Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-19
MANUFACTURERS LINE UP.

Our republican friends who had mo-
bilized the manufacturers of the coun-
try in their preparedness for grand
drive" to capture the trenches of the
democratic party, will not only be sur
prised but will be dismayed over the
fact that with practical unanimity the
manufacturers of the country are en-
dorsing President Wilson. To whom
the republicans will turn now for the
wherewithal to finance their drive"
Is problem that is puzzling the lead
ers Of the gone old party" If they
shall nominate Roosevelt, perhaps
| George W. Perkins will contribute lib
orally, but even he is not able to fill
the campaign chest with sufficient
long green" to do the job satisfac-
torily and successfully.
| The endorsement Of President Will
son by the manufacturers of the coun-
| try is no democratic fiction. 1t is an
alarming reality to the republicans.
The evidence is furnished by a letter
from Colonel George Pope, president
of the National Association of Manu-
facturers. He declares that in urging
| the establishment of tariff commits
sion, the president can expect the sup
port Of American manufacturers. They
have been held up" by the republican
politicians so long that they are doubt
less tired Of putting up their money
quadrennially with nothing but prom
ises of tariff commission that they
afterwards see is not fulfilled. For
years." Colonel Pope says, 1.-THE Ma
tional Association of Manufacturers
has been endeavoring to have a tariff
commission appointed SO that the sub
ject of tariff making might be put on
something like a scientific basis"
Continuing, Colonel Pope says in his
letter:
THE presidents sudden acceptance
Of the principle as expressed in his
two letters to Majority Leader Kitch-
in, will be received with satisfaction
by the country at large and is partic-
ularly gratifying to the National AS
ISOLATION Of Manufacturers, which, by
formal resolutions and through the
individual efforts Of its membership
embracing all shades of political opin-
ion, has urged that the tariff be taken
out Of politics.
Il have no desire to correlate the
new interest evinced by the president
toward the ascertaining Of tariff facts
with possible acute perception oil
party exigencies, nor shall l yield tt
the inclination which the occasion
might prompt, and the fashion Of the
hour invites, to apply the obvious
scriptural comments on the relative
amount of pleasure that sudden con.
version affords. | sincerely hope thai
the presidential approval of the plar
to organize non-partisan, permanent
tariff board will dispel the politica
nimbus which has so long obscured
in the minds of Mr.. Wilson's support
ers, the realization of the advantage
TO the country that such an instru
ment. established on high, patriotic
and scientific plane, would offer.
Il congratulate the president on hi.
assumption Of an economic position
which | have long felt is approved BY
; the generality Of the manufacturer.
and business men"
With Colonel Pope, president of ths
National Association Of Manufactur
, ers, endorsing President Wilson or
one hand and Republican Leader Mann
Of the house OF representatives Join
ing with Speaker Clark on the Other
; hand in supporting President Wilson.
policy on preparedness for defens,
against invasion, the republican part,
bosses are deprived Of issues upor
: which they intended to go into tn,
; campaign with hope-even If It wa!
forlorn hope-of putting It through
successfully. They are now STUN
, bling around in a dismal swamp with
, out knowing what to do or where the,
are at"