The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-05-04

n was certain that some Of the IN
Gscrest defenders of the administrs-
Ton would point with pride" and
boasttngs to the tremendous volume
e foreign trade In our favor. now
amounting to the record-breaking sum
u s7s1 900. 900. and. as usual. 1t Is the
chosen prophet OF the New Freedom
Who beats the tom-tom and proclaims
The vindication OF the Underwood
tarfn bill. OF course the Democratic
press have taken the cue from secre-
tary Redneld's representations. and
inconsiderate editors. parrot-like. ask
what have the calamity howiers" TO
say now? But the critics OF the ad
ministration and the informed defend
ers Of the protective tariff refuse to
be stampeded into the confusion II
was foolishiy expected they would re-
tire to. Every person Of normal intel
ligence knows the character OF the ex-
ports that have gone to abnormally
swell the balance OF trade In our ia
vor. mainly foodstuffs. with the un-
usual munitions OF war.
II that Is a vindication OF the Dem
ocratic tariff. its proponents are well
come TO all the faded glory they can
get out of II. In their hysterical &C
claimings of the trade balance they
have forgotten the true test OF the
Underwood Simmons bill TO which II
was subjected In the four months pre-
ceding the European war. which be-
gan August 1. 1914. In time OF I'M
interrupted ocean transportation, and
the gates OF free trade wide open. the
deficiencies In the customs revenues
were piling up at a monthly rate
which pointed to a yearly delinquency
OF $300.000.000. Fortunately for the
Democratic party. the war interviewed
10 prevent a bad condition from laps
ing into a worse situation. But this
relief did not come before the admin
fstration was compelled to lay an
emergency revenue tax on the people
to provide for the Treasury deficits.
In spite OF this ss0.0oo.O00 war tax"
the Treasury deficit has continued TO
climb until IL has passed the $780,
100000 mark. and is still working In
dustriously. Where in the name OF
credulity Is to be found any special
satisfaction in the wholly abnormal
export record. when our internal eco
monte condition is practically fat on
It's back? Secretary Redfeld's letter
10 Senator Stone. Of Missouri. which
has falsely heartened the apologists
for the Underwood bill. is so well an
Fwered by the Pittsburgh Gazette
Times. in nicking and denting the
sophistical claims of the adminIstra-
lions prophet, that we quote IL. in
part:
The Secretary OF Commerce Is careful
not to go into figures about our domestic
trade. While we are exporting more
Than usual TO Europe we are importing
less than usual. thus creating this huge
favorable balance. how about produc-
tion for home consumption and how
about continued unemployment? Mr.
Redfield alludes TO certain months az
ter passage % the Payne-Aidrich REL
publican tariff when the trade balance
was adverse. although for the year theirs
was a considerable Increase in exports.
but he negiects TO state that there were
no idle men In tho United States then
that wages were increased within n year
In the sum OF 100000 900 and that the
year before the Underwood bill wa
passed everything was booming, labor
was at premium. and u was impossible
20 secure a sufficient number OF work
men 20 keep pace with contracts lie -
careful 20 avoid references 20 derlorabIs
conditions existing IN this country. q.
nancisily. commercially andsindustriaiiy
IN 1914. before the war broke out. thank.