Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-10-18

In FooiS Paradise.
But, when we consider the rela-
ton of the administration to business,
we have far more important matter
under review, and that is in con-
nection with our domestic activities.
No thoughtful student of our affairs
can fail to look with apprehension on
our present condition. What is our
present condition. American trade is
under stimulant. We are drugged
by the demand created by the Euro
pean war. We are living in fools
paradise, entertaining hopes that are
destined to be blasted. We have got
labor abundantiy employed in satisfy
ing wants created by var, that will
cease as soon as)the war is over. Why
is that! 1t is because on the other
side millions of men have been taken
out of their ordinary pursuits. They
have been taken away from agricul-
ture; they have been taken away from
industrial plants, by the million, they
have been set to fighting, and con-
suming, instead of producing. The re-
suit is a great abnormal opportunity
for American labor; and American
labor is employed on every side. Now,
in filling that demand, l do not refer
simply to munitions of war. That Is
small part. Our exports, as you
know, have been going abroad in tre-
mendous quantities to fill this gap,
created by the condition OF things in
Europe that cannot last. That labor
so employed will shortly, when the
war ends, be turned into competition
with our other labor in this country.
We have had, through this abnormal
employment on an unprecedented
scale, the purchasing power developed
in this country, by which all of our
trade has been stimulated, and men
are going about feeling prosperous
and happy, just because they are un-
der the influence of this abnormal
stimulant, the withdrawal of which
will bring them down to the actual
conditions of normal life in times Of
peace. (Applause.)
What the Future Holds.
ut is very serious situation to
consider. We shall have, as l say,
labor to compete with labor. We
shall have reduced purchasing power,
and on top Of that, we shall have the
product of Europe at peace, dis
ciplined and strong in production,
competing with our own products in
our own markets. We have stores of
gold accumulated here, as a result Of
the present condition. War factories
on the other side can be easily con-
verted, and are made so that they can
be converted, into peace factories
Those nations, every one of them, are
stronger economically because Of the
discipline that they have undergone,
and because of the knowledge that
they have acquired. They are ex-
traordinary in organization. They are
already planning for the future. We
do not seem to be planning much for
the future, They are planning for the
future. After the cessation Of the war,
there is not the slightest doubt that
they are looking to the American
markets. Now, what must we dol
Well, it is perfectly plain that we can
not do, or continue to do, what our
opponents have said they would do
and have done.
1--WE must have an application for
the benefit of American labor; for the
benefit of American agriculture and
for the benefit of American industry
of the doctrine OF a protectSS tariff
to safeguard our industries. ZAP
plause) If there were ever any op.
portunity for debate on that question
that time has passed. If there ever
twas a chance for a doctrinary discus.
sion, that time has passed. We are
facing today economic problems
which we must meet squarely accord.
ing to the facts.
Tariff Must Be Protective.
Nov, my friends on the other side
do not believe in protective tariff
, They have never believed in it. They
are little soft in their whispers now
They do not say as much as they did
, And yet they tell us in their platform
. that the Underwood bill represent.
their policy. They say they want ;
, tariff commission. ! want one. agre,
: with them. And the party represent
} wanted II first. (Applause.) We wan