Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1915-11-13
FOREIGNERS FIRST"
DEMOCRATIC POLICY

respondence) II is altogether probable
that Democratic leaders in the coming
session of Congress will call some of
the administrative department heads to
account for the manner In which
government appropriations have been
expended. This administration has
thrown itself open to just criticism in
SO many instances and in such import
ant particulars that Democratic Con-
gressmen will find embarrassment in
defending the party record in their 49,
l6 campaigns, and they do not relish
the predicament in which they are un-
willingly placed.
1t is not merely extravaganza that
has put the Democratic party in bad
standing before the country. II the
money were merely wasted, doing no.
body harm, there would be sufficient
grounds for criticism, but when the
administration uses the money and Of
fices of the American people against
the interests Of our own countrymen,
the situation is one that invites a de-
gree of censure and rebuke that
renders the word criticism inadequate
The recent example of the Depart
ment of Commerce issuing a statement
to the press boasting that it had aided
Swiss manufacturers in securing orders
for toys in America is case in point.
While American toy manufacturers are
employing statesmen to place their
goods in their own home market, the
Department lent the aid of Government
employees to the marketing of Swiss
goods in this country in competition
with the American product. As an
illustration of the Democratic idea of
america First" this is shining ex-
ample that has probably never been
surpassed. The nearest approach to it
was the removal of the sugar duty at
the request of men who openly ad-
mitted that they expected such action
to drive American producers out of
business.
With an administration preaching
America First" and practicing
Switzerland First" the Democratic
spell-binder of 1916 is certain to have
sorry time. He will have an embarrass-
ing time of it when some native born
American citizen stands up in the
audience and asks the candidate to ex-
plain this feature of Democratic ad-
ministration-a policy maintained at
time when the Department of Labor is
sending out bulletins showing very
large number of unemployed in prac-
tically every city in the United States.
In these days of organization for
mutual cooperation, every city has its
Chamber of Commerce or Board of
Trade for the purpose OF promoting
local commercial interests, to encour-
age the development Of local industries
and invite new enterprises to begin
operations in the local field. All these
organizations urge policy expressed
by the phrase, "Patronize Home In
dustries." Every local merchant,
banker, and mechanic breaches the
doctrine. Every newspaper gives
columns Of space to arguments design
ed to induce its readers to buy from
local merchants. 1t is sound economic
sense for the community, for the coun-
ty, for the state, and for the nation.
Naturally, it is a severe shock to
people who have contributed of their
hard earned money to build up this
sentiment, when they see Government
officials using government money to
foster Swiss industries. Not that the
American people have any prejudice
whatever against Swiss toys. Far from
it. But the loyal American has an in
tense prejudice in favor of the Ameri-
can article, whether it be toy or some
thing in the line of daily necessity. And
that same loyal American will not stand
for insincerity which breaches Gamer
ica First" and practices Foreigners
First.
Hence the likelihood that the De-
partment of Commerce will be asked to
explain itself.
Among other pipe lines are those
written in favor OF smoking.