Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-10-24
TAFT FEARS WOE
If CHANGE COMES
PRESIDENT IN OPEN LETTER TO
wANAMAkER WARNS COUNTRY
OF DANGER.
FREE TRADE MENACE.
Prosperity Of the Nation 10 Largely
Due to Protective Policy, Chief e
Executive Says, and Change
viii Bring Suffering.

Executive says, ana Chan9e
VIII Bring Suffering.
Beverly, Mass, Oct. a. White
house officials have made public q let
ter from President Taft to John Wana'
maker of Philadelphia. dealing with
some of the issues Of the campaign
and thanking Mr.. Wanamaker IN his
own behalf, and on behalf of the PEG.
pie OF the nation for his splendid
work." r.E
The presidents letter dealt almost
exclusively with the tariff and pros
perity. which he declared was largely
due to protection. The letter In part
reads: &a
"My Dear Mr.. Wanamaker: / want
to thank you for the splendid work you
are doing for the success of the repub-
! lican party in the approaching cleo
ton. .....
Sees Suffering in Change.
! III thank you, not for myself alone,
but for the people at large, who have
so much to lose, so little to gain, from
a change Of administration, who Will
indeed suffer If a democ presi-
dent and a democratic congress secure
the opportunity to make good their
platform pledges and an extra session
of congress is called next March to
change the tariff from protective to
revenue basis. -.
wholly apart from the respective
merits OF the protective and the tarih
for revenue policies, it must be obvi-
GUS to thinking men that 80 radical
change cannot be effected without
period Of readjustment, the wiping out
Of numerous industries which prosper
because they are protected and which
nay good wages to thousands of en-
ployes.
What Of the Future?
Even were it admitted-and do
not admit it-that ultimately this read
justment would be successful, and that
our present protected and prosperous
industries could be replaced by others
which thrive without protection, what
of the transition period?
"How would fare the wage Garner
who was thrown out of employment
for a year or more, and who in many
instances would be compelled to learn
a new trade?
"As a protectionist I can see no
benefit to be gained from such a
change, even when the readjustment
is completed. .
For sixty years, under the pro-
tective policy, our industries have
grown at a pace which has astounded
the world Our wage earners have
established and maintained stand
ard of living which is unknown in the
old world
Even during the period of high cost
of living, which has prevailed through
out the civilized world for few years,
our people have suffered no such hard
ships as those of the old world. ~
Decreasing Living Cost.
"The abundant crops of this year al
ready are operating to decrease the
cost Of living to the American work
ingman, while there is every indica-
ton that wages will be maintained.
On the other hand, our factories are
running full time, there are abundant
orders ahead, wages high and 1t is
labor, not employment of which there
is scarcity.
With plenty of employment, at good
wages, and the prices of foodstuffs !
falling in some instances, in others |
about to fall, the wage Garner is just
on the eve of garnering his harvest, |
and il the existing conditions are not r
changed by political upheaval We
will see the balance in the savings |
banks grow in the next four years as
never before.
1--WE have experimental in the past !
with the tariff theories Of our demo-
cratic friends. You will recall as
clearly as l do the distress which fol- ;
lowed the passage Of the Wilson bill. :
Calls Coincidence Significant.
Els there not certain significance
in the fact that it is another Wilson /
who would again subject us to such
an experiment? Wilson and prosperity
are words that refuse to go together
In our American history.
"The election of Democratic presi-
dent would mean the election Of a
democratic senate and house, and the
present congress has proved how
savagely and with what recklessness
the democrats would deal with the
tariff if they were in full control Of
the executive and the legislative
branches of the government.
81 cannot understand how any
American voter can fail to see that by
throwing away his vote on the third
party, or by voting to put the demo-
Gratis in power in the white house and
In congress, he is as surely counting
disaster as is the small child playing
with matches"