The Republican journal., 1915-09-16
Political Points.


The net balance in the general fund of
the U. S. Treasury at the close of bust
ness August 23d was $55, 760, 889, as corr
pared with a balance of 1926, 663, 944 on
the same date two years ago under Re-
publican laws. The administration spent
$27, 1872, All more than it collected during
the first 81 days of the present fiscal
year.
Wholesale prices of Is leading articles
of food for the second week in August
were higher than for the corresponding
week in 1918. This is shown by the N.
Y. Times Annalist, which gives the in
dex number as 145.1 II for 1915, as COM
pared with 139 for 1913.
The average duty collected on imports
under the Democratic tariff law is equiv.
alent to an ad valorem duty of 10 per
cent. That is, on every dollar of i'm
ports, the government gets 10 cents.
Under the Republican tariff law which
the Democrats repealed, the govern
ment collected 20 cents for every dol
lars worth of goods imported. The
theory of the Democrats was that the
lower duty would bring in more goods
and make up most of the difference.
They ignored the fact that every dollar
spent for foreign goods means one dollar
less spent for the product of American
labor. They also ignored the fact that
every dollar spent for labor is respent by
its recipient, until, in the course of a
year. it has passed through IL different
hands and given employment to II diff
ferent men. Therefore, for every dol
lars worth of foreign made goods
b rought in under the Democratic tariff
law, there was taken from American
labor not merely one dollar of wages but
twelve dollars. These facts explain, in
a nutshell, why millions of men were
jobess as soon as the Democratic tariff
law was enacted and why they have con-
tinued jobless except to the extent that
the war in Europe has shut off importa-
tons and given employment to men en-
gagged in producing or manufacturing
foodstuffs, munitions or equipment for
the nations of Europe.
Stealing Republican thunder has be-
come so common practice among Demo-
Gratis that their consciences have become
calloused. They fought the postal saw
ings bank law, but now laud the results
it has accomplished and seek credit for
its success. They opposed a policy of
preparedness and now that their folly
has been proven, would be known as its
chief sponsors. They condemned IDOL
ar diplomacy" when Republican ad
ministration was trying to build up our
foreign commerce, but now they are
bending every energy in the same difec-
ton. Pretty soon we shall see them ad-
vocating protective tariff, in spite of
their many years of denunciation of the
Republican 'Made-in-Amerlca" policy.
They are slowly but surely learning wise
principles of government.
Chairman Walsh, the Industrial Com
mission class-agitator, finds no thrill in
the hunt for senatorial honors in Mis-
souri,, and report has it that he is out
after bigger game-nothing less than
the Presidency. A boom for Walsh has
already been started among some of the
labor unions of the country, and he has
addressed many of them lately. Mean
while the White House policy will be
one of "Walshful waiting"
According to the Construction News,
building construction in the United
States for July showed a decrease of 10
per cent In comparison with the corres-
ponding month year ago. Practically
all the large cities showed material de-
creases, Brooklyn alone showing en- in
crease of II per cent. New York fell
off 10 per cent and Chicago 20 per cent.
While the people of this country want
tariff commission, they also want the
law for its establishment very carefully
drawn. They recognize that at present
practically all the interstate business
Of the country is under the espionage of
q men. the aggregate number of the
Interstate land Trade Commissions and
the Federal Reserve Board, thus placing
in the hands of II men, a majority, the
power to determine questions of vital