Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-08-31
aug3leodtf
popularly attributed to our economic


popularly attributed to our economic
legislation.
Remember, Mr.. Editor. that I am
quoting Senator Newlands' own words.
He continues: "It will not do to charge
that depression to the war, because
that war has become a stimulant to
production and export. and, second. be-
cause the commencement of this de-
preston antedates the European war
and was contemporaneous with our
legislation regarding the tariff, bank
ing and trade. But if that war soon
closes and our markets now protected
by the war from invasion are over
whelmed by the cheap products Of the
nations just eemrging from that war,
we may have not only an aggravated
industrial depression to meet, but
financial condition fruitful of paralyz-
ing caution"
This really sounds like Republican
calamity bowling. He continues:
"Twenty-three years experience IN
Congress has convinced me that no
political party can hope to remain in
power which adopts radical methods of
reform. We were inclined, I thought.
to go too fast and too far. My general
view was that the reduction on duti-
able articles from an average of over
AZ per cent to an average of less than
25 per cent was too great, taking away
possibly the entire margin of profit and
even more. The effect of the tariff leg
islation was what I feared it would be.
While I accept my full share of re-
sponsibility for the tariff bill. which I
with apprehension of immediate ill
effect voted for, candor will not permit
me to assert, as many of its supporters
do. that worldwide causes were at the
bottom of the general contraction of
production following it's agitation and
passage 1t is an undisputable fact
that the paralysis came before the Eu-
ropean war was inaugurated. and that
it's causes were mainly domestic
Now here is a prominent Democrat
admitting on the floor of the Senate
that he feared that the tariff act went
too far and would result in depression
of business just as the Republican
members predicted He admits that
that depression came: and that it came
before the war; that the conditions
would have been aggravated If the war
had not 1ntervened; and that if the
war should soon come to a close the
rush Of cheap imported foreign goods
would have a paralyzing effect upon
American industries. So he has volun-
tarily admitted that the Democratic
tariff would have Just the effect we
claimed 1t would If normal conditions
had continued. And Senator Newlands
stands very much higher in his party
that McGillicuddy does.
1 received yesterday a bulletin from
the Department Of Commerce entitled
Manufactures in the United States for
1914" 1t compares 1914 with 1909,
The Payne Act was passed in 1909. 1t
shows that manufactured products in
1914 increased 17.3 per cent over the
year 1909. Wages increased 19 per
cent. The average wage earned by each
laborer increased s62. The capital in
creased 23.7 per cent. Now please no.
tice this: In 1909, under the Dingley
and Payne laws, the number Of en-
ployees engaged In manufactures in
creased 796.790 or about II per cent:
while the number engaged In 1914 the
first year under the Democratic law,
the number decreased 602,46s. The in
crease in the volume of manufactures
in 1909 caused by the increase in men
employed was at the rate of s2,4s9,96s.-
$50 per year; while the decrease in 1914
caused by the decrease in numbers en-
ployed was at the rate Of $2.o75,502,1so
While the loss in wages in 1914 by the
same cause was at the rate of s349,-
oal'a4o' the gain in 1909 caused by the
large increase in the number Of en-
ployees was at the rate Of $412, ,737, 200.
1 wonder If Mr.. McGillicuddy real
ICES that this vast number thrown ou+
OF employment during the first wear of
the operation of the Underwood tariff
law exceeded by several thousand all
Of the persons employed in all of tho
manufacturing industries in the states
of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
Rhode Island. Connecticut, Delaware
Iowa, Kansas and Mississippi? Is ~
any wonder that Senator Newlands
should fear that we were in danger of
a financial condition fruitful of par-
alyzing caution?" If then, there were
over 100000 persons thrown out of eno-
pioyment In the manufacturing indus
try alone the Republican claims that
there were 100000 idle among all the
occupations was very conservative In.
deed Thus the last official report Of
the Democratic administration on in.
dustriaf conditions completely vind,.
Gates the Republican charge apsina+
the blighting effects Of the Underwood
tariff law, Mr. McGillicuddy to the CON.
trary Notwithstanding.
His other statements will, bo 40
sidered later
c. E. SMITH