Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1915-11-25
Business Demands Change in
Policy
PREPAREDNESS FOR PEACE
Congressman Bennett Tells Why the
Country May Expect Flood Of
Cheap Imports When
War Ends

| elected recently W cohBAooS w 49,
jority of 700 in a district that for
merly gave the Democratic candi-
date a majority of 5000 in straight
out anti-Wilson and anti-adminis-
tration fight, sounded a campaign
slogan which he believes will over
whelmingly elect Republican pres
ident to succeed the present DEM
ocratic administration.
This slogan relates to the policy
of tariff protection to save the Unit
ed States from being made the
dumping ground of European man
ufacturers after the present war Is
over. Mr.. Bennett pointed to the ef-
ficiency of European military or
ganization, and warned his hearers
that once that efficiency is directed
toward manufacturing articles to
compete in our markets, 1t would
not be possible to keep open our
factories with the wage difference
that now exists. He called attention
to the fact that a commission from
France has Just arrived in Ney York
to purchase from the United States
machinery costing nearly two hun
bred million dollars. This machinery
will be of the most modern type,
and used as soon as the war is over
to manufacture goods in competl-
ton with our home manufactures.
Mr.. Bennett referred to the Won
derful ability shown by some OF the
countries now at war to supply
their own needs under the most diff
difficult circumstances and said that
lust as soon as the war ends the
same ingenuity will be directed to-
ward supplying the needs OF con-
sumers in the United States.
Democratic orators used to tell
US that a Democratic tariff would
not disturb business; but 1t did"
said Mr.. Bennett. 1.-THE war, regret
table as it is, was the salvation OF
American industry. Even with i'm
ports greatly impeded by the war
our manufacturing industries were
so seriously interfered with IN this
CITY last winter that 100000 people
we're out of work. The election was
IN part a protest against unemploy-
ment.
"But It will be said that condi-
lions are improving. OF course the
war is a pro tempore protective
tariff of a makeshift kind, and IN
addition we have this new trade IN
munitions of war. whatever may be
our opinion of its ethics we cannot
deny that it is bringing money into
this country. But when the war
ceases and we lose instantly both
our substitute for an adequate tar
iff and our munitions trade, what
then?
"Nor is this all. The manufactur-
ing enterprises of Europe generaiiS
have not been destroyed. They have
been curtailed, suspended, changed
and largely brought under govern
mental control, which will NEAR
such regulation that foreign mar
kets can be invaded successfully
Ten million men will leave tn
trenches when this war closes. VII
they be turned loose to be slowl!
! absorbed without plan or provision
/ into industry? BY no means. M
| government would dare such an ex
, pertinent.
8 ION the contrary, each govern
{ ment will, in the beginning at least
l assign these soldier-workmen to IN
Q dustrial tasks. Wages? These me-
b are soldiers! The governments con
a troll the industries. Until industrle
o are reestablished the men and thei
d families will continue to be sur
' ported as they are now being SUI
a ported. we shall face, therefor'
. NOT the product of European chea
L labor. but the product OF soldie
labor, and our country. unscathe
By war, is the market to which the
goods must come. Against Il
:. wholesale dumping on our mark
. OF this flood Of the most cheapl'
produced foreign goods ever mad
we must have protection or the on
: ployees Of our own competing Ia
!. tories will walk the streets.
: "I am for preparedness, but eV'
q more than preparedness for war,
= need preparedness for peace. tn
|, preparedness we can attain on
!. through a protective tariff an