The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1916-10-19
to an eight-hour work day. 1 favor
the principle of an eight hour work

to an eight-hour work day. l favor
the principle of an eight hour work
day."
Now there is no question as to the
issue. The Underwood tariff act did
not wholly eliminate the protection
extended to American industry. for
the reason that President Wilson said
the change should be made gradual
ly, so that American prosperity
would not be destroyed at once. Evil
IDENTIFY his idea is that American in
dustry will not object so much to be-
ing slaughtered, if only it is a slow
death. But never has the president
relinquished in any degree his convic-
ton that the United States should
adopt the principle of free trade.
Two years ago this coming Decem-
Der, the writer was east, almost to
Pennsylvania. He was astonished by
the conditions he found. The news
papers, out of loyalty to their coun-
try and to avoid the spreading of
alarm, had not told the extent to
which business was paralyZed. In
tit IVES found that over 5000 work
men with homes We're out of work.
this meant, with their families, fully
|25, 200 people, or fourth of the
city's population. In every manufac-
turing center, the story was the
same. Employers told how easy it
was to secure help at even ridiculous
ly low wages, because they were
simply besieged with applicants.
This. of course, was before the war
orders began to come in.
Now let it not be forgotten that
the war, by cutting off all German
and Austrian competition and by di-
verting British and French compe-
tition to the manufacture of war sup
plies, acted for the protection of
ever do. The tariff could only give
American manufacturers margin
upon which to operate in competition
with foreign producers. The war shut
off the bulk of foreign competition,
not partially, but entirely. 1t built
q great wall about this country,
higher than ever could be construct
ed by protective tariff. And what
has happened? A measure of prosper
ity the like of which has never been
known Here We find in the present
administration the two contrasts. II
the first half of the presidential term
with this country's markets exposed
to more competition by reason of the
reduction in import duties, the
country suffered steady decline in
prosperity, until finally hundreds OF
thousands of men were out of WORK
and factories by the thousands were
stilled. In the last half, with the
! United States cut off from competi
lion abroad, We find factories reopen
Cd, every idle man employed ant
everybody enjoying steady depend
able income. Could the United States
possibly be given more convincin!
demonstration of the fallacy of tn,
free trade theory and of the desirab
illty of the employment of the prin
ciple of protection?
, The chief question for the voter tt
determine in November then, is this
Will this country be- in better con
dition to meet the onslaught by for
eign competition which is certain t.
follow the war, if it has for presiden
a man who is unyielding in hi
conviction that the country shout
as rapidly as possible adopt he 1ol
icy of free trade?
Or will the United States be bette
shielded against invasion by foreig
producers if it has for president
man who believes, as he himself ha
told it above, in seeing first of al
that American factories are assure
of the protection necessary to Civ
an abundance of work to their EN-
ployes?