The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-20
HOW ABOUT MEXICO?'
WEEKS ASKS WILSON
No Issues: Just Look at the
High Cost Of Living, Says
the Senator.
THEN AGAIN, THE TARIFF.

WASHINGTON. Dec. le.-Senator John
W. Weeks OF Massachusetts,, one OF the
Republican Presidential candidates, far
from agreeing with President Wilson's
recent assertion before the Democratic
National Committee that the Republican
party would have no issue aside from
the tariff upon which to make their
campaign next year.. contends that tho
issues furnished them by the present Ad-
ministration are 80 ample and so evident
that 1t is a matter Of choice as to which
shall be featured by Republican cam
raign orators.
First in Importance. however. Senate
Weeks believes the present Administra-
tons failure to protect American lives
and property in Mexico during the EN-
tire three years IL has been in power IL
the ons shortcoming that should enec-
lively preclude q return OF the Demo-
Gratis TO power.
II believe the Mexican issuc is one
OF those upon which the coming cam
paign will be waged and won by tn Re
publican party" said Senator Weeks to-
day. Certainly the present Admins
tration's inefficient handling OF the sit
uation ever since II came into power IL
rich in v~ulnerability. In the Demo-
cratic national platform for 1919 there
appeared the unequivocal statement that
our DTOpeTNN rllpuIu w PoNSNs'o
throughout the world and on our bor-
dsrs.
Every American the Democratic
platform reads. must be given the full
protection OF the United States Govern
ment both for himself and his property
That plank applies very directly TO
Mexico and II 1t means anything IL
should mean hat Americans residing In
that country and those on the border
al,N,,tl t..t.A had tive fullest nrntRrtlOn
from our Government. No great bodies
OF water separate US from Mexico. II
is our next door %neighbor. and II Ameri-
cans were ever TO be protected by their
Government, certainly those going no
further abroad than across an imaginary
line TO the south OF US should have mad
that protection.
But they have not had II and as a
consequence many Of them have lost
their lives and practically have lost their
property without any reasonable or ef-
fective protest on the part OF the party
in mower. When the President OPP
timistically declares that the Repuolcan
party will have no issue on wnich 10
make a campaign next year he Is either
forgetful of the long period or utter
neglect with regard to Mexico and the
Americans who were unfortunately held
there by their property interests or ne
has an idealistic conception OF the
temper Of the American people that
lulls him into a false sense or security
against their just indignation-indisna-
ton that will make itself felt WITHIN
the next few months.
The American people. feel assured
will be quick to grasp the fact mat the
Republican party has something OF a
campaign issue in the failure OF the
Democrat to reduce or even TO hold at
i,s former level. the cost OF living. This
was one of the campaign slogans OF the
Democracy In l9l2-'the high cost OF liv-
inR'-and they told the public that u
nut into power they would enact a tarin
for revenue only, and that the cost OF
food and other ne~cessar ies OF lie wouiu
automatically become lower.
"They were put into power. they
enacted the Cnderwood-Simmons law
and the cost of living Immediately
sta rted on an upward march which Is
sill in progress, Figures compiled by
the Administrations own bureaus show
that the cost OF living has increased more
rapidly in the past three years than dur-
ing any similar time IN me last decade n,nh
az the Democrats considered the high
cost OF living a worthy campaign issue
in 1912. II IL clear the Republicans In
1915 can raise the same cry and win
even greater Justification. The response.
l feel assured, will be nationwide.
II am glad the President cohcedes us
one issue. the tariff. So much Is included
In that one issue that II really should
ne divided into a number OF Issues. In
the Orst place the Republican principle
OF protection is an issue distinct ANA
apart and stands for nationwide COM
mercial growth and prosperity.
"In the second place the tarin stands
AS the only reasonable. effective means
for rehabilitating our stagsering treas
ury and certainly the Governments pres
ent financial distress In another Issue
that must figure prominently In the COM
ius campaign, together with the extravs-
gnnce OF appropriations which has
h.lpcd to bring II on.
1.-The President has urged additional
sp.cial axes IN II ina effort to ignore
the possibilities Of the tarin ~ a sensi-
Bile remedy for the plight In which we
find ourselves.
He urges a tax on Automobiles
double tax. ] believe, since ne has sug-
gested taxing both the horsepower OF