Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-03-22
COLONEL HALE
ADDRESSES FIVE
REPUBLICAN CLUBS

speech by Col. Frederick Hale of Port
land, candidate for the Republican nomi-
nation for United States senator. at q
meeting this evening at Pythian hall.
this city. under the auspices Of the i've
Republican clubs. is believed to sum-
marize the general views Of the candidate
ON the most important questions Of the
hour. The clubs represented were the
Portland club. the Munjoy club, the Lin
coin club. the Ward Six Republican club,
and the Ward Five Republican associa-
tion. Mr.. Hale said:
Speculation is everywhere rife as to
the probable effects Of the war on the
industries Of the nations taking part in
the war. We Of the United States are
directly concerned in two questions.
be in to furnish a market for our pro-
ducts at the close Of the war? Second,
what condition will they be in to COM
pete in our markets? Some people be-
ieve that after the war there will be
such demand for labor to rehabilitate
the business Of Europe that wages will
be high for a time. This will mean, II
wages are high enough. a high foreign
cost Of production, little competition in
our markets, and a good chance for US to
compete in theirs. Others, and l am of
the number, myself, believe that there
will be such a demand for work and so
little money to pay for it, that wages will
be less than ever before This will mean
a low cost Of production. great competi-
ton in our markets and no chance for us
in theirs. To take care Of this competi.
ton in our markets, we shall have to de-
pend upon Protective Tariff. I am not
going to talk Of the tariff, however, to-
night. but Of certain perils that I think
confront our country at the present time.
One thing everybody will agree on and
that is that while Europe must neces-
sarily be impoverished, we on the con.
trary, to use commercial phrase, shall
have made good thing out Of the war.
We enjoy and probably shall enjoy up
to the close Of the war. provided we do
not become ourselves involved, the only
real prosperity in the world and this.
through no merit on our part. On the
contrary to the sore and impoverished
countries OF Europe. we shall seem to
have fattened on their misfortune This
has created and will create no good feel
Ing on their part. We shall have some-
thing that they will want and no means
OF keeping them from getting 1t II they
see fit to take 1t.
II at the close Of the war, the cost of
production Is SO high that Europe cannot
compete with us on an even basis even
without the protection to us Of A tar,r.
then she can in on peaceful way get at
our wealth. II the cost Of production is
low, and we even matters up with a hixh
protective tariff. still she cannot get it.
In either case she will be baked and in
either case she will be ugly.
Not All Good Things For Us.
AS I have said before in talking on this
question. believe that our safety from
Foreign peril of some sort whether direct
or through the South American countries
or Mexico lasts just as long as this war
lasts and no longer. Our danger will
come from the victors in the war or from |
a combination, should neither side be con.
clusively victorious It is not conceivable
m the readjustment that is coming that |
we shall be allowed all Of the good thing,
IN the world. good things that we are in
no way. shape or manner able to hold ex.
,ept on sufferance
ana now comes the question, what are
we going to do about it? OF course we
IAN Keep on doing nothing; making a lot
u money and lot Of enemies; making
threats every time our rights are
frampled on. threats which we cannot
possibly back up, and trusting to the in.
mite mercy OF God and Of Europe to
ook out for us when the war is over.
rhe day of reckoning will very SURELY
come.
AT any time. to save any vestige Of self
aspect, We may be driven into war for.
houeh Europe does not believe It, there
> limit to tn endurance of the Ameri-
ian people That will mean an end tn
'ur present prosperity. 1t will mean
practically that we shall have to finance
no rest OF the war, since that is about
he only way that we could make our.
selves felt. OF course there might be
Deplorable as getting
nto the war would be, we should be maxi
ng allies who, II they should finally win
'ut, would in a measure be morally
'ohsed to look out for our interests at
ne close OF the war. At least, they could
lot well themselves turn and rend us.
rhis would not be very glorious posi-
ION Tor US, but it would not on the whole
'e SAFER than our present position.
Danger in WatehfuI Waiting. I,
The pity Of it is that with strong
President in the White House at the be-
inning of the war. who would have in
listed on our rights a. neutrals. those
lights would never have been infrinxed
pon. and there never would have been
ny question of war for US. And mind
ou, do not want to see this country 70
o war. What I am trying to show is
hat our present attitude Of watchful
rafting and mastery inactivity is, IL any
hing, a shade more dangerous to us even
han war itself.
The alternative is so adequately to
repare ourselves for defense against any
ossible foe or foes that we shall have
othing to fear either from foreign in
ursion or foreign interference Of any
ind with any Of the countries now pro-
.cted by US under the Monroe Doctrine.
.bsolute preparedness, based on a scale