South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1914-10-02

THANKS FOR THE TIP.
Referring 10 this papers con ~lent
or an editorial i'm the Dayton Journal
recently the Knox Republican. edited
by that no less estimable gentleman
than former candidate for congress.
John Norman. presumes to take us
20 task our contention was that the
Wilson administration can hardly be
held responsible for the European war
and the consequent deterioration in
the value of imports reducing the gov
eminent revenue to an extent t7at
rendered war tax necessary. We had
said that the revenues from the tariff
had done very well. with the aid Of
the income tax insupplying the gov
eminent with its customary supply Of
cash. up TO the time that the war
broke out, when shipping and tariff
revenues virtually ceased Here is
the Republicans answer:
The esteemed South Bend
News-Times in its defense Of the
proposed war tax declares that
the Underwood tariff law up to
the out-breakiug Of the European
-var. was keeping the government
revenue at par with former years.
The Chicago Herald of the same
date i'm discussing editorially the
failure of the Underwood law To
produce the required revenue
said. For the eight months end
ed Aug. 81 the value OF our dutia-
bic imports was $54.601.19S less
than In the same months of 1913.
The war didn't cause that decline.
There was no war until Aug. /.
and practically all the imports
received i'm August were bought
and afloat before the war began.
And the August decline was only
SS,114,650, little more than the
average for eight months Why
this imperfectness of vision upon
the part of two great journals?
There is no evidence i'm it that there
is any imperfectness. We were talk
ing about the revenue produced by the
tariff The Herald was talking about
the value of the imports upon which
the revenue was levied. The demo
cratic tariff increases the revenue on
the Injuries of the rich and reduces it
on the necessities Of the poor and IL is
not impossible at all that 10y a shift
ing Of rates. equal revenue with that
produced by former protective rates.
might be produced on articles of less
value under a purely revenue rate;
that too. without affecting the masses
OF people with the burden being made
TO fall upon the purchasers of luXur-
les
However. let Us pass that phrase OF
il We are sure the republican would
like 10 have its readers think that due
10 tariff reductions there has been a
great influx of importadons. literally
putting our manufacturers out OF bus
mess. throwing men out of employ
ment. and spreading woe and want
over the land. IL would have MS sum
pose that competition with the "paup-
er labor OF Europe had put is ire
trlevabIe on the hummer. and vet il
Quotes from the Chicago Herald. fig
ures 10 show LnaL even htloIe lAc Out
break OF the waT. the value of imports
received in eight months was $50. SOL
lsS less than during the same eight
months last year under the Payne-Ald-
rich law.
So imports have been less under the
Underwood law than under the Payne
Aidrich law.-less i'm value. What
then becomes OF the republican argu-
ment that imports have increased. in
creased i'm value? We are grateful Ca
Editor Norman for bringing this Co
our attention. and mark you, he saws
there is only one month of the war
period included during which he val
ue OF the imports decreased only SIS
l14650-.'little more than the aver
axe for eight months
The Republican should take care of
how it quotes figures such getuns
its wires crossed. makes be look bad.