Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-10-30
EUROPE'S WARPR0vFS
PROTECTION IS RIGHT
EIihu Root Shows That the Re.
publican Party's Cardinal
Principle Has Won the
Only Decisive Battle
Of the Contest.

OIhy DECISIVE batlle
Of the Contest.
We PROSPER BECAUSE the
HOME MARKET IS OUR OWN /
When Peace Comes and Foreign Com.
msreiaI Considerations Look Hun. I
sriIy Toward America, We Shall b.
serve What Happsns to We II Pr.
vision 10 Not Made Against olsassr
by Tariff Quite Different From IN
Underwood Folly.
There Il one particular subject viii i
which the United States must deal
In order to meet the revulsion In Pm
duction and trade which will accom-
pany the close Of the great war. That
is the Tariff. think there 10 very
general agreement upon that. When
the demand for supplies to the armies
in the field has ended great numbers
Of men will return to productive EN-.
ployment in Europe and great num-
bers of operatives will be thrown out
Of employment here and will have to
find other work. Europe will have
little money and be heavily In debt
She will be under strong compulsiou
to pay her debts by making and sell
ing goods. She will be on basis Of
strict economy and high organization
and she can make and sell cheaply.
The United States will have an abua-
dance Of money and vast purchasing
power. Our market has always been
attractive to European producers. II
will be far more attractive after tho
war. 1t Is highly probable that even
England will resort to q protective
tariff, so that our production will meet
protective barriers in all foreign mar
kets. What are we going to do thsna
We must do something We must pro.
tect ourselves or we shall become the
dumping ground Of the world ana our
workmen will beg in the streets.
Even the Democrats have seen that
something must be done, for they have
provided tariff board to ascertain and
report the true facts to which tarin
law is to be applied. In Mr.. Taft's Ad
ministration the Republicans provided
for a tariff board to report to the Pres
ident and 1t was appointed and doing;
excellent work. When the Democratic
House elected in 1910 came In they
starved it out Of existence by refusing
appropriations. In the last session Of
the 61st Congress the Republicans pass
ed through both Houses new. bill foi
a tariff board to report to Congress
There were some slight differences Of
detail In the two Houses. which wer
agreed upon i'm conference. but th,
Democrats flibustered against the 6nal
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 tariff for revenue only they
may put the making Of 1t in the hands
Of the Democratic party. But can any
sane man contemplate that party max
Ing a protective tariff? In the frs
place they can't do It honestly. They
don't believe in It They were born and
bred In a different faith. They have
been crying 50 long that protection 10
an abuse Of power and an abominatior
that they can't reconcile themselves Il
q protective tariff, and they regard tn.
Underwood tariff as a model. That Il
what we are to have II the Democrats
60 back-the Underwood tariff still,
with perhaps here and there a slight
modification regarding dye stuffs and
some other articles which can b.
shown to gentlemen from Missouri ani
elsewhere. Well, II there ever was
clumsy, I'll conceived, misfit law, It Il
the tariff which bears Mr.. Underwood.
name. We had already discovered
what Its effect was when tho war In
Europe began.
Many mills and factories were closed
or running but q part Of 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
power. Enterprise halted,
discouraged and apprehensive of the
future. New enterprises were no long
er attempted. Old plants were no long.
er enlarged. The Underwood tarin
had already failed when the war in
Europe began. That war furnished
and continues to furnish to American
the most absolute protec.
ton because It has to so great . de
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 to sell here At the
same time, while the war lasts our
producers have an enormous market
In Europe for the things that Europe