The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-24
Sbootiue m Pree .Trade.

nhOOumg Up free Trade.
Norman p. Mack, through his pa
per, the Buffalo TIMES; ~is still IN a
teft-l1anded way advocating return
to Republican protection principles
and incidentally pointing to the injury
TO industries indicted by the Under.
wood bill Mr.. alhck's preachments In
fayor Of protection are striking from
the fact that ne was the former chair
MAJ. a the DempcTatic national COM
mittee, and at present Is the New
York member Of that body. In an
swer to some OF the reflections Of the
Democratic press on his ln-D Democrat
10 attitude, Mr.. Mack cites the case
of the late Samuel j. Randall, once
speaker OF the House that a man may
be q mighty big Democrat and Q
mighty big protectionist at the same
time Mr.. Mack might also have called
On as witnesses to this contention
the status Of the Louisiana senators
and representatives on the sugar ques-
ton, says the Wheeling sIntetiigeneer.
But to get down to Editor Mack's ar
gument for protection. In his recent
editorial on q matter that strikes at
an enterprise in his home town ne
wakes eloquent in behalf Of high tar
ia.
He refers to the manufacture Of
caustic potash, 9 material that does
not enter into commercial fertilizers,
but which occupies an industrial field
peculiarly its own, and in Its econom-
ic aspects presents a notably marked
opportunity for Independent treat
ment. Up to the time Of the present
war the American caustic potash In
dustry had to meet formidable, II not
crushing, competition from the Ger
man manufacturers, because the for-
eign industry was backed by the low.
er cost Of living and lower wage SCALE
than in this country, all indisputable
points. With these premises M. Mack
goes right to the meat Of the ques-
ton with the following local cita-
ton:
Since the war began a plant en-
gagged in caustic potash manufacture
and SO near Buffalo that 1t is to all
intents and purposes one Of our local
Industries, has been able to make lit
tie besides running expenses, a tnins
1t could never do before. Now the
owners Of the concern are wondering
what they will do, when, in THE course
OF time the war ends and with 1t the
only kind OF projection they get-that
OF war itself-and the potash from
Europe again comes into oyerwhelm
the market and compel the American
enterprise, II 1t runs at all. to run at
a loss. Shall the caustic potash indus
try of the Niagara frontier keep on as
1T used to. working for nothing, or
for less than nothing? or shall 1t
shut up shop and let its competitors
from Europe have the market to them
selves ? That is plain business propo-
sition.
HThe case Is typical Of many actual
or prospective manufacturers in this
country. They would keep on, or they
would begin, If they could have any
reasonable assurance that they would
not run the risk OF total loss OF their
investment by European competition.
The caustic potash industry il fair
proof Of what may be laid down as a
general principle that when a legitt,
mate American enterprise needs and
can prove that it needs, q moderate
degree Of protection to safeguard IT
against being driven out OF the market
by foreign competition, 1t should have
what encouragement Is necessary to
Justify 1t, from q sound business
STANDPOINT, in entering the field at
ALL
This is Democrat talking, all
though it sounds like orthodox Repuu.
licanism. The war is acting as buff
fer against the effects Of the Under
wood bill, but, as Mr.. Mack says, cap
ital is not going to invest in any en-
terprise that is not assured OF protec-
ton against foreign competition when
the war is over. This is what is hold.
ing back the investment Of capital in
free trade England in dyestuff factor
les. Capitalists are refusing to In
vest their money unless they are as
sured they win be protected py tariff
against composition Of German manu-
factuTers when the war shall have
closed.