daily, but ii took four days work
to buy pair of shoes Nor are high
wages Il result of the protective tariff
The Lawrence strike brought out this
fact vividly. There the textile manu-
facturers have u very high protective
! tariff to favor them. but the wages of
their employees were shown to be in
defensibly DOw. y fair comparison is
that between England and Germany.
both thickIy populated, one having no
protection and the other high protpc
ton. How do wages stand in these
countries today Those in Germany
are II per cent lower than English
wages, and not only so. but the cost
of living in Germany is II per cent
| higher, so that the protected German
workman earns the smaller wage and
| pays the higher cost
Free Trade eosy.
Is II not truly ridiculous for Nj
Wanamaker to raise the bogy OF free
trade? No party advocates that Mr.
Wanamaker must know that the Dem
ocratic cotton and wOoIeu bills are nor
free trade measures in any sense
The fact is that the Republican pial
form Of 1908 as well as the Democratic
platform of 1908 declared for reyi-
sion OF the tariff. 1t seems to me that
the only question before the American
people now is. Who will give them
the downward revision for which they
made a new demand in 1910. when
Democratic congress was oyerwhrIm
ingly elected? 1t is clear that the
only man in the race who will stand
for an intelligent revision downward
Is Woodrow Wilson Hnd the only par
ty which will give ii is the Democratic
party.
Now, if Mr. Wanamaker Is correct
In his assertion that prosperity de
pends wholly upon Republican rule
and the maintenance of a high tariff
policy, how does he explain the in
controvertibie fact that with every
body demanding tariff revision down,
ward the whole business of the coun
try today is, in anticipation of this
very revision and the certainty OF
Democratic success, in better condi
ton, more stimulated and more ag,
years? Does he not know that our
Shrewd berchants, business men and
bankers almost infaiIibly sense i'm
provement in business conditions or
as they say in the vernacuar. dis
count it?" Democratic success Is on
all sides conceded
Is Not to Destroy
Finally, 1t bears strongly on Mr.
Wanamaker's statement to note that
the Democratic campaign is largely in
the hands of business men. can
not claim the distinction of being Il
merchant, yet | hope | can qualify as
Il business man Certainly | should |
hesitate to advocate the adoption OF |
any policy or to ask my friends to |
follow the leadership of any man or |
party likely in any way to bring harm |
to the people of this country. 1t would |
be easy to add the names Of dlStin
guished manufacturers all over the
land who are in active cooperation
with the Democratic national commit
zee in this campaign These men, hav.
ng great business interests at stake,
ire not likely to be deceived into pro
noting their own destruction, They
EEL, as do many others of our leading
that the Democratic
'arty in promising a gradual revision
II the tariff is helping and not hinder
ng our Industries Governor Wilson
las frankly said
Il am not interested in disturbing
be great course of business in this
but am Interested in en-
iching it." " q M'ADOO.
New York oct II
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