Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-05-06

erican consprators. l can say Moth
ing more true or more appropriate on
this point than was recently said IN
scathing terms by ex-President Roose-
Welt, or in these words, which ex-Sec-
retary Root said in New York the oth-
err day: For the death and outrage,
the suffering and ruin OF our own
brethren. the hatred and contempt for
our country and the dishonor OF our
name in that land, the administration
at Washington shares responsibility
with the inhuman brutes with whom 1t
made a common cause"
But. az l have said, it is not my pur-
nose to discuss these questions here to-
day. In can dismiss them briefly. so far
as any statement of my personal opin-
ions are concerned, by saying that l was
pleased by the platform of the Maine
Republicans at Portland March q, and
am in hearty accord with it on all these
issues. Its epunciation of principles In
all respects were in harmony, as 1t nap
pened, with my own. From the statement
Of position on foreign policies to those
upon State issues, and particularly in It's
clear and adequate consideration OF tne
at present somewhat obscure. the none
the less important issues OF the tarin.
A non-partisan tariff board. readJust-
ment of the tariff. all these are initial
declarations Of my own last January ana
I therefore will make no apologies TOT
asking you to turn aside with me TOT
moment to consider these subjects, as
they touch us where we live-rlght mere
in Maine, and in the other New England
states In brief. I am going to ask your
attention, therefore, while we discuss
| few things that we all know about; whlcn
we who own farms and till them, or arc
concerned in allied trades or industries
dependent on agriculture, know absolutely
| to be true.
7 have been told that this subject is Old
fashioned, that 1t has been obscured oy
the greater world progress; but l say 10
YOU that such observation Is but tempo
rarv. This world war will cease. The
trumnets will sound recall. and the men
from the trenches Of Europe Will return
To the farm and the factory. Then, my
friends. YOU will see this issue take It's
place again, not in your newspapers
alone. not alone in your politics. but IN
vour dinner pals, on your table. in your
hank accounts, and in the perplexing
nroh,ems of the solvency or the bankrupt
! ~, NJ vour business. No man knows how
| som this NAV come. There is need to be
readv for its coming. There Is pre-
| ma redne.s for peace as we'll as for war
and If that peace means the dumping
unon this land anew Of all the products
of farm and factory created by the hordes
of Europe and by Canada's underpaid
labor. YOU and I, as farmers and men OF
affairs, want to know 1t in season to vote
against it and to send men to Washington
who will register those votes where they
belong.
The Underwood tariff became a Law
October 3. 1913. The European war broke
out August J. 1914 The interim OF about
10 months affords the only accurate test
of the effect OF this law. 1t was to be
feared from its framing and it would be
a severe blow to Maine agriculture and
business. The particular purpose Of 1t:
schedules seemed to be to retain most
of the products of the South on the pro-
tected list and put most Of the products
of the North on the free list. It's oppon'
ents everywhere declared that it's effects
would be disastrous to US here in Maine
but do you know how true this predic'
ton was?
| Do any Of you appreciate now dark
and forbidding were the clouds that
hung over in those months from Oc-
tober. 1913, to August. 1914? Have
|you ever analysed conditions in that
, period to find out what this Under
wood tariff was doing to you? Have
you ever figured what 1t cost you?
These are the real questions. vital
questions-not questions that have
been settled, but questions that are
bound to recur very soon. 1t seems to
line, therefore, but fitting. nay, 1t seems
essential that in order to prepare for
peace and for the resumption Of bust
ness under this same law. when Euro
pean commerce shall have been re-
stored, that some consideration be
given 1t in this important political
) campaign. and l am therefore, going
, to take up today specifically, in as
simple and practical a way as possible
! the principal branches Of agriculture
in Maine, and discuss from facts and
: figures the effect Of this law upon
) them. I propose to show you how II
robbed ia Of orr home market. how IL