Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-09-01

they had, seemed like the very irony
OF fate. The best employment agen-
cies we have had in a half century
have been republican protective tariff
measures, such as bore the name OF
William Mckinley and others.
With the loss of work and wages
under the Wilson administration the
public revenue diminished, the Under
wood law proved not only disastrous
to labor, but failed as a revenue pro-
Queer. The melancholy experienced
Of the years following the repeal of
the Mckinley law were being repeat
ed under the Underwood enactment;
the experiences of the years begin
ming with 1893 were being repeated in
1918. Hope was fast dying out when
all Christiandom was shocked by the
European war. Demands from the
belligerent nations were made upon
US for urgent military requirements;
our idle men were recalled to. the
fields OF industry, our foreign com
merce rose to colossal figures and the
golden currents sought our shores;
prosperity returned to US in many
quarters--not because Of democracy,
but in spite Of it. 1t Is not the pros
perity Of peace; it is not prosperity
thoroughly diffused throughout the
country; It is the prosperity Of war,
based upon the misfortunes Of 9th
ers; it is a prosperity which is known
to be but temporary; there Is no
thought OF permanence in it; all is
spectacular, artificial, ephemeral.
After the War.
"There is no observer who does not
know that when the war ceases and
the contest is transferred from the
trenches to the factories, an unprece-
dented war Of markets will be on.
Our standard of wages and living will
be matched against the lower wage
and living standards Of other coun-
tries more sharply than ever in our
past history. .
THE protective tariff when again
adopted by the republican party must
prove our safeguard. The democratic
free trade measure was disastrous TO
our industries and public revenues be-
fore the war began. Upon what
theory, based upon rational judg-
ment, can we assume that we shall
have a more favorable experience
when peace is again restored than we
had in the midst of peace, when de-
mocracy overthrow our industries9
For a Merchant Marine.
I'VE are opposed to government
owned or government-operated
merchant marine. Such a merchant
marine is violative Of sound govern
mental policy; it will prove expensive
and serve to- check individual enter
prise from entering one Of the most
important fields OF our national de-
velopment. In the face Of the tre-
mendous drains upon the national
treasury it is unfortunate indeed that
the democratic party has seen fit to
project the government into the pur-
chase Of. merchant ships and to the
expenditure of so vast sum of
money as II now contemplates. With
favoring laws sufficient private capi-
tai will be invested to enable us to
construct in American ship yards and
with American labor all the merchant
vessels required to give us our right
full place in the ocean carrying trade
OF the world. Although we sorely
need great merchant marine we
should not seek it, as the democratic
administration proposes, by contra
,vening sound national policies.
I'VE are resolved to restore econ
omy in government. Our democratic
friends have repeatedly pledged them
selves to economy in public admins
,tration, but when in, power have been
extravagant and reckless. Some of
the strongest democratic leaders have
denounced the extravagances of their
party, but have been impotent to give
us relief. Economy is in democratic
platforms, but il seems to have no
place in democratic administrations.
Our External Policy.
"We believe unqualifedly in the
maintenance Of firm foreign policy
doing justice to others and demand
ing like justice for ourselves. This
is the siIrest method of repait,ino the