Daily Kennebec journal., 1914-01-24
CALLS EN- AGAIN.
Cong. Humphrey Asks In
vestigation Of Steel Mills.
Eighty-Seven Days Of New
Freedom" and Free Trade.
Sixteen Years Of "caIamlty Howl.
Ing" and Real Calamity.

v
ciaD D.-"Eighty-seven days Of the new
freedom and free trade" is the topic
to which Representative Humphrey of
Washington state, recently addressed
himself in returning to discussion
of business depression. under the Will
son administration. 1t was a sequel
to his powerful speech in the House,
in which he gave list of 227 lumber
and shingle mills that had closed in
Washington state since the new tar
iff law went into force.
Suppose it is admitted that the
presentation of these facts and figures
as to the business conditions of the
country is preaching calamity" said
Mr.. Humphrey. why should a Demo-
crat complain? For 16 years of un-
exampled prosperity they increasingly
howled calamity; new that we have
calamity. they are indignant because
the facts are told. To preach calam-
ity, u hen there is none, is Democratic;
to preach it when it exists is Repub-
fican.'
Having in his previous effort shown
how business has suffered in the West,
Congressman Humphrey undertook to
he had figures and facts also for the
East. Our Democratic friends he
continued ARE fearfulIy agitated be-
cause we tell the facts. But truth and
Democracy to each other are seldom
happy companions. If preaching cal
amity is sin. then even our honored
Speaker is hardly in position to cast
the first stone, or even the last one.
Compared with the doleful predictions.
fearful tales, and mournful exhorta-
tions that have come from the sad
and eloquent lips Of the Speaker in
days gone by, the lamentations of Holy
Writ are as paeans of praise. In those
days there was prosperity everywhere,
but the smoke of industry painting
the Sky the Speaker could not see and
the hum Of countless wheels ne could
not hear But now, amid the gloom
and silence Of closing mills and dying
fires, he Is impressed with prosperity.
THE Speaker reminds me of an old
gentleman I knew in my early days
when | lived in Indiana. He was like
the Speaker, something of a philoso-
pher and somewhat emphatic in his
language. He was greatly troubled
with the toqthache. One day I met
him and said to him, Uncle Rease,
how IS yeur toothachee' He said,
Well YOU know / have had the tooth
aehe so long that I never notice it
any more unless the damn thing
steps.'''
Tie House was then entertained with
the story Of 123 steel mills that were
running year ago, representing an
EHual output Of 12.So00G0 tons. or SO
per cent. of the entire production of
the entire nation. After he had pre-
sented the list by states, Mr.. Hum
phrey commented as follows:
I want to challenge anybody upon
that side of the House, here or here
after, to dispute the correctness of
these figures. You ask why is it that
we make these statements. In the
first place, the Democratic Party,
lacked by the President, has repeated
ly assured us that if any of these mills
closed that an investigation would be
made to ascertain why they closed.
ow, ! am going to put this list in
he record, where the Secretary of
Commerce can see the name and the
exact location of each closed mill, where
tHt Itldi Oh l+dDoI can also nave
this information in detail. These two
Cabinet officials have repeatedly
boastcd they would investigate any in
dustry that closed and let the country
know the facts. l especially call the
attention of Secretary Wilson to the
conditions in Pennsylvania.
In his own state there are 100000
men idle that were at work a few
weeks ago. viii he investigate and
tell the Nation why? l asked Secre-
tary Redfeld some days ago TO investi-
gate the closing of shingle and lumber
mills in Washington. but all that has
come of it is a promise of due con-
sderation. | ask these distinguished
gentlemen to either do something or
admit that they were simply playing
the very cheap game of political bluff.
l want these two distinguished states
men that have talked so much to in
Vectigate a little.
Il want to know whether these mills
are closed and If they are, l want to
know whether the men who closed
them are to be helped or hanged. be-
cause if they are going to hang all the
men who have been responsible for
Lne recent closing or industries In this
Nation upon a scaffold so cubits high,
as the President said, while it may
be hard on the guilty wretches, it is
certainly going to help the lumber
business in my country, daughter
and applause on the Republican side)
Now, another thing: The distinguished
leader of this House (Mr. Underwood
stood upon that side and declared that
the Secretary of Labor had the power.
that he had the means, and that if
any of these mills closed, if any le-
climate industry was injured that an
investigation would be had. and if an
injustice had been done any legitimate
industry that that side of the House
would correct the law. l want to
know whether you are going to make (
good that promise or not. Were you
simply making it for political purposes
or did you mean it?''
Mass. Debts to Civil War Vets.
Boston, Jan. 23.-The state paid 547,- /
500 to Civil War veteran during the |