The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1916-03-16
Locking FOTWare

vi CCOnOiuiN AuSoNASh9 'o NAA~ ~S
presidential campaign, and to empha'
size the importance Of foreign policies
as a campaign issue. 1t is probably
true that the foreign relations oil this
Government will be in the spotlight
for many months to come, but unless
the voters OF this country are afflicted
with economic astigamatism they will
weigh carefully the questions Of our
future trade and industry before casting
their ballot. Humanity is still in the
bread and butter stage.
There are two factors Of prime i'm
portance in the consideration Of these
very practical questions; First, the
plans now being perfected abroad Tor
trade combinations; and, second the
fact that our greatest trade rival Ger
many, will emerge from the European
struggle industrially unscathed, and
with an army OF men clamoring Tor
work at any wage.
England has jettisoned her free trade
policy. During the middle Of the 18th
Century, when her mechanical inven'
tions had made il possible TO control
any market which would give free ac'
cess 10 her wares, it became highly
important that she operate under
free trade policy, condition precedent
to inducing other countries to do like
wise. The so-called school Of Man
chester, Of which Golden was the
chief exponent, inaugurated free
trade propaganda which very nearly,
but not quite convinced Germany that
open ports spelled sound economics,
and which quite thoroughly convinced
a large number Of people in this coun'
try that free trade was the proper thing.
That was during the period when
the South was purely agricultural
section. The adherence Of the South
10 this free trade conviction has les
sened in an inverse ratio as the de-
velopment OF agricultural industries
has progressed in Dixie. At that
! time the South sold large share oI
her products TO England, where they
we're made up and came back to US in
the form Of finished materials. 1t is
true statement that in many cases the
agricultural industries OF the South
we're utilized by Great Britain to break
down the manufacturing industries o.
the North. Whenever, for instance
an attempt was made TO build up ou
cotton textile industries England, with
cotton goods manufactured from South
ern raw material. would drive our cot
ton manufacturers into bankruptcy b.
dumping her goods on our market a
prices ridiculously low. That is one
Of the reasons why the protective pol
icy took firm root in the North. Blu
England fears German competition
alter the war. She was experiencing
it prior to the war. Today her retur
. to the protective policy needs but tn
' affirmative action OF Parliament. TIL
country is wellnigh unanimousl
agreed on protection.
Every student Of trade who has re
turned from Germany during the pas
year declares that the cessation Of ";
as vii! find Germany stripped to the loir
n and ready fer the biggest commercii
(. campaign ever staged on this plane
=, And Austria is going 10 do teamwor
with Germany. The two nations al
perfecting trade combinations, an
III the Governments themselves will ent
IS into active partnership in all industrie
State socialism is the plan.
7, And little Japan is saving WOO
as Her wage scale is one-twellth that
n, this country, and her industries a
h. are being unparalleled. The end
as the war will find Japan the mistress
IN the Pacific while we are still growth
en- about the seaman's act.
he In the face Of all these consideration
;s. what reasonable voter will fail 10 gi
heed to future economic policie
ID. What sensible man will cast his vc
,le for near free trade, vacilliating, the,
!, izing, impractical Democracy '
" must ship men Of affairs on our nj
w. voyage, and they will be found in I
md pap,hlc,p portv