The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1916-05-04
BIG FOUR
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at-large at the national convention
which will assemble at Chicago on
June Z, to nominate a Republican
candidate for president of the United
States. We are here to choose men
who will have voice, and Just pos
sibly controlling voice, in naming
the man who must win in Novem-
Der.
"our responsibility here in acting
for the great little state OF West Viz
ginia is very grave one. That re-
sponsibility is in exact ratio to the
gravity OF the issues that will con-
front the new administration, and It
is well that we should look with
clear eyes far enough into the future
to see what those issues will be and
act accordingly. The war will surely
end during the term of our next pres
ident. The REIMBURSEMENT of inter-
national affairs will create an emer-
gency with which the new admins
tration must deal, an emergency
mere acute than any other that has
confronted our country in your time
or In mine. There are but few men
big enough, strong enough. and wise
enough to manage that job, and l am
loyal enough to believe that those
few are all in the Republican party.
"There will follow this old world
struggles of arms another struggle,
which will be worldwide and bitter
to the last degree. 1t will be war
fare OF diplomacy, of craftsmanship,
and the stake will be the worlds
commerce, and more especially the
commerce of the United States. Ev-
cry nation of the globe down to the
smallest unit will be involved. The
welfare and prosperity of every one
Of them for years to come will de-
pend upon how we'll it Is prepared.
They will hinge upon the courage
with which it faces, the wisdom with
which 1t deals with that emergency.
"Are we prepared today? Could we
than Woodrow Wilson, William G.
ter defense than the Underwood bill,
with no better business generals
than Woodrow Wilson, Williams G.
Redfleld and Josephus Daniels?
"Why, the only thing that saved
the face OF Mr.. Wilson'S administra-
ton was the intervention OF the war.
AS early as the spring Of 1914, DEM
ocratic policies enacted into law had
begun to sap away the life blood Of
American business and American
prosperity. We were headed straight
for one more period Of distressing
low tariff prostration. Everything
was perfectly staged for another per-
Torrance of the tragedy of 1894.
1.-THE war broke out. The worlds
commerce was disrupted. Eventually
importations of foreign goods into the
United States almost ceased, partly
as the result Of blockades of the seas,
and partly because of the tremendous
war cost Of producing goods in Eu-
rope. We have been compelled to
fall back upon our own resources to
supply all the legitimate wants of
life, and l think we have shown our
Democratic friends just how well we
can take care of ourselves when we
have the chance.
II only wish had the time to tell
you something OF the amazing things
that have already been done in the
way of establishing new industries,
in the production of raw materials
and finished products that We have
always been told we must buy from
Europe or do without. Yet what has
been done Is only suggestion OF
what might be dAne in that direction.
at Is not too much to say 1t has been
demonstrated that our country Is SO
self contained, so self sufficient that
we could prosper amazingly and In
definitely II we were never permitted
to spend dollar beyond our borders.
THE holding of our markets, plus
sales of great magnitude to Europe
have created national prosperity, and
have headed off the Democratic pro
gram Of stagnation and distress. The
astounding feature of the situation Is
that the spokesman Of the admins
tration. are claiming credit for this
prosperity as a vindication of Demo
cratic policies. They might with the
same proporiety. claim credit for the
sunshine and the rains that made
the big crops last year. The only
u logical deduction from their claims Is
that the Democrats started the war
But the basic truth is that the wal
4 lis operating as an accidental, artificial
tariff, and is demonstrating every day
the soundness of Republican tariIl
; doctrine.
Eve are, but enjoying today
J. through Europe's calamity. what we
might always enjoy under normal
conditions if our country would per
nit the Republican party to MAKE
a tariff law and then stick to 1t.
THE problem. confronting the mex
administration will be to hold fasl