Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1916-11-17
PROTECTIVE TARIFF IS NEEDED.


City Gumbel Bldg, Kansas City, MO.
PROTECTIVE TARIFF is NEEDED.
The election is over and the free
trade party won, but Just the same,
the tariff is not settled. The news of
every day emphasizes the fact that
this country simply must get back to
a protective tariff basis, not only to
produce revenue but also as a measure
of defense for our industrial institu-
tons and the men dependent upon
them for living.
Yesterdays news dispatches con-
tanned note Of alarm for those who
are giving the matter serious thought.
II was the message from the United
States commercial attache at the
American embassy in London who re-
ported that the proposed British high
tariff for use after the war will work
hardship upon American manufac-
turers who export to Britain. This
hardship may be so severe that it will
compel the American manufacturers
to build branch factories In England,
said the attache.
Now analyze the situation portrayed
by the attache and it is apparent at
once that Great Britain's new tariff is
going 10 stop competition between
Americans and Britons for the British
market. In other words, Great Britain
is going to preserve the British trade
for the British manufacturers. If
American manufacturers want to con-
tinue doing business in Britain, they
will have to build branch factories
there: if they do that. it can only
mean that the American factories will
either be closed completely or in part.
Can you figure it out any other way?
But the shutting up of the factories
in America that do export business is
not the chief menace the situation pre-
sents. Experience shows that indus
tries flourish under protection Very
well then, when the Britons find them
selves protected in their own market
from outside competition, they will
Immediately begin expanding in order
to extend their markets. And the gov
eminent will help them in this as
much as possible because it is imper-
alive that industrial activity in Eng
land be intensified SO that the war
debt can he paid.
The neople of England are being put
through course of training under the
stern stress of war necessity. that is
teaching them efficiency and frugality
such as they have never exhibited or
known before Under any circum-
stances they would be dangerous CON-
petitors. but with the tariff preserving
their own market, and with low tar
if or no tariff barring them from
American markets, just imagine what
will be the result
Without question, the protected
Britains could put the American man.
ufacturers out of business. With light
labor costs and no tariff duties to pay,
and with efficiency in industrial meth
DDS which we cannot equal. they will
be able to undersell our manufacture
ers in spite of any claim TO the con-
trary.
When that happens. it means Ameri-
can factories will have to close up. 1t
means that American workingmen
will lose their jobs. 1t means suffer
ing, hard times. panic and disaster.
And lastly it means a return to the
protective tariff because under such
circumstances tariff is necessary be-
fore American manufacturers can
make profit. And if they don't make
a profit they cannot and will not do
business. You wouldn't either
There are rumors that President
Woodrow Wilson sees the danger in
a low tariff and is considering a pro-
tective tariff to become effective after
the war. If he adopts protection then
he will have wiped out the fundament-
al difference between republican and
democrat and the republicans who
voted for Hughes will get at the hands
of Hughes opponent that for which
they commended.
And furthermore, if Wilson turns to
protective tariff principles then in.
deed will there be basis for the claim
that the recent election abolished
party lines, for then 1t could be truth
fully said that the democrats had
stolen the CHIEF thunder of the repub-
Mean party-the protective tariff,
which stands for prOSperity