The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-12-26
ARGUMENT IN CAMPAIGNS

ARGUMENT IN CAMPAIGNS
Mr. Penrose The argument is fire.
quently made that the result of repub
lican protection is to stop competition.
That is argument made in cam
paigns but it does not exist in fact. I'm
der a protective law three quarters of
the structural iron and steel used in the
rebuilding of San Francisco came from
Germany, having been brought there
in vessels, and a number of notable
buildings were constructed in New York
such as the Singer building, by steel
of German fabrication, showing that
there was competition.
To state that the result of the Payne
law or any other republican protective
law was to abolish competition is
simply to conjure up a great octopus
which only exists in the imagination
of democratic orator when he is
out of office during a campaign.
Mr.. Underwood. But the senator does
not answer my question.
Mr.. Penrose. If l have not done SO,
l will try to answer it.
Mr.. Underwood. / want to Know
whether the senator contends that the
importation of goods into this country
from abroad Injuries American industry
or does not injure American indus
try.
Mr.. Penrose If it comes in unduly,
are reduced to pay the wages of the
cheap labor Of Europe, it is not only
an injury to the employer, but an IN
jury to the employe and the destrue-
ton of American industry.
Mr. Underwood. That is what ! UNI
derstood the senator's position to be-
wish to call the senator's attention
to the fact that during the time he
has spoken of, under the present law,
when industries were out of commits
sion in his state, the imports in the
iron and steel schedule, all along the
line, were less than they had been nn-
der the Payne. law. Therefore, idle
mills and. idle foundries could not have
been caused by increased competition
or the enactment of the democratic
tariff law. ~
Mr.. Penrose. Mr. President, will the
senator permit me?
Mr. Underwood. Certainly.
Mr. Penrosc. Theories are very fine
and figures can be presented to prove
almost ANYTHING. There is only one
test of success of a party or a gov
eminent or an economic policy and
that is whether prosperity attends 1t
or whether the contrary is the result.
All | can say is that we were rapidly
reaching a point under the present
law in Pennsylvania and ONO and New
England and every other place TO
which attention was called when the
greatest misery and restitution pre-
vailed where men were tramping the
HIGHWAYS and hundreds and thousands
with all their belongings on the END
of stick, and sleeping under FENCES
hunting employment, six months alt-
or the passage of this law, where SIX
months before it's enactment employers
Fad been hunting up and down through
every part of Pennsylvania and other
states endeavoring to procure I'M
I, skilled labor and give large compen-
sation.
Mr. Underwood. Will the senator al
low me to ask him another question
right there?
Mr. Penrose. Certainly.
Mr. Underwood The senator ad
mits. because j take it, 1t is TACT
that the importation of goods from
abroad did not put these industries
| out of blast because the 1mportat1ohs
! did not come in, but he says that IN
dustrial depression existed in his state
! and that the party in power should not
| he entrusted with the government, be-
cause IT is responsible for the indus
| trial conditions of a year ago but now,
| If increased imports did not effect our
industries?
| motive works are out of blast or II
| they are not making greater profit
| at their factory than they ever dld
| in their existence?
Mr.. penrose. There is no doubt, Mr..
President
| Mr.. Underwood. And If the other
! GREAT iron and steel industries IN
pennsylvania are not running their
| output to the limit today and employ
| ing every available man? Is not that
! a fact?
aue r. the so-called war orders 1t is
looked on as transient. meretricions