Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-09-02
At Portland-Laughter and APP
plause Alternates as He Makes
Telling Points - Prominent
Republicans Noted on the
Stage
NAILS SOME OF DEM
OCRATIC CAMPAIGN LIES
Turns Tables with Case of Kel-
ley, Who Really Did Vote for
Underwood Tariff Bill-Also
Addresses Fine Audience of
500 Citizens at Westbrook

II was htti any oil OSdLiOll lldL was
given Congressman Edwin H. Kelley
of Michigan when he appeared at
Portland City hall this evening for an
address. Because of a torrential rain
at supper time the audience did not
number but 500, but Kelley held that
number spellbound for the hour that
he spoke and had them laughing and
applauding in turn.
In the course of his remarks he took
the occasion to reply to some of the
stories that arc being circulated from
Democratic headquarters. One of them
was to the effect that he voted for the
currency bill. He admitted that he did,
because he regarded 1t as an important
measure and the best thing possible to
do under the circumstances.
Another report had been circulated
was that Cong. Kelley voted for the
Underwood tariff bill. He declared this
to be false, for the Kelley who did
vote for this bill was Progressive
congressman from Pennsylvania, and
more than that was seeking election
as candidate from both the Progress
sive and Democratic parties.
Hon. Charles II. Randall, president
of the Portland Club, was the presid-
ing officer and Judge Benjamin F.
Cleaves of Biddeford was the first
speaker. Seated on the stage with
Cong. Kelley were many noted Repub-
leans of the State. In addition to
Cong. Kinds from the End District, per-
haps the most prominent was John e.
Warren of Westbrook. Cong Kelley
came to Portland from a rally held at
Westbrook where he spoke before an
audience of $50. Excellent music was
furnished by the famous Chandler
Band
Congressman Kelley said In part:
When the Democratic party came
into power year and half ago con-
dftions could not have been better for
trying out its economic policies and
putting to the test, its theories of gov
eminent. The. business Of the country
was standing firmly on it's feet. Our
factories were all running full time.
Labor was fully employed and receiv
ing the highest wages paid in all the
history of the Republic. The farmer
had a ready market for everything he
had to sell at prices higher than he
had ever received before in times of
peace. The savings banks were full of
money laid aside by the people for a
rainy day Our merchants had gone
out beyond the seas in quest of mar
kets for their surplus until our ex-
ports had grown to nearly $500, 100000
per annun, an increase of more than
81 900, 0000 900 per annum over our ex-
ports of 10 years ago. Our imports
amounted to a little more than 81 $780,
00o,000 per annum, leaving a balance of
trade in our favor of approximately
500 100000 per annum. or an average
Of about $50, 100000 per month. And
our domestic commerce, grown to a
point beyond the power Of the human
mind to comprehend it, reached the
staggering total of $35, coo, Co., 900 per
annun.
That was the condition in which the
Republican party left the country a
year and a half ago.
Already under a Democratic tariff
our magnificent balance of trade of
$50, 100000 per month has been COM
pletely wiped out. During the month
of March last, 1t was only 100000 in
our favor and during the month of
April there was a balance of more
than $4,000, 900 aainst us. In May, the
balance of trade was nearly $4,000, 900
against US There was balance
against us in June. In July, there was
a balance of more than $4,000, 600
against us. Since last March, the peo-
pie of the United States have suffered
a loss in foreign trade of approximate
u $3.50, 10000
Even the Democrats in Congress
have grown uneasy over the unfair
competition to which the American
workingman is subjected under the
new tariff law A few weeks ago, the
committee on labor of the House
brought in a bill TO prohibit the i'm
portation of goods made by convict
labor in foreign countries, AS far
as it went, it was a good bill, be-
cause it had for its purpose the pro-
lection of American labor against
cheap convict labor of the old world.
! offered an amendment to this bill
which, if adopted, would also prohibit
the importation of goods made in
foreign countries by children under IA
years of age. After a two days de-
bate, the Democrats voted my amend
nent down.
In all the years that the Republic
can party was in power there was
steady improvement in wages ana
conditions of employment. 1t has
been our proud boast that conditions
for the man who tolls should be bet
ter here and that the bow of promise
for his children should be brighter
here than anywhere else in the world
Let us at all hazards maintain our
high standard of living for the AM
erican Workingman Let us not be
caught by the cry for cheap goods,
for it means a cheap civilization. Let
us set our faces forever against all
competition WHICH would tend to de-
grade American labor and drag 1t
down to the level prevailing in foreign
lands.
The sentiment of the American peo-
pie is overwhelmingly against the pol
icy of inaugurated by the Democratic
party as expressed in the Underwood
tariff law. The voters of the United
States are overwhelmingly In favor