South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-03-26
MORE FALSE PRETENSES INCL
DENT To WAR

Blockade OF the German ports again
ccmplicates the political situation The
import and export commerce OF the
United States viii be reduced 81 the,
amount usually sent TO and received
from Germany. In addition. industry
In the United States will be consider
ably crimped by the absence Of those
articles entering into manufacture for
which the United States is dependent
entirely on German producers. All Of
which tends 10 retard prosperity.
The republican campaign is being
organized on the theory that all these
conditions have been produced by the
democratic administration, with its
tariff. its income tax, its war tax, its
federal reserve law, its trade commits
sion act, and its repeal OF canal tolls.
All these reasons are alleged by the
republican campaign material manu-
facturers as causes of business depres-
sion and high cost of living. That the
foreign war or any little thing like
that has anything to do with the busi-
ness situation is not for "a moment to
be admitted. If the public can be
convinced that the tariff and not the
foreign war is responsible, then the
public viii be willing 10 smash the
administration and substitute some
Mark Hannaized Barnes Herrick-big
business administration in its place.
Such is politics.
And yet, if there is anything To the
republican theory Of protection, that
II keeps away foreign produce and ar
ticles of manufacture. and gives
American produce and articles of
manufacture q greater chance, the
United states ought to be more pros
porous right now than ever before.
Imports-shipments TO us.-have been
falling behind constantly since the
outbreak of the war, while exports
shipments from us,-have been con-
stantly on the increase. balances Of
gold as well as the balance of trade
being constantly in our favor.
Official figures made public by the
department of commerce Tuesday
show that February. 1915, imports
totaied S125, 123.391, against S14S,O44,-
776 in February last year and S149,-
913.s1s in February. 1913. February
exports rose practically $1OO.0OO,000
above the highest record shown by
any prior February. being S29S,727,-
ISL. against S173,920,145 i'm February.
1914. S19S,996,942 in February, 1913,
and $19S.S44,326 in February. 1912.
the former high-record February.
February imports fell $4.644.499, or
81 per cent below the point touched
IN August last. while February exports
rose $ISS.360.263. or III per cent
above the low point touched in August.
The excess of exports over imports
in February. 1915, was S173,604, 366,
against S25.S75.569 in February last
year. and more than double the next
largest February export balance of
$S3.0O4.3S1 recorded i'm 1908.
OF the February imports $50 per
cent entered free of duty. against 62.5
per cent in February, 1914, and 5S4
per cent in February. 1913.
Imports of gold in February totaled
S12,72c.492. against $2.2OS,S5S in Feb
ruary last year and S5.356,471 in Feb
ruary. 1913.
Exports of gold in February aggre-
gated $l.O53,S79, against S9,07S,77S in
February. 1914. and $12,373.4O9 in
February 1919.
Comparing the trade during the
eight months ending with February of
the last two fiscal years, imports have
decreased from $1.215.797.274 to ST.
055.631.627. or 1872 per cent; while
exports have decreased from $685.
722.6S1 10 $1,633,3ST.9O5. or 81 per
cent The net favorable trade bal
ance for this entire period Gully 1,
1914, 10 Feb. IS. 1870 is $557,756,-
27S.
All OF which. taken into considera-
ton along with industrial conditions
in the United States. merely goes TO
prove what economists nave contend
ed for years. The general prosperity
OF the world depends upon the
general prosperity of the world Here
we have a number of manufacturers
with output limited because Of the loss
OF their foreign trade. due 20 the war.
This throws men out of employment,
and the republicans cry out. tariff"
Another plant is affected by its in
ability 10 obtain supplies manufac-
tured i'm Europe. and understandable
here. and again the republicans note
the number of its men laid of, and
send up another shaa OF tariff
10 is different, however, when an in
stitution is benefited by the war its
market is expanded, and more men
are put 90 work. Republicans care
fully avoid mentioning any such in
stances as that. Ii would not be in
accord with the concerted action Of
republican leaders and big business. TO
excite an era OF reaction. anxious 10
throw the whole reigns OF government
back into their hands.