Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-26
While the Doctor Guesses the Patient
Dies

Dies.
When President Cleveland declared
that "A condition. not theory con-
fronts US" he placed in epigrammatic
form a truth just as applicable to the
present administration but which this
administers ton absolutely refuses to
recognize. When Democratic tariff
legislation had almost destroyed
American industry, President Wilson
refused to recognize it as d condition
but insisted that it was merely "a
state of mind" Despiet his threats
TO hang someone higher than
Hannah" business continued TO de-
cline and no one was sent to the gal
lows either literally or fguratiEely.
Having caused the bad conditions
which existed, the Democratic party
had no power to improve them be-
cause its one remedy was the pursuit
of theories which had been demon
strated to be unsound.
The same persistent refusal to act
in accordance with conditions prevails
today. We have an Illustration of 1t
in the policy which the administra-
ton indicates its purpose to pursue
in preventing the determination of
new industries by foreign competition
after the war in Europe has ended.
Doctor E. +. Pratt, chief Of the bureau
of foreign and domestic commerce.
acknowledges that Germany has the
power to resume its control OF the dye
stuff industry in this country. but says
nothing of the same conditions which
confronts practically all other Ameri
can industries which come into COM
petitiA with European enterprise.
The same attitude of mind is main
tanned by Secretary Redfield Of the
Department of Commerce. the i'm
mediate superior of DR.. Pratt. IN
stead of frankly recognizing the con-
dition which confronts American in
dustry and the certain effects Of q pro-
tective tariff, he adopts the theory
that this foreign competition could be
ton antitrust act. He went SO far as
TO outline a law which would make i,
unla wful for any person engaged in
foreign commerce or industry TO sell
or purchase foreign products at such
prices as would substantially elimI-
nate competition on the part OF
American producers.
The marvellous thing about this
suggestion is that it comes al a time
when the United States Treasury is
admittedly lacking in revenue IN
stead Of suggesting the obvious rem
edE, that Of protective tariff, which
would provide revenue for the United
states Treasury at the same time that
it provided protection for American
industry, Mr. Redfeld suggests the
theoretical remedy Of legislation which
would be difficult of enforcement be-
cause each particular offence would
require a criminal trial TO determine
whether or not the price at which the
goods were being sold was. in fact,
such as to create unfair competition
with American producers
An adequate protective tariff would
fair
tore the foreign goods are entered at
American ports. \ remedy which
consisted only of criminal law forbid
ding unfair competition would invite
the foreigner to invade our markets.
because the dealer would be free from
penalty unless it could be proven be-
yond reasona bic doubt that he had
knowingly and deliberately violated
the law. The presumption of inno-
cehce. as IN the case of all criminal
statutes. would be on the side Of the
defendant, Instead of establishing a
presumption in favor of the American
producer, law attempting to control
unfair competition through criminal
statutes would give the foreign pro-
ducer decided advantage.
American industries were built up
under a protective tariff system. In
two instances within the memory of
this generation. American industries
have been practically ruined by the
enactment of tariff for revenue only
laws These are conditions. Presi
dent Wilson would treat them as "a
state Of mind" The secretary of
commerce has no remedy except
theories.