Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-02-17

ness In dealing with our foreign rela-
tions have so angered the people OF
the country that 1t has become not
only the imperative duty but the deep
est desire of all good citizens to drive
1T out Of power, and reinstate as
speedily as the laws of the land will
permit, government that will re-
store the confidence and rekindle the
pride which every patriot ought to
feel in the strength and justice of his
nation. The one paramount duty be-
fore US Is the retirement of Woodrow
Wilson and his followers in the house
and senate. When we win, as we will,
some Of us may not get all we want;
but we are bound to get something
better than we have now, for the
mind cannot conceive anything worse.
The president and congress began
their assault upon our institutions by
the enactment of a tariff law, which
taking 1t all together is the complet-
est compound of ignorance and indif-
ference ever composed by a legisla-
tive body. 1t neither gives protection
| to our home markets nor yields reve-
| nue. for the maintenance of the gov
| eminent. 1t defies every principle Of
| economics ever advanced by the prin-
| ciples of any school of scientific
| thought. Had 1t not been for the
hideous war which has paralyzed the
| industries of Europe, it would have
put this country into bankruptcy.
| with no prospect of dividend to
| creditors.
Tariff Hostile to Farmers.
This tariff law has no redeeming
! feature except the income tax, and
| that / may say in passing was of Re-
publican origin, but its browning folly
and unspeakable injustice lie in the
palpable and indefensible diserimina-
| tion against the farmers of the coun-
| try. 1t gives the manufacturers of
the East some protection, inadequate
1T Is true, and therefore ineffective;
but 1t remorselessly exposes the agri-
cultural producers in the great West
| to the unrestrained invasion of the
whole world. 1t must be swept away,
and in its stead there must be sub
stituted fair, reasonable and ade-
quate tariff for the protection of
American industries. tariff which
will enable home producers to hold
| their own markets in decent pros
perity against all corners. The Demo
Gratis themselves are beginning to see
the hopelessness of their law and are
twisting and turning in every direc-
ton to avoid some Of the disastrous
results which are SO obvious that they
cannot be longer hidden. For in
stance, the ways and means commit
| tee of the house Is about to recon-
mend a full and sufficient duty on
dyestuffs. Why? Simply because we
need them, and we cannot get them
| from abroad. and our capital will not
| invest in the business unless assured
of protection against foreign rivals
when the war comes to an end.
Again, the energetic but elusive sec.
| rotary of commerce is insisting that
we must enact an anti-dumping pro-
vision. a provision which recognizes
the necessity of protective duties, but
which our Democratic friends hope
nay be so obscured that the people
generally will not perceive the admis-
sion of past folly which it clearly i'm
| plies.
| Why Tariff Commission?
| Again, the president and his lead
ers in congress are now proposing the
establishment of tariff commission.
| Why? For this reason and no other;
they are praying that through the
work OF such a commission some of
the disasters which their tariff law
necessarily intiicts may be avoided
without a frank avowal that they have
imposed upon the country a policy SO
destructive that they dare not meet
it's logical outcome. The tariff COM
mission has been for years a Repub-
lican proposal, desirable because we
| want to know, from time to time, the
difference between the cost of pro-
duction at home and abroad. We
want a tariff commission In order to
fix duties that will protect our home
markets against unfair competition,
but why does believer in the ruin.
Gus doctrine of free trade or tariff
for revenue only want commission?
1t is not possible within the time
which | may properly consume to re-
view all the fragrant mistakes record
ed in the history of this administra-
ton. 1t has simply been one blunder
after another. repeated with such un-
varying regularity that the people
have come to expect nothing else.
The law revising our banking sys-
tenn, while it has some good in it.
which Republicans rather than Demo
Gratis put there. is, as a whole. most
dangerous experiment. 1t has not
only made powerful combinations
among banks lawful. but it has Great.
ed board clothed with more author
ity than was ever before conferred
upon an administrative body.
Again. it proposed a shipping law
which was founded upon an acknowl.
edged want of the people, but it cou
pied the plain duty of the government
In this respect to a plan OF partner
ship In private corporation which,