The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-04-23
why REPUBLICANS
ARE Confident
Failure of Democrats To
Make Good Promises.
Main Argument Relied On To
Beat Them Will Be The
Tariff.

Ii is interesting to look into the
facts and reasons which underlie tn,
complete confidence which the Re
rgublicans have about the elections
next year.
The Republican leaders expect tc
regain not only the Presidency and
the House, but the Senate as well.
The main argument which the Re-
publicans will put forward is that the
Democrats have been extravagant
and loose In their management OF
the Government. This charge will
be easy to prove.
The resounding pledge of economy
which the Democrats made in their
last national platform will be quoted,
and their performances under that
pledge will be made familiar to every
voter. II is not too much to say that
the present Democratic Congress has
been the most wantonly extravagant
In history. On this issue the Demo-
Gratis will be completely on the de-
fensive, for the facts speak plainly
for themselves. and, in addition, a
great many candid Democrats are on
record against their own party with
frank and indignant charges Of ex-
travagance and bad faith to their
platform.
On the inefiiciency charge. the Re-
publicans will not only call aten-
tion to many familiar cases of de-
partmental looseness, but will make
much Of the fact that. thru unwise
insistence on passing the Shipping
Bill. the administration allowed the
Tecent session of Congress to end In
chaos. without having passed several
OF the essential appropriation bills
and other routine legislation.
One of the main arguments which
the Republicans will rely on to beat
the Democrats in the presidential
election next year will be the tariff.
Before the European war there was
difference OF opinion among Repub-
licans as to whether the tariff could
be made an issue next year. But
undoubtedly the European war has.
created a new situation with respect
to protection. To fail to recognize
this emergency is mere stubborn
blindness.
Even Democrats who are at heart |
free traders admit that the war has
created an emergency condition. and
that as practical matter it must be
faced. 1t is not SO much the war as
the ending of the war that will cause
a tariff emergency. +
In the first place there is now run
ming, in favor of American manu-
facturers. a tariff higher than the
most ardent protectionist ever dream
ed. Many lines have ceased to be
in Europe. Other lines
which have been manufactured In the
past in Germany and Austria cannot
reach the United States.
Furthermore. ocean freight rates
have risen enormously. in some cases
rs much as twelve hundred per cent,
making tariff wall which enables
he American manufacturer to ignore
iHirely all foreign competition. When
he war ends. this artificial tariff
wall will disappear suddenly. This
udden disappearance on an artificial
ariff will leave the American manu-
acturer helpless. and when the war |
loes end there should be statutory
ariff to resist the shock. That will !
'e part of the Republican argu- c
nent. I
The second part of the tariff argu- r
nent can best be illustrated by the b
ase of dyestuffs. We formerly re-
led upon Germany to supply us with
yestuffs. Germany cannot now make 4
hem. nor ship them. Under these r
we turned to the v
Imerican business man and said: j
Why don't you make these dye g
tufts? You should do 1t as q matter
{ patriotism" p
, Assuming that the American bus G
less man accepts the challenge and e
egin to make dyes. what will hap G
EN- to him when the, war ends. and
suddenly begins to make @
nd ship dyestuffs? Shall we leave {,
lie American business man who sl
elped Us out In an emergency to h