The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-03-17

. d ,
q high degree; but. weighing my
words, | say with del:beration that
since 1864 there has been no election
comparable in its meaning and its
results to that now before US.
This is due to two facts-the I'M
paralleled condition Of the world ow-
ing to the war in Europe and the con-
duct OF the Democratic administration
which came into power on the fourth
of March, 1918.
"They began with the destruction
Of the protective tariff. shall not
argue tho question Of protection or
free trade; 1t is enough to point to re-
suits. They left our producers open
to destructive competition and the
consequences of this action were seen
before the first of August, 1914, in Ian
gushing industries, diminished en-
ployment, lowered revenues and in
creased taxation. .
The European war had two effects;
one was that 1t acted like O prohtbi-
tory tariff, by largely stopping i'm
ports from Europe, the other was that
the demand of Europe stimulated ab-
normally certain great industries and
brought to the country large sums OIL
money for their products. Despite the
protection which the war Afforded,
other industries uponwhich the war
caused no demand still remained dull
and languishing, and they have made
no preparation to meet the destruc-
tive and abnormally low.prlced COM
petition which will come with the
end of the war. III
But the Democratic party did more
than simply overthrow the protective
policy; they altered the entire sys-r
TEN Of taxation. By the Constitution
of the United States the great source
OF revenue to he found in duties on
imports was reserved to the general
government alone and it was the poll
cy of the trainers Of the constitution
and the founders OF the government to
use duties on imports as the normal
source for the national revenues. The
fields or direct taxation, except for
the excise on liquors and tobacco,
was left to the states, and 1t was tacity
understood that this field was not to
be invaded by the general government
except in times Of stress.
I'm tho period of profound peace the
Democratic party threw away large
part OF the revenues to be derived
from duties on imports, thus aban-
douing tho field reserved exclusively
to the United States, and deliberately
substituted direct taxes, in this way
Gripping the resources OF the states
and increasing the burdens upon the
people. 5
President declared that there was no
need Of any increase In the national
defenses. but as the months passed
1t became APPARENT that there was a
large body OF voters iterested in the
question Of the inationaly defense. Now
this administration is Indifferent to
and reason, but tits extreme:
ly sensitive to votes. Its taxes are
laid solely on the basis of,votes, which
are not a recognized economic princl-
pie. The voters began to look omln-
GUS on tho question OF national de-
tense; the turn-table suddenly operat
ed: national defense became lead
ing policy and was made the prtnci-
pie subject OF the Presidents message
to Congress.
wasted, nothing so far has been &C:
complished and it is to be reared
that in the end little will be done.
1--WE are told that the great cry OF
the Democratic party is to be that their
President has kept the peace and that
they welcome the issue which we have
made. The virtue Of keeping the peace
depends altogether on how it Is kept.
You can always keep the peace IL you
viii submit to any wrong, to any out.
rage, to any Oppression. Tho peace of
this country would have been far bet.
ter kept, we should be in for less dan
ger Of war today or Of war when peace
comes among the warning nations OF
europe, il we had kept 1t without hui
kept it in honor and with
out fear. "iS n ~. M N Y X s3s-s9- n