The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-10-23

thrown out Of employment and our
farmers are deprived OF Q profitable
market. there ID no recompense IAat.
ever. only total loss and with Il
untold misery and suffering. Every
million dollars worth, every hundred
million dollars worth, every billion
dollars worth Of competitive imports
displace Just so much Of American
productions, and almost the entire
value 10 matter OF wages.
The American pay roll 10 the basis
OF every possibility, opportunity and
attainment for the country and it,
people. II. therefore. We diminish or
cut of Q pay roll amounting to hun.
dreds OF millions OF dollars. the loss
Is BY no means covered by that amount
but by several times that amount, be-
cause when the purchasing power OF
one class Is destroyed, or even partly
cut of. It must affect the wages Of
second class. and that In turn Of .
third class, and so on around the In.
terpedendent circle. Our present alb.
normal prosperity, known as War
Prosperity" or Battlefield Prosper.
ity." may come to an end at any time.
or 1t may not come to an end for Q
year or 50; but the end will come. and
then We must seek different lines OF
production and we must have a profit
able market for that production or be
more or less idle and wageless.
1t is in no way a theory; it is .
practical condition and we have the
experience Of the effects and results
OF various tariffs to guide US In reach.
ing our conclusions. During the month
Of July just past and during the sew.
en- months of this year ended July.
We have increased our imports. in
many instances more than doubled
them, from every grand division OF the
earth. from Europe. from North Am.
erica. from Asia. Oceanica and Afri.
ca. There came to us during the
month of July alone imports to the
value of s1S3.O00,000, an increase of
Si0.O00.000 over July, 1915. With tho
exception OF Germany. Norway and
Mexico. there was an increase In i'm.
ports during July from every source,
as compared with a year ago.
This great volume OF goods now com.
ing into our country. to displace our
own wares, means not only loss OF
wages to the American producers, but
means an entrance to our various ports
and destruction to our various mar.
kets which will be increased continu.
ally from now on. unless there is
check put to 1t by higher tariff duties.
We do not have to wait till the end OF
the war TO feel the effect of the pres.
emit tariff law upon foreign importa.
tons. AS Speaker Clark would say,
they are already coming In. good and
plenty. and 1t may be added that they
are consumed without any accompany.
ing compensation whatever to the Am.
erican people. We are losing revenue
for the Government; we are not buy.
ing these foreign wares. when they
reach the ultimate consumer, any
cheaper: the cost of living is soaring
every day and gradually we are allow.
Ing foreign producers to get posses.
Sion OF our home markets, which can.
not be regained In single day, no
matter what sort OF tariff we may
impose. Even at best. a new law could
not be framed and put on our statute
hooks for at least a year, and during
that time between two and three bill.
lion dollars worth OF goods will be
coming to displace the products of our
farms and factories. II is we'll for
the American voter to wake I'D to this
situation and see to 1t that on No.
vembcr 7th protectionist President
and Congress is elected which will
remedy the awful and destructive con.
dition at the very earliest possible
day.