The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-11-04
Editorial Comment
on Current Subjects
ALL ISSUES DEPEND ON TARIFF.
From the Chicago Herald,


There is not single issue OF this
campaign that Is not connected with
and largely dependent on tho tariff
question. For instance, our internal
revenue and direct taxation would not
enable use to take care Of the appro-
priations for preparedness and nation
al defense In addition to ordinary eX.
penses Of the government. unless the
people and business concerns OF the
country were able to respond to tho
demands Of the government.
When the war is over and we are
thrown upon our own resources en-.
tirely, and dependent almost. wholly
upon our own markets, then II we are
to be kept at work with resultant
wages and profits for all concerned,
we must have tariff adequate to pro
tect those markets.
America cannot BIO first and eff.
cient; we cannot be prepared for peace
or war; we cannot have defenses that
would save US in time Of peril, il We
have revenue unless the people are
able to pay, and people without work
are not able to pay exorbitant taxes
such as are imposed today upon all
classes in the United States. Not only
Is the question Of Americanism and
preparedness and national defense
and kindred subjects absolutely de.
pendent upon the tariff, but the issue
which has become SO prominent, and
which is wrongly called the eight.hour
issue, but which properly is the wage.
increase issue, Is also absolutely de.
pendent upon the tariff.
The railroads of the country can.
not pay in wages an extra fifty or six
ty million dollars q year unless their
receipts are sufficient to meet this
increased wage. Already some forty
thousand miles Of the railroads Of this
country are In the hands OF receivers
and perhaps as great a mileage are
paying no dividends whatever. Only
a few roads are at present extending
their LINES or equipment, none beyond
what is absolutely necessary. II the
war should cease and business should
fall of and both passenger and freight
transportation decline still further, It
would be impossible for the railroads
to pay increased wages, or In any way
lessen the hours Of labor of their en-.
ployeesI or any part Of them.
The latest and what is being looked
upon as one Of the most important is.
sues Of the campaign, then, is absolute
ly dependent for its beneficial consum.
nation upon our having an adequate
tariff when the war abroad comes to
an end.
Our railroads cannot be prosperous
unless our farmers and manufactur.
ers are prosperous, and that means
also the forty million people who are
engaged In gainful occupation. Meth
er railroads nor mills, nor farms, nor
mines can be operated at a loss and
pay dividends or wages or exorbitant
taxes to the government. We must
have prosperity II we are to have
progress and We cannot have prosper.
ity II we are idle and allow the produc-
Ing nations OF the earth with their
cheap labdl' to do our work for US. So
1t seems that we are justified in say.
ing that the tariff is tho paramount is
sue OF this campaign.
1t is the most important question be.
fore the American people. and there Is
no question whatever that IL we con.
tinue under the present tariff for five
years longer, as we would II Mr.. Will
son were reelected. we must suffer
the consequences which are not to be
estimated or even guessed at.
The fact is that all questions con.
corning our national existence depend
largely, II not wholly, on the nature of
our tariff. We cannot advance in any
direction unless as a nation and as in.
dividuals we have surplus besides
the necessaries OF life. Our internal
revenue, our corporation and income
tax, in fact all our taxes, cannot begin
to be adequate to meet our require.
ments unless we are busy and prosper.
Gus. So in every instance we must
look to protection to save US from
idleness and failure and poverty-and
protection cannot come unless we i'm.
pose customs duties upon imports
equal to the difference in cost Of pro.