Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-13

In more recent times II we were to
select the years of the greatest busi-
ness distress and depression in this
country it would be the years that I'M
mediately preceded the enactment of
the Dingloy tariff law of 1897 and IL
we were to select years of the greatest
prosperity this country has known it
would be the years that followed clear
up to the enactment of the Democratic
tariff of 1913
Let any man who doubts what pro-
tective tariff has done for the State of
Maine drive from Northern Maine
across the border into Canada and
note the difference in conditions that
at once become pronounced to the eye,
soil, climate and class of labor are the
same but long continued protective
tariff has spread over the country on
this side of the line unmistakable signs
of prosperity that are lacking on the.
other side of the line. The Democratic
tariff bill has swept aside the protec-
ton that our farmers have heretofore
enjoyed and placed them on level
with the conditions in Canada and If
continued for three years will stamp.
its effect on the face of our farming
country curtailing the area of cultiva-
ton and stop the erection of farm
buildings.
Potato Situation.
The Democratic tariff has resulted
in the potato growers of Maine be-
ing now dependent on quarantine pro-
lection which produces an unnatural
and unreliable and uncertain condition.;
a policy that erects barrier against
foreign potatoes that Is unsurn1ounta-
BILE but which may be reversed to free
trade conditions over night by the
stroke of the pen of the Secretary of
Agriculture at Washington the moment
he decides that conditions, foreign and
domestic, make 1t desirable to raise tho
| quarantine. The representatives Of
foreign governments may bring the re-
versal of. the quarantine policy about.
| The pressure of members os Congress
| from the great cities where consumers
and importers are active in the inter-
est OF foreign potatoes may place the
| crop of the Maine farmer which was
| planted ON a protective basis in the
| spring on free trade market in the
| fall.
| Our producers of this great food.
! product are now placed on a volcanic
J basis that may blow up at any time.
| and l believe it is direct result Of
| the Democratic tariff legislation.
On the 27th day of June Mr.. Under
wood felt the necessity of rising in his
seat In the House of Representatives at
| Washington, to defend the Democratic
| free trade revenue bill I say free
trade as its free list is longer than any
| previous tariff bill, and its rates so far
as effecting the imports are revenue
rates ard not protective rates.
/ Mr.. Underwood has repeatedly de-
| clared that he did not believe in tar
| iff rate that had an ounce of protection
| in IT. In his defense of the bill the
other day he admitted that the revenue
| received on imports during the first
nine months the measure had been on
| the statue books had exceeded all ex-
! pectation of the Democratic Ways and
| Means Committee when they wrote the
bill; that the revenue received had ex-
| cecded their estimates by more than
twenty-five millions of dollars. In
other words, the importation of foreign
merchandise and products which repre-
sentsd the labor of foreigners had ex-
ceeded the calculations of the Demo-
I have not the figures available as to
the importations for the nine months
up to the first day of this month, but
have them for the first eight months
ending May list, which show that goods
that have come in under the dutiable
list and the free list during that peri
cd amount to more than s172, 200, 600 in
excess over a like period of year
| yxrit ha haf he
come the unloading market for every
body across the water.
No wonder the machines In the
Maine wooden mills are closed down;
that mills are offered for sale and are
being sold at a sacrifice by their own,
ers; no wonder that other industries
] in the state lag.
Mr.. Secretary Readfield In a state
| ment today declares that American
manufacturers need have no fear; that
| the Importation of finished products
! only show an increase of S.S per cent.
| for months but it must be remem-
| bered that the importation of woolens
under the new rates only began on
| January first, and the secretary's re-
| port only covers five months, although
| the bill as a whole has been in opera
! ton nine months.
If this increase has taken place in
| five months what will happen by the
end of twelve when the foreigner has
more fully established his market con-
neCtions on this side, but mark you
| Mr.. Secretary Readfeld in figuring his
percentage of increase is only dealing
with what he calls finished products:
lie is not including the wool of farm
! ers which has been placed on the free
list and other large quantities of raw
material so called which is now COM
| ing in free. The farmers wool is his fin
/ ished product and likewise other ma
| teriaIs used in manufacturing which
Mr.. Readfield calls raw material is in
a degree the finished product of Am
| erlcan labor.
MONMOUTH.