The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-08-12
BY CHARLES BROOKS SMITH.

But the advice from the summer
White House that II is the aim and
hope TO make the question OF national
defense the foremost issue in the
next capaign. is encountered by the
very general opinion held by public
men that 1t cannot be done.
However much the present admin.
istration desires TO obscure ali other
issues with that one, ii is the prevail.
ent opinion here that, as has always
and invariably been the case, domes.
tic economic conditions will be par
! amount In other words, business
conditions and the relation OF tariff
10 the same. Another thing, favoring
preparedness for war should this ma.
ton be drawn into war, is not and
cannot be made question on which
partisan lines can be drawn. Both
parties Will favor a strong foreign
policy and adequate preparations TO
put this country on war footing.
There Is no stronger advocate OF 1t
than Mr.. Roosevelt and no severer
critic Of the present administration
than be. On this issue, as well as
restoring protective tariff duties. he.
publican and bull moose leaders are
as close as the fingers on ones hand.
Business-this country's business
is going 10 be the paramount issue
in next years campaign according to
the view OF the leaders here. They
haven't anything TO do with making
1t the question uppermost with the
tr tNS1FN HN 80
thing that each and every man has
in mind at this time. 1t means more
TO him than foreign relations or ma.
tional defense. Business with the
average citizen is an every day prop.
0sition representing a struggle 10
keep his affairs on the right side OF
the ledger. Business in this country
isn't good and hasn't been since this
administration took charge. In spots,
where war supplies are being manu-.
featured, the business situation In
greatly improved. But as 2 matter
ssof consideration a. applied to the
country entirely, business is far from
being satisfactory. The bulletin OF
the Federal Reserve Board issued
several days ago sizes 1t up about
right. There is prosperity in spots
due to war ord&rs. The question
then is, when war ceases what then?
George w. Perkins answered this
question day or two ago, ana, ac-
cording to the opinion OF the most
astute politicians Of national expert
ence, stated, In nutshell the issue
OF all others that will dominate mo
next year. and upon which the party
minds of the voters OF this country
now In power and the Republican
party will wage battle 1t was, what
is going to become Of the business
OF this country when the wSr ends?
According to Mr.. Perkins and the
Republican leaders that is the big
gest OF all the questions before this
country And right on that question
Roosevelt and Perkins on one end
and the regular Republican leaders
on the other agree. Raise Snro tariff
walls that the Underwood bill threw
down. Lest that be done, they fore.
see the flooding OF this country after
the war with goods made so cheaply
that no manufacturer in this country,
whose products compete with foreign
products, could meet the foreign
prices for minute. He couldn't do 1t
and pay American wages in competi-
ton to the more.than.ever reduced
wages paid abroad when what Is left
of the armies so back into the fac
tories at any old wage they can get
to keep soul and body together.
A protective tariff will be the is
sue in the next campaign Is the opln-
ion of almost every man here whose
opinion is worth very much. 1t can
not be prevented, STAYED off, put
aside or chloroformed. 1t is going
to be as paramount as 1t was when
Mckinley ran the first time, say the
prophets. And that Is saying much,
for It was one staving big issue in
that campaign, with an outcome that
was foreordained.