Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-07
DON'T BLOW UP THE DAM

1
IF DURING the season Of spring floods
4 we should find a man weakening the
foundations Of a dam below which was
large city we should call him insane
and lock him up. Then we would hasten
to repair the damage he had done. And
| II we were wise we would strengthen the
structure and raise It in order to prevent
the impending disaster.
The business Of the United States is at
the present moment in the perilous sit
uation Of a city lying in the path Of the
flood from a weakened dam. The dam
is the tariff law. The impending flood is
the export trade Of Europe to be resumed
at the close Of the war, and the man who
has weakened the dam is Woodrow Will
son, assisted by the Democratic party.
Though the war has been in progress
for two years, that party has not lifted a
finger to protect the nation against the
disaster which is impending. 1t has
talked about anti-dumping laws, which
never work except when they are not
needed; but beyond that It has done
nothing. The constitutional incapacity
for action which has marked this Admin
istration In the crises which have con-
peril. But It is impossible for a reason.
able man to consider the statistics Of
our European trade without being APP
palled at what they disclose.
Take the case of our trade with Ger
many. In normal times the Germans
sell us S189,919,000 worth OF goods.
These are the figures for the fiscal year
ending with June 30, 1914 This amount
fell to sol 900 for the year ending
June 80, 1915, and for the eleven months
Of the current year-the report for the
twelve months has not yet been printed
tho German sales here amounted to
only S13, 3,145,OOO. This is a falling off of
74.431 900 in the purchases from one
country alOIlS SllCt lllS wal Dtbdll'
Germany's normal annual exports to
all countries amount to S2,131, 100000.
That is this is the surplus that Germany
produces over what she consumes. The
war has virtually destroyed all Ger
many's foreign trade Her exports to |
England have fallen from more than |
$3.50, 900 900 year to absolutely nothing. |
Her exports to France have similarly |
stopped. And as we have already shown,
We bought last year only a little more
than thirteen million dollars worth of
stuff from her.
The war has not stopped German pro-
duction. Her manufacturing industries
have not all been diverted to the produc-
ton Of guns and explosives and army
equipment. German statesmen, with the
efficiency for which they are noted. are
planning for trade war to follow the
war with arms. German manufacturers
are piling UP surplus stocks ready to flood
the neutral markets as soon as the way
to ship them abroad is opened The trade
war will be carried on with the same
that has been shown in the
field.
The United States is the great neutral
market which Germany will attempt to
control, because France and England
and Russia have agreed to unite in what
may be called a commercial union, or
ganized for the purpose of destroying
Germany commercially as they hope to
destroy her military power.
Nothing but an adequate tariff law can
protect American industry against the
impending disaster. That law should be
passed now, so that it can be ready for
use when the need for it arises In the
of 1t all politicians of whatever
party should Join, for the crisis should
wipe out party lines. The Republicans
must lead in the work, for they are sin
cere believers in the protective policy.
The Democrats, who happen to be in
power, should follow in the great work
Of Industrial preparedness. Patriotism
calls Loyal Americans should respond
without delay.