Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-10-17
Senator Boise Penrose Fore
casts Conditions When War
in Europe Ends.
EXPECTS PUBLIC DEMAND
FOR PROTECTIVE TARIFF
Country Saved From Hard Times
He Asserts, by Outbreak Of
Great Conflict.

PROVIDENCE, r. l., October Is
Speaking to the Southern New Eng
e land Textile Club at it's annual dinner
this evening, United States Senator
Roles Penrose of PENNSYLVANIA predict
ed that at the end of the war IN Eo-
rope the people of the United States
will demand restoration of the pro-
tective tariff system in TINS country 10
protect home industries against nood
of foreign goods. Senator Penrose
said In part:
.Rismarck attributed the prosperity of
the United States and its quick recoN-
ery after what was. up to that tlme'
the greatest war in history/to our pro-
tective policy.
TT is significant that in the present
war in Europe, Germany. cut off from
the rest of the world by encircling
hostile nations, seems able to feed.
clothe and support her people II Is
argued, with reason. that she finds her
self in this position on account OF her
protective tariff legislation on agri-
cultural products at the instance OF the
agrarian interests of Germany.
What would have been the position
!, of Germany today had she adopted
policy of free trade and relied on South
America and the United states LOT
foodstuffs and raw materials. as Eng
land has done? 1t is evident, as Tar
as Germany is concerned. that the war
rapidly would be drawing to close,
because Germany would be in about
the same position, in the matter OF
the matter of dyestuffs and many of
the other chemical staples entering
into manufacture and agriculture
Textile Industries Paralyzed.
I'VE have allowed the chemical
schedule of our tariff laws to become
inadequate. The consequence is that
our textile industries are paralyzed on
account of the lack of dyestuffs. We
should have tariff legislation, when the
republicans get back into power,
which will establish the dye industry
and the chemical industry in general
on firm basis, SO that the United
States will never again find itself in
volved, on account of complications in
Europe, in such situation as it is to-
day.
Some time ago l made a statement
at meeting in Philadelphia as to what
would likely occur when Congress
meets, and / described the situation
in which the administration would find
itself / stated that we would discover
an enormous deficit in the revenues,
and on top of this would be the de-
mand for large expenditures for ma
tional preparedness in connection with
the army and the navy. L then chal-
lenged Mr.. Wilson to overcome his
prejudices and use his power in Con-
gress. which he has not hesitated to
use during the two years of his admin
istration in a most forcible way. to
restore protective duties. The only
other alternative before him is to in
crease the direct taxes, such as the So
called war tax and the income tax, and
to borrow money by issuing bonds for
the current expense of the government
and for the money required for ma
tional armament.
In the few months which have
elapsed since 1 made this statement
have noticed in the daily papers in
creased talk of restoring the duty on
sugar and on wool, and, perhaps. other
articles. Let US hope that If the prop
osition has already gone far as
partly to restore protective duties, still
greater progress may be made and that
the whole protective policy advocated
by the republican party will be ac-
cepted by the present democratic ad-
mlnIstration as means of saving the
country from further direct taxes and
an ever-increasing deficit in the reve-
nues.
Light of Reason Dawninr.
1T: is gratifying, moreover, to learn
that :Te light of reason is dawnins in
other dill ections Already we hear sur-
gestions from strange quarters that a
high protective tariff must be built
UP around the dyestuff industry and
argument is made in high places in
the government that maybe it will be
necessary to have an anti-dumping law
enacted.
Il introduced an anti-dumping bill
In the Senate an amendment to the
Underwood bill in the last Congress
1t was defeated by the democratic ma
Jority. Now il appears tnat they are
likely to consider anti-dumping
law.
Let us make no mistake about the
necessity of d permanent protective
tariff law with an anti-dumping clause
such as is contained in the tariff laws
of Canada and other countries. Such
law is necessary TO protect this coun-
try from the conditions which are like
~ to exist at the close of the war In
Europe Millions of men will return
to Industrial occupation. The dnan-
cial condition of Europe and the con-
Stunning power of the people will rem
der inevitable the cheap products of
cheap foreign labor. which will be
thrown upon the American market
That market is worth to the foreign
manufacturer the markets of all the
rest of the world combined
Benefited by the War.
Il firmly believe, and share the be-
lief with others in whose judgment /
discussed these matters. that had II
not been for the conflict abroad the in
dustrial and commercial conditions in