Evening star., 1916-01-03
TARIFF IS ATTACKED
EX-SENATOR BOURNE
0regonian Says War Alone
Saves Country From In
dustriaI Depression.

A statement attacking the democratic
tariff law and asserting that the war
alone is responsible for the fact that
industrial depression does not now ex-
ist on all sides in this country was
made public today by former Senator
Jonathan Bourne, jr., of Oregon, presi-
dent of the Republican Publicity Asso-
citation. In his statement Mr.. Bourne
said:
From a study of government sta
tistics covering the first two full years
under the democratic tarif. law the con-
clusion is irresistible that democratic
tariff legislation impaired our foreign
trade and injured our industries; that
the war alone brought relief, and but
for that war we would now be suffer-
ing the worst industrial depression in
the history of the nation. Secretary
of Commerce Redfield will admit this to
be true, or he will deny the value of
the evidence of his own department.
when we compare the trade of peace
periods with the trade of war periods,
and the trade of peace nations with the
trade of war nations, no other conclu-
sion is possible. We ask no man to &C
cept our deductions, but lay before the
minds of intelligent
American citizens the comparative sta
tistics. from which they can see for
themselves the demonstration that is
made.
Decrease in Exports.
During the first ten months Of the
democratic tariff October, 1913, to
July, 1910. under peace conditions,
there was net decrease of $15S, 526, ,2S9
in our total exports and net increase
of $1O1,977.779 in our total imports.
Therefore, the impairment or disrup-
tion in our international commerce had
already happened before the European
war set In during the first year of the
democratic tariff. The war months of
August and September. 1914. although
further disrupting overseas trade, did
not materially change the effect of the
democratic tariff the first year.
eliminate the countries of Europe
and we have this result of trade with
the balance of the world Cor the peace
zone):
During the last year of the republi-
can tariff our exports to all the world.
except Europe, amounted to $9S6,125
091. During the first year of the demo-
cratic tariff, under peace conditions,
our exports to the same countries
to $839,60S, ,42s: a decrease Of
$145,516.662, or 14.77 per cent from the
last year of the republican tariff Dur
ing the second year of the democratic
tariff. under war conditions. our ex-
ports to those countries amounted to
1857 .695,414: a decrease of $117.429,677,
or 11.92 from the last year of republi-
can tariff.
Balances Against United States.
During the last year of the repub-
lican tariff our imports from all the
countries Of the world Except those OF
Europe) amounted to $921,11O,2S9
During the first year of the democratic
tariff. under peace conditions. our i'm
ports from the same countries amount
ed to s1,02S.954, $40. an increase of s107,-
844, ,33l, or I'LL per cent over the last
year of the republican tariff During
the second year of the democratic tar
iff, under war conditions, our imports
from those countries amounted to ST.
126,S66,29S, an increase Of $205, ,009.
or 22.34 over the last year of the re-
publican tariff.
Trade with all the countries of the
world Except those of Europe) result
ed in balances for and against the
United States, as follows: During the
last year OF the republican tariff the
balance of trade in favor of the United
States amounted to $64.014,S S02. Dur
tariff, under peace conditions. the bal
ance of trade against US amounted to
$1SS,346,191. During the second year
of the democratic tariff, under war con-
ditions, the balance of trade against us
amounted to 1853. .170,Ss4.
1T may be asserted by the democrats
that the European war caused US to
sell less and buy more from the coun-
tries outside Of Europe during the Sec
ond year October. 1914. to September.
1870 of the democratic tariff. But
when we consider the fact that the
same situation in dur selling and buy
ing from those countries existed during
the first year of the democratic tariff
under peace conditions, how can we
blame the European war for the dual
failure of the democratic tariff either
to preserve our domestic interests or
con nfnra foreiop ma rlkefsp"