Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-08-08
MAY ASK CONGRESS
FOR HIGHER TARIFF.
Republicans Hear President
Wilson Has Leaning Toward
Protection.
NOT BLIND TO DANGERS
OF WAR AFTER-EFFECTS
Industrial Slump Due to Low-Wage
Competition Might Defeat the
Democracy.

ers that President Wilson will recon-
mend to Congress some importan,
changes in the tariff, involving what
may seem to some democrats a depar-
ture from democratic principles on the
tariff question.
According to these reports. President
Wilson is just as keenly alive to the
perils which will menace American in
dustries following the conclusion OF the
European war as are George w. Per
kins, Col. Roosevelt, Senator Penrose
and other men. of national Importance
in camps outside of the democracy.
1t is said that President Wilson does
not propose to allow the republicans
or a combination of republicans and
bull moosers, to take over the govern
ment on the plea of protecting Ameri-
can manufa cturers and American work
ingmen against the threatened inva-
sion of cheap foreign products.
To Awake to Situation.
The President, it is declared, did not
have to study his primer to realize that
when the conflict abroad is ended Eu-
rope will clamor for the return of the
gold it has sent to this country to pay
for the munitions of war purchased
here. He is quite cognizant, it is said.
of the fact that the only way Europe
can reclaim it's treasure expended in
this country will be by shipping cheap
goods through the lowered tariff walls
of the United States.
This means that with an influx of
vast quantities of merchandise, made
at a cost lower than like goods could
be produced in the United States, on
or af diHaranna N
American industries would be pros
trated and labor thrown out of employ
ment.
Naturally, as soon as the war ended,
the manufacturing activities In the
United States. confined to the war spe-
cialties. would end abruptly and hum
dreds Of thousands of men would be
thrown out of employment.
If. therefore. on top of that should
come the encouragement of manufac-
turing industry in general lines. on ac-
count of European competition, there
would be hard times indeed for the
American workingmen, and the demo-
cratic tariff and democratic adminis-
tration would be blamed for the situa-
ton.
To Forestall Opposition.
So, according to reports which come
to republican leaders, President Wilson
intends to forestan the future. discount
the prospective advantage to be taken
tariff tinke ering on his own account and
for the benefit of the democratic party.
1t is said further that coupled with
this new policy of economic upbuild-
ing will be a demand for preparedSTSs
for war 1t is thought that in order
to placate the more radical democrats,
to whom any suggestion Of protection
to American industries is as red flag
to bull. greater stress will be laid
by the President upon the necessity of
increasing revenues for national de-
fense than upon protecting industry.
The object will be the same, 1t is said
The republican leaders to whom these
reports came were not advised OF the
character of the proposed changes in
the tariff. They assumed that the duty
on sugar would be raised for one thing
since that commodity has always been
regarded as a natural revenue provider.
Other schedules, 1T was assumed. would
be scaled to the purpose designated
that is, to protect the industries af-
fected by them from utter annihilation.
Look for Hard Fight.
The republican leaders, while very
much interested in these reports. feel
that the President, If he does intend
to propose such a policy, will have his
hands full in perfecting it against the
opposition of the "customhouse burn
ers" Of the democratic party in Con-
gress and the 'tariff night riders"
However. they are not worrying about
the Presidents prospective difficulties
in getting through his reported new
policy.
'If the democrats will not do it. we
WILL" Is their suggestion, and they are
only hoping that the reports are un-
true and that the job of protecting the
country against the after effects Of
the European war will be left to them.