The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1915-03-05
TARIFF HANDICAP
IS sure TO RETURN
When the War is Over, Free Trade
Will Reopen the Door to For.
eign Competition.

Whatever may be the opinion of
the views of George w. Perkins in re-
gard to unnecessary political third
parties, he is certainly sound upon
the subject of the Tariff. IL is likely,
too, that one reason why this leader
of the Progresives is returning TO his
old political home is the way in
which the Democrats treat this vital
issue. He is informed upon the matter
of how the present Tariff law is
affecting the business, and he, there
fore, can speak with much authority.
Mr.. Perkins was called asa witness
before the Commission of Industrial
relations at their self-advertising in
vestigation that is now going on at
New York. In the course of his ques-
tioning he was asked whether in his
opinion the effects of the present
Tariff would have been so depressing
had IL not been for the European war.
His reply was both prompt and Wig
orous. Under the present Tariff law
he said, brutal as that statement
may seem, believe that conditions
here would have been a great deal
worse had il not been for the war
in Europe. And il we have to con-
tinue under the present duties, be-
ileve that after the European war is
over our conditions are going to be
much worse than they are now"
We welcome Mr.. Perkins to the
ranks of those who can look ahead
and see the dangers that will con-
front industrial America at the con-
clusion of hostilities abroad. This is
the position that the press has taken
constantly and consistently. To our
minds there is no question as to the
facts in the case. The one thing that
is to-day saving the life Of many an
industry in the United States is the
European war. Because of that con-
flict we are having a natural Pro-
lection from the flood of foreign i'm
ports that would otherwise pour into
The country.
The nations that are today waging
war across the ocean are the big
manufacturing countries of Europe.
It is impossible for people to carry
on war and foreign trade at the same
time, therefore, for the moment, the
American mraket has ceased to be
the prize for which these countries
are contending. They are crippled
industrially, and we are reaping the
direct advantage of this condition.
The American manufacturer is to-day
receiving Protection that Democrat
ic administration refused to give.
That is the reason why American
Industry is not now on its back.
The conditions Of the present will
end at the close of the war. Then
will return the Tariff handicap that
existed before the war began. What
this was is a matter that is only too
well known to the American prOduc-
err. 1t meant an increased impOr-
tation into the United States of for
eign goods to the value of one mil
lion dollars each working day of the
month. The Democratic cry was that
the new law would increase Ameri-
can exports to other countries. The
one export that it did increase was
that of gold. 1t trebled gold eX-
ports during the past year, i'm COM
parison with the year that went be-
fore. This was the gold that was
taken away to pay for the balance
of trade aginst this country under
the Democratic Tariff.
The more the present Tariff is con-
sidered and experienced the more de-
sire there is on the part of the ma
ton to return to the days when a
Republican Protective Tariff was the
law of the land. There was no talk
of increased taxation in those days.
But now we have a law imposing
a hundred million alleged war"
tax, and an income tax from which
another hundred millions was expect
ed. and there is threatened a bond
issue to meet current expenses. The
Republicans paid the current expens-
es of the Panama Canal largely from
the Treasury surplus. The canal is
now completed and is earning money
but the Democrats propose to issue
bonds to keep 1t open. The great
difference between the Democratic
present and the Republican past is
plain. indeed. to see.