Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1916-11-02
.EUROPE'S WAR PROVES
PROTECTION IS RIGHT.
EIihu Root Shows That the Re-
publican Party's Cardinal
Principle Has Won the
Only Decisive Battle
OF the Contest.
WE PROSPER BECAUSE THE
HOME MARKET Is OUR OWN

Wien Pesee Comes and Foreign Com
nnereial Considerations Look Hun
grily Toward America. We Shall De
serve What Happens 10 Us II Pro-
vision is Not Made Against Disaster
by Tariff Quite Different From tho
Underwood Folly.
There is one particular subject with
which the United States must deal
IN order 10 meet the revulsion in pro
durtlon and trade which will accom-
pany the close Of the great war. That
IS tho Tariff | think there is very
the demand for supplies TO the armies
IN the field has ended great numbers
OF men Will return 10 productive en-
ployment in Europe and great mum
bers OF operatives will lie thrown out
OF employment here and will have 20
find other work Europe will have
little money and be heavily IN debt.
She will be under strong compulsion
10 pay her debts by making and sell
ing goods. She VIII be on basis OF
strict economy and high organization
and she can make and sell cheaply.
The United States will have an abun-
dance OF money and vast purchasing
power Our market has always been
attractive 10 European producers 1t
VIII he far more attractive after the
war II IL highly probable that even
England Will resort to protective
tariff. so that our production VIII meet
protective barriers in all foreign mar
kcts What are we going to do then?
We must do something. We must pro-
tect ourselves or we shall become the
dumping ground OF the world and our
workmen Will beg In the streets.
Even the Democrats have seen that
provided tariff board TO ascertain and
report the true facts 10 which a tariff
Iaw * TO be applied. In Mr.. Taft's Ad-
minlstration the Republicans provided
for Il tariff board to report 10 the Pres
ident and II was appointed and doing
excellent work. When the Democratic
House elected in 1910 came in they
starved 1t out OF existence by refusing
appropriations. In the last session OF
the 6lst Congress the Republicans pass
ed through both Houses a new bill for
a tariff board 10 report 10 Congress.
There were some slight differences OF
detail IA the two Houses. which were
agreed upon in conference. but the
Democrats fihbustered against the final
conference report and so killed the bill.
So the tariff board was dead-slain by
the Democratic party. It has now been
resurrected by that party because they
see that something must be done about
the tariff when the war closes Now.
we can all understand that II the cOun-
Try wants a tariff for revenue only they
may put the making of il In the hands
of the Democratic party But, can any
sane man contemplate that party max
ing protective tariff: In the first
place they can't do It honestly They
don't believe In It. They were born and
bred In different faith. They have
been crying SO long that protection IL
an abuse of power and an abomination
that they can't reconcile themselves 20
a protective tariff, and they regard the
Underwood tariff as a model. That is
what we are TO have If the Democrats
20 back-the Underwood tariff still.
with perhaps here and there Il slight
modification regarding dye stuns and
some other articles which can Ice
shown TO gentlemen from Missouri and
elsewhere. Well. If there ever was a
clumsy. i'll conceived. nisht law. II is
the tariff which bears Mr. Cnderwood's
name. We had already discovered
what its effect was when the war I'm
Europe began.
Many mills and factories were closed
or running but part 81 the time
Great numbers OF laborers were thrown
out Of employment. and the market for
American products was still further
reduced by the destruction Of their
purchasing power. Enterprise halted,
discouraged and apprebensive OF the
future. New enterprises were no long
er attempted. Old plants were no long
or enlarged. The Underwood tariff
had already failed when the war in
Europe began. That war furnished
and continues 10 furnish 10 American
production the most absolute protcc-
ton because 1t has 10 so great do
gree stopped production IN Europe. So
long az the war lasts our producers
have practically no competition in Our
home market. for Europe does not
make the goods 10 sell here At the
same time. while the war lasts our
producers have an enormous market
In Europe for the things that Europe
can't produce I'm sufficient quantities
When the war is over that condition
Will cease. and we shah deserve what
happens TO us II we do not provide
against that time by tariff quite diff
ferent from the Underwood tariff and
made by men who do not consider
tadiff FOR revenue only an article of
religious faith.-From the Speech of
Elfbu Root Dglfvere1 ~ Carpooio IIon