Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-08-04
TRADE WAR THREATENS
AMERICAN PROSPERITY

TRADE WAR THREATENS
AMERICAN PROSPERITY
DREMIER ASQCTTH is emphatic In
l. declaring that the post.bellum trade
plans of neither the Allies nor Great
Britain are directed against the United
States. 1t is significant, however. that
| Sir John A. Simon in the debate warned
the House ito do nothing likely to shift
| the trade center Of the world from
Great Britain to, say, America" The
with apprehension the increasing activity
OF the United States in shpbuilding, and
points out the necessity of extraordinary
efforts along the same lines by England.
The great. big, all.important fact for
Americans to take to heart just now Is
that England, although still engaged In
the great war and scarcely within the
first vision of victory, is devoting her
best brains and her best energy to
preparation for the unparalleled competi-
ton in trade which all economists with
one accord agree is certain to follow
peace.
"Our eyes have been opened" said
Mr. Asquith, "as to the meaning of the
manifold ramifications of the German
system Of economic penetration and COM
mercial and financial control OF vital in
terests." And he went on to say that
the Germans were already organizing
their industries for a vigorous, il possi-
BILE, attack on neutral markets" There
is no more hardened free trader than
am" continued the Premier, but no one
can be blind to the fact that this war,
with it's upheaval of social, political and
industrial conditions. suggests new prob.
lens and notifications in the solution Of
all problems"
MEN may die and armies crush their
4fA way along through rivers of blood.
but back of the generals and the captains,
the strategists and the tacticans, there
sit the captains of industry, and the
vision on which they set their eyes is the
business of the world. Put down, then,
| two facts as incontrovertible:
First. England and her Allies have
determined to utilize every legislative
or other device In their power. includ-
ing tariffs of all sorts and British con-
- snin IN dominate world
trade at the conclusion of the war.
Second. Germany, sensing defeat
| has already outlined a program to apply
her master efficiency to the rehabiltta-
tlon of industry by means of a competi-
tlon as ruthless as her military activity
has been.
The United States alone among the
great nations OF the world, with the
goose hanging high, fingers delighted
| in the garden OF prosperity without
thought Of the future. as if by the mere
accident of events good times were fore
ordained.
II is a paramount duty Of the Repub-
lican party at this juncture to arouse the
nation TO a realization of actual condi-
|
and it is difficult to convince citizens that
| any other condition will ever prevail.
But It is just because of this satisfaction
that Republican duty in the circum-
stances becomes the more pronounced.
The necessity for military preparedness
is real enough, but long before any hos
tile fleets approach our shores will come
the argosies of trade. laden deep with
bargains" to tempt the American buyer
and wean him from the goods produced
at home, We are not going to keep that
trade out but unless we are madmen We
are going to provide for its regulation.
for the prevention Of eut-throat compe-
tition; and the only way We can do il
is by adequate tariff legislation. Such
legislation can never be got from DEM
ocratic administration. 1t can be got
only from a Republican administration.
NOR is tariff legislation the only requi-
In site. We must have men in Washing
ton who do not see red when the words
Big Business are uttered, for If there is
anything that is true it is that We can win
and hold foreign trade only through large
aggregatiOns OF capital, vast enough to
compete on equal terms with any OF the
overseas corporations which have been
ana will be nurtuTed abroad. In business
no more than in war can shrapnel shells
overcome l4-inch guns Aye. we must
drive out OF Washington men who have
cold shivers run down their backs at the
mere suggestion OF protecting American
investments in foreign parts. This is a
business nation, and any party that acts
on contrary theory is heading itself
ana the country toward the morasses.
As convincing an argument as has yet
been formulated for the election OF Mr.,