Pioneer press. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1882-19??, 1916-03-18
BLUNDERS or THE
ADMINISTRATION
Wilson Has Failed In Foreign
and Domestic Policies.
ROOT SHOWS HIS ERRORS.

HoorSss Al temporary chairman OF
Now York Republican Convention
Points Out Sins of Democratic Com
mission and Omission-"We Have
Lost Influence Because We Have
Been Brave In Words and lrresoIuto
In Action"
In his address as temporary chair
man OF the New York state Rcpn!,Ii,.al
convention. delivered t.
New York, the Hon. Eiihu i,u,,. ...
We are entering upon contest tol
the election Of president and the con
troll OF government under conditions
essentially new in the experience of
our party and OF our country The
forms and methods which we are
about to follow are old and familiar,
but the grounds for action. the demand
OF great events for decision upon ma
tional conduct, the moral forces urg
ing to solution Of vaguely outlin-
ed questions, the tremendous con
sequences OF wisdom or folly in nation.
al policy, all these are new to the great
mass OF American voters now living
Never since 1864 has an election been
fraught with consequences so vital to
national life. All the ordinary consid-
erations which play SO great a part in
our presidential campaigns are and
ought to be dwarfed into insignificance
Democratic Party to the Bar.
For the first time In twenty years we
Nntar ho fol M
uon, and indeed 1t Is q much longer
ume, for in 1896, in all respects save
the tariff, the real opposition to the
sturdy and patriotic course Of Presi-
dent Cleveland was to be found in the
party that followed Mr.. Bryan. It is
our duty as the opposition to bring the
Democratic party to the bar Of public
Judgment, to put it upon its defense
30 Tar as we see just and substantial
grounds TO criticise its conduct and to
ask the voters Of the country to decide;
whether that party, organized as it is
represented as it has been since i.
came into power, has shown it's.
competent to govern tho country RS j,
should be governed and whether it,
spirit, it's policies, and its performance,
are the best that the American people
can do In the way Of popular self gov
eminent
In the field Of domestic affairs some
facts relevant to these questions had
already been ascertained when in Au-
gust, 1914, the great European war
began. During the year and q half of
Democratic control of government In
period Of profound peace there had
been a steady decrease in American
production, In exports and in revenues
and steady increase in imports and
expenditures. Enterprise had halted.
The Democratic tariff had been framed
upon an avowed reputation of all pro
tectlon, however moderate and reason
abe, and because all protection was
repud1ated practically all informatior
from competent witnesses as to the e.
1ect new provisions wculd have upo,
business was rejected It was wifi
just cause that the enterprise Of the
country halted. timid and irresoll1te
because 1T felt and feared the hostility
Of government
Foreign Competition After War.
Inc great war has not changed the
lesson which we had already learned
"hen 1t began. It has but obscured
further demonstration. 1t has caused
an enormous demand for some things
which the United States is able to pro
duce in large quantities. and in these
lines or production. while other indus
tries still langnis},. there have been OK
tens1ve employment OF labor, great OK
ports and great influx Of money
But this is temporary. 1t must soon
cease. and when the factories have
stopped and tlreir laborcrs are no
Longer employed we must deal with q
situation for which wise forethoucht
should make provision More impor-
tant still, the war has pnralyzcd the
peaceful industries OF all Europc and
has stopped that competitive foreign
production which In July. 1914. had al
ready entered American markets to
supersede American products under
the tariff law Of 1913. The war has
thus given to American products an
immunity from competition far more
effective than any possible protective
tariff. But that is temporary, and
when the war Is over, when foreign
production begins again, the American
market compared with impoverished