Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-07
South Swings Toward Protection.

South Swings Toward Protection.
That the once solid South is rec.
egnizing the soundness of the Repub.
Hcan policy Of protection is asserted
by Hon. Alvah H. Martin a prom
inent business man Of Norfolk. Va
and . lifelong resident Of the South
ern states. In Washington Saturday
Mr.. Morton said:
II made the remark when President
Wilson was elected that he would dc
moro than any President since the
war to disrupt the Democracy OF the
Solid South. and events that have
transpired have convinced me that the
prediction was correct.
Having been born and reared in the
South. surrounded by all the senti-
meut Of that section. and sympathiz-
ing with its policies. felt sure that
when the failure Of his administra-
ton was generally recognized. as fail
1t must, there would be a more gen.
erA reaction in this section against
Democratic policies than had ever
necessarily meant that al! must ac-
knowledge that a fair trial has been
accorded these doctrines from a dis
tinctly Southern standpoint. and
there is no future to look forward
to along these lines with any hope
OF success
The new tariff law has proved a
complete failure. Not only has IL
failed to produce sufficient revenue
for the needs Of the Government, but
it has distinctly injured business
conditions, and today the general cry
Of hard times is heard in every di-
rection. whereas the country was
more prosperous than ever before
during the last year of the preceding
Republican Administration.
The only thing which sustains bus
iness at present is war orders for
grain. food. ammunition and other
supplies required for the European
countries engaged in the world strug-
gle, and this great contest causes a
practical suspension of imports from
the countries so affected. and gives a
big balance of trade in our favor,
while imports from the neutral coun-
tries are steadily increasing. Acting
under the special recommendation Of
Mr.. Wilson. Congress imposed war
taxes" upon US, when the foreign war
was actually helping business instead
OF injuring il. In addition to that the
Ubiquitous and burdensome income tax
has also been imposed for the first
time, except as a war measure, and
still the revenues of the Government
are steadily dropping behind. with
the largest appropriations that have
ever been made. notwithstanding the
suspension of appropriations for Riv-
ers & Harbors. Public Buildings and
other expenditures which had been
previously made with regularity.
The capital and savings of the peo-
pie should be preserved by just and
economic systems and laws, but the
real wealth of a nation depends upon
constructive action for the proper
employment of its labor. and keeping
the arteries Of trade sufficiently open
to promote general activity and a
full dinner pail"
The issue upon which Mr.. Wilson
seemed to lay most stress during his
campaign for election was reduction
Of the cost Of living, but results have
proved the absurdity and impractical
bility Of his ideas generally. "Psy-
chology" and "watchful waiting" hav-
ing failed as excuses. the attempt is
now being made to satisfy the people
with rhetoric; so that it is dawning
upon the voters of the South. as new
er before. that what they need is a
good. strong, practical business ad-
ministration at Washington. More
Democrats than ever before say they
have voted for their last Democratic
Presidential candidate, and it can be
relied on with certainty that at the
next election there will be increased
Republican representation in Con-
gress from this section, and probably
some electoral votes.
At the last session of Congress, Viz
ginia was the only former Confeder-
ate state that had Republican repre-
sentative in the person OF Mr.. Slemp.
In the present Congress he has been
again returned, while North Carolina
gives US another, and the solid dele
cation heretofore coming from Louisi-
ana has been broken. The recent ut
tefances Of the Governors Of Texas,
South Carolina and other Southern
states. in regard to Mr.. Wilson show
decidedly that the trend Of public SEN
timent is against him. The time is
rapidly approaching when the South,
probably more than any other section,
will profit by Republican policies, and
It will hail as blessing. promptly and
sincerely, q return to its former pros
perity.