Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-14
PENROSE ATTACKS
WILSON'S TARIFF
democratic Prosperity Is
Based on a Continuation
of the War"
CRITICISM BY FoRDNEY
~ . stnr oorr..porasnl


WARRINGTON. u. g.. Dec if.--Deoiar.
Ina that Democratic prosperity IL based
On q continuation or the war" senstor PEN
rose. OF Pennayivania, today predicted that
restoration OF peace In Europe would mean
the swanping Of this country with foreign
made goods. He declared that the Ameri-
can consumption OF 10000 100000 an
nrhlly would make this market worth more
Than All the other markets OF tho world put
together.
Representative Joseph w. Fordnsy, Of
Michigan. who will be tho next chairman
Of the ways and Means Committee II the
Republicans organize Il. and Representa-
tive ]. Hampton Moore, OF philadelphia,
another strong protectionist member. both
said that goods Imported free OF duty would
cloBo many OF the industries that have
been able to operate during tho war,
Senator Penroae said
"fndustrial preparedness Ia Just ns vital
ns military and naval preparedness. The
present revenue law does not meet the
Issue in any way. II imposes onerous bur-
dens OF direct taxes and yet II is predicted
that there will be n deficit Of 5000. .0O0, 900
IN tie revenues for the next fiscal year
we are living under the Underwood 30.
called tariff law. which contains the lowest
tarif rates OF duty on imports Of any
tariff law within 100 years OF our history.
In the face OF n great deficit and under
the burdens OF direct takeR, we dellb-
erntsly have abandoned the revenue which
the extent. even In this time Of war. OF
$500, 600, 900 or $500, 100000. While all the
foreign nations are resorting 10 high pro-
tectlve tariffs. embnrgos and subsidies, we
stand naked and unprotected
The groups of beilIgorent nations at the
close OF the war will bo prevented fron
trading freely with each other by reason
OF hostile tariff barriers, and their cheap
products will be dumped Into tho American
market. which with It's consuming power Of
f1D Ia
worth all the other markets in the world
put together.
These momentous Issues were lost sight
OF BY the American people In the last cam
paign. The Berlousness OF the crisis IL illus
trated In the stock market
Not tho slightest remedy exists to meet
approaching conditions. The tariff COM
mission provision in the revenue law In In
effective IL was simply meant 60 catch
votes. The antI-dumplnR provision ls even
more absurd and Intended for the same
purpose. As peace approaches. or even as
the talk OF peace increases. we will with
incredible rapidlty approach n condition OF
Industrial. financial and business depres-
sion and adversely. IL tho Republican party
had been succeBaful In tho last election the
dlficulty would have boen bad enough, but
would not have been inBurmountable. and
we might have entertained the hope OF re-
covery.
x can see no assurance OF safety under
the policy TO which the present Democratic
Administration 10 committed.
Perhaps ths war will last a year or 10
longer and will give nn Opportunity for
tho American people to restore tho Re
publican party Rt least In Congress. Demo
cratic prosperity ls only based on n contlnu-
alton of the war"
Representative Moore thus expressed his
views:
The percentage of imports now crowdlng
into tho United States from foreign coun-