Omaha daily bee., 1916-09-29
Why Mr.. Hughes Should
Be Elected

Z. Wilcox, -
Chairman Republican National COMMITTEES

Mr.. HUGHES, it seems to me; does wei wea to to
4v1 emphasize the importance OF the tariff as
a potential issue of this compaisn The
tariff question has been a vital issue since the
foundation of the government, and 1t must con-
tnue to be a political issue so long as we are
divided on the best means OF raising revenue and
| upon the question of what, il any, imposition OF
duties is necessary to protect our labor and in
dustry. Fortunately, we do not have to do any
guessing whatever in the matter. We have not
only the experience OF a century and quarter
under various tariff laws but we have, to guide
US at the present time, full ten months OF expe-
rience under the operation OF the present Under
wood tariff.
Those ten months, before the war broke out,
proved to US that, like every other low tariff in
our history, the Underwood law was a failure
from both the standpoint of revenue and OF in
suring work for the American people. Without
sufficient revenue, without sufficient work and
without any compensation whatever in de-
crease OF the cost of living, the verdict must
be pronounced that, from every standpoint, the
law was failure.
But we do not have to stop with the operation
OF the law during those ten months. There is
the absolute result that since the foreign war
broke out the present democratic low tariff, in
spite OF the fact that all the large producing
countries OF the earth are at war with each other.
has opened our markets to greater volume OF
foreign productions than ever was known before
in our history. In the last fiscal year our i'm
ports increased month after month by record
breaking figures, and If such volume OF foreign
wares come in under the conditions Of the last
two years what, ask, may we expect will happen
when the war is overl
food OF goods may then come from the nations
now at war. Whatever imports do come from
those countries will be in addition to the i'm
mense volume Of goods that even now are COM
ing to our markets. When the millions abroad
now under arms return to their homes and take
up their various trades with eagerness to sell in
the one great profitable market OF the earth the
United States. what may we expect-and, may
add, dread--as to the result and the effect on our
own labor -. ~ ''
When the war ceases and our own laborers
who are now employed in making munitions are
idle, when our mills cannot turn to the produc
tion of domestic wares because our markets are
filled with the more cheapy produced foreign
fabrications then we shall get the true measure
Of just what the Underwood tariff means to the
labor and industry OF the United States. 1t is
bad enough as 1t is, 1t must be worse when the
war is over. How much worse we can only
look forward to with anxiety and fear Foreign
nations are now sending US more than $2,000,-
0000 worth OF goods year. We may well ex-
pect that volume to be greatly increased when
the great producing countries now at war get to
work again and look eagerly to our markets
ably send their goods. -.
II there were any compensation whatever;
IL we were getting sufficient amount of reve-
nue., together with ordinary internal revenue, to
support the government; II our people were
buying the necessary articles Of shelter, clothing,
food and comfort cheaper, then there might be
some argument for the free-trader to advance in
favor OF opening our ports freely to foreign pro-
sductions. But nothing is cheaper today The
cost Of living is higher than ever and we are
we'll within a reasonable estimate when we say
that we are losing more than $l00000000 year
in revenue. In 1910 1911, 1912 1918 our customs
receipts averaged $3200O0,000 year; in the last
two. years they. have averaged $2l0000,000.
1t seems to me we'll, then, as said at the ;
outset that we should emphasize daily the inn
portance of consideration of the tariff question
as one OF the great issues OF this campaign. We
are emphasizing Americanism; we are empha-
sizing preparedness in military and naval
strength; we are emphasizing loyalty to the Stars
and Stripes. Why should we, then not empha-
size fiscal policy which is the foundation for
all, which means work and wages and high
standard OF living; which means comfort and
convenience; which means educaton which
means progress in every human endeavor? Why,
say, should we not emphasize in this campaign
the absolute necessity for change in our tariff
policy II we. are to continue to be nation OF
strength and prosperity. nation Of independence
and .progresse