Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-15
Calls President Wilson's Bluff.

.,,ov IN Mexico. home affairs nave
reached a stage that calls his DUH
The bumcombe with which President
wilson and Democratic party leaders
drove through the Underwood-Simpson
4ar,se hill threatening any industry
that dared complain of added haro-
shin to itself or employees with leu
eral investigation" is fresh in mem
ory. The President himself threateheo
To Dbuild a gibbet and hang as hlgh as
uamon, anyone who dared to COM
r,.in that they were injured by the
new tariff bill Chairman Underwood
of the ways and means committee also
raised the cudgel of the new Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce
above the heads of any Industry that
might be inclined to start panic.
Undoubtedly many industrial hard
ships have been suffered in silence be-
cause of these threats and the fear OF
what a radically partisan "investigat-
ing committee might do. But these
and other industries have been quietly
watching results, while giving ample
time for the new law to prove itself.
And now defiance and open challenge
have come. as they were bound to do
with the piling UP of evidence of in
dustrial disaster.
This is not a matter of Maine pota-
foes. or Maine starch industry, or
Maine textile mills, or New Englands
thousand and one smaller manufacture
ing plants, but a great north Pacihc
business calmly invites the President
and his buInptious threateners to come
forward and live up TO their threats.
Washington states great lumber in
dustry courts investigation II not
only asks Congress to look upon the re-
suits Of its handiwork, but it DE-
MANDS that these conditions be con-
sidered in Congress and made public
before the country.
Washington states great lumber in
mills, with an output every day of 8,
100000 feet, and employing an army Of
$500 men, are closed down. These
thousands of men are out of work and
hunting employment.
In addition to these, 1874 shingle mills
Of the state have shut down since the
new tariff bill became a law.
The state of Washington desires that
aie country may know that these mills
comprise more than so per cent of all
the mills in that great lumber manu-
featuring state, and so per cent of all
the mills in the country.
The state of Washington wishes Con-
gress and the country TO know that the
employees OF the lumber mills Of
Washington were American citizens.
working for American homes and loyal
io American interests.
The state of Washington wishes Con-
gress and the country to take notice
that these Americans are thrown out
Of work and many of their homes de-
stroyed by the new for-foreigners-only
tariff bill. These men are Americans,
white men, who have been receiving
and basing their homes and plans on
American wages.
And the state of Washington would
make nIain IN CoppraSs ord tho world
that those who reap the benefit of the
disaster to Washington industry. labor
and homes, are Chinese, japanese and
Hindoos working for lower wages and
living like wild animals, in the mills of
British Columbia just over the Wash
ugton state line.
The State of Washington DEMANDS
an investigation" that Congress and
The country may have one more proof
that the American people cannot give
their work and wages to foreign labor
without bringing poverty and want to
Dur own laborers, and disaster to our
Industries.
The state of Washington would oblige
the Democratic party to Investigate"
the lumber industry Calamity howl
of that state, so that all the people
may see the difference in results be-
tween the tried and true policies that
have made America superlative among
The nations of the world. and the free
trade theories of the scholar and
= dreamer who pins his faith on a re-
peatedly discredited doctrine.
The state of Washington has dared
10 show up the truth and if it starts
an industrial panic" the people OF
America Will know where to place the
blame The Democratic party was
warned and pleaded with to stay ths
free trade hand that always has spread
disaster in this land, and prosperit,
abroad.
II is now incumbent on President
Wilson and Secretary of Conmerc,