Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1916-10-20

WHeH tedCe SOfneS ana ToToi9n SOm-
merciaI Considerations Look Hun
griIy Toward America, We Shall De-
serve What Happens to Us If Pro-
vision Is Not Made Against Disaster
by Tariff Quite Different From the
Underwood Folly.
There is one particular subject with
which the United States must deal
In order to meet the revulsion in pro-
duction and trade which will accom-
pany the close of the great war. That
is the Tariff. l think there is 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 compulsion
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 abun-
dance of money and vast purchasing
power. Our market has always been
attractive to European producers. 1t
will be far more attractive after the
war. 1t is highly probable that even
England will resort to protective
tariff, SO that our production will meet
protective barriers in all foreign mar
kets. What are we going to do then?
We must do something. We must pro-
tect ourselves or we shall become the
dumping ground of the world and our
workmen will beg in the streets.
Even the Democrats have seen that
something must be done, for they have
provided a tariff board to ascertain and
report the true facts to which tariff
law is to be applied. In Mr. Taft's Adj
ministration the Republicans provided
for tariff board to report to the Pres
ident and it 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 for
a tariff board to report to Congress.
There were some slight differences of
detail in the two Houses, which were
agreed upon in conference. but the
Democrats filibustered against the final
conference report and so killed the bill.
So the tariff board was dead-slain by
the Democratic party. 1t 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 if the coun-
try wants tariff for revenue only they
may put the making Of it in the hands
Of the Democratic party. But, can any
sane man contemplate that party max
ing a protective tariff? In the first
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 so long that protection is
an abuse of power and an abomination
that they can't reconcile themselves to
a protective tariff, and they regard the
Underwood tariff as a model. That is
what we are to have If the Democrats
go back-the Underwood tariff still.
with perhaps here and there a slight
some other articles which can be
shown to gentlemen from Missouri and
elsewhere. Well. if there ever was
clumsy, i'll conceived, misfit law, it is
the tariff which bears Mr.. Underwood's
name We had already discovered
what its effect was when the war in
Europe began.
Many mills and factories were closed
or running but 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
purchasing power. Enterprise halted,
discouraged and apprebensive Of the
future. New enterprises were no long
er attempted. Old plants were no long
er enlarged. The Underwood tariff
had already failed when the war in
Europe began. That war furnished
and continues to furnish to American
production the most absolute protec-
ton because it has to so great a de-
gree stopped production in Europe. So
long as 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
can't produce in sufficient quantities.
When the war is over that condition
will cease, and we shall deserve what
happens to us if we do not provide
against that time by tariff quite diff
ferent from the Underwood tariff and
made by men who do not consider
tadiff for revenue only an article of
religious faith.-From the Speech OF
Elihu Root Delivered at Carnegie Hall.