New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-11-05

trsordinarv stimulus to American labor
throughout the country, without de-
vcloping many opportunities which
g. .uld not otherwise exist 81,
"No thoughtful nan can suppose That
those opnortunities will outlast the war
tbat cave birth 70 them. No one can
sunnose that when these men who are
nov fighting I'M the trenches go back o.
work we shall find the chances Tor
American labor that we now enjoy.
Labor is doomed TO have a serious dis
sppoiutment unless 1t IS properly pro-
tected. ...
chic homes Of American enterprises
so far as thew are based upon the Euro
mean war cannot fail to be frustrated
when that war comes to us close. Ana
what sort of suggestion do we nave
from our opponents when we direct al
tention to these matters In the hrst
Mace they affect 20 make light OF the
situation. They speak OF the alertnes;
ana resourcefulness OF America, ana
seem 20 believe, or 20 be VIKING 10 nave
others believe, thet we are not IN any
CANCER from a serious competition from
"a new Europe arising from tAls contest
TO conduct it's enterprises OF peace.
Cannot Deceive People
mo one can be deceived by remarks
~ thar character. We know that on
Tho other side the raw materials are
untouched practically by the war. We
krov tbat the industrial plants are VIZ
tuaIly untouched by the war. We know
tbat i'm Great Britain, We know that IN
Coruanv and in Austria-Hungary, ana
in Russia the industrial plants nave
not been affected BIZ the war !,
CIT is only in "A very small area IN
Rolqium and Northern France, wnere
industrial plants have been affected by
the war. On the other hand, great
nIants have been established. Ihese
nlapts arc readily changed into manu-
featuring products Ior oo"S"'P'''" ~
time Of peace.
"Tbe nations abroad have carefully
MANNED. and are now. IN the midst OF
their great strife, planning, for the
DAYS of peace, 10 secure IN every way
Inc highest industrial efficiency, and
would have great efficiency and re
sources II peace were at once resumed
They would have resources in mate
rails and men equal 10 those when
they had at the beginning OF the war
"Tbe increase in the number OF those
men coming into industrial age eN-
cccds tho number OF those VINO, &C,
cording 10 the most trustworthy ana
reliable statistics, have been killed or
permanently disabled.
A Prosperity Dream
1T is a dream. this idea. Of the per-
manonce Of our prosperity. unless II
is properly ssfeguarded by adequate
national policies. Every nation abroad
is looking to the time when II VIII
protect its own industries and safe
guard its own activities, and viii at
tempt 10 push its surplus products into
American markets.
"What is the United States 70 do?
Why. we are told we should have GILL
cheney. I agree with that We are
told that we should have skill. or
course we should have skill. We are
told that We should perfect our meth
DDS. We certainly should perfect our
methods in every possible way. When,
however, you have efficiency TO match
the efficiency OF the nations abroad,
which has been developed TO such a
considerable degree through this war,
when you have skill to match the skill
and discipline shown abroad. when you
have methods perfected here to equal
the perfection of methods which has
been arrived at in the countries abroad
then still you have something lett to
consider.
THAT something left IS the price of
labor in those nations, as compared
with the price of labor here. When
the opportunities created by this war
end labor now satisfying these unusual
demands will be turned 10 compete with
other labor equal TO the satisfaction OF
normal demands. Then, American en-
terprise, which has been artihcially
stimulated by these conditions. Will
have TO be adjusted to meet the new
exigencies which will arise.
"And this keen competition from
these nations will have to be met after
taking into consideration the lower
labor cost at which they produce their
goods. It is a plain proposition. IL
Is a proposition that should be as
plain TO Democrats as 1t is 70 Re-
publicans. The proposition is this:
THAT under those conditions where
there is diferentIal of labor cost
against US, the products abroad seek
ing this market will be sold here TO
the disadvantage of American products,
or the wages OF American labor Will
be reduced
VIII Protect Labor
owe propose to protect the oppor-
tunities Of American enterprise. We
propose to protect the wages OF Amer
lean workmen. We propose to protect