The Ontario Argus. (Ontario, Or.) 1???-1947, 1916-04-20
BLUNDERS OF THE
ADMINISTRATION
Wilson Has Failed In Foreign
and Domestic Policies.
ROOT SHOWS HIS ERRORS.

New York Republican Convention
Points Out Sins Of Democratic Com
mission and onnission-"Ws Have
Lost Influence Because We Have
Been Brave In Words and lrresolute
In Action"
In his address ms temporary chair
man OF the New York state Republican
convention. delivered In Carnegie Hall.
New York. the Hon. Elihu Root said:
We are entering upon n contest for
the election OF president and the con
troll Of government under conditions
essentially new In the experience Of
our party and OF our country. The
forms and methods which we are
about to follow nre old and familiar
but the grounds for action, the demand
of Rrent events for decision upon ma.
tional conduct. the moral forces urg.
ing 10 n solution OF vaguely outlin.
ed questions. the tremendous con.
sequences OF wisdom or folly In nation
nj policy, all these arc new 10 the great
mass OF American voters now living.
Never since 1864 has nm election been
fraught with consequences so vital 10
national life. All the ordinary consid.
erntions which play so grcnt n part In
our presidential campaigns nre and
ought TO be dwarfcd into inslgnlacance.
Democratic Party TO the Bar.
For the first time In twenty years we
enter the field as the party OF opposi.
tion. and indeed Il IN n much longer
time. for IN 1906 In all respects save
the tarlff, the real opposition 10 the
sturdy md patriotic course OF Prosl.
dent Cleveland was 10 be found In the
party that followed Mr.. Bryan. IL II
our duty as the opposition to bring the
Democratic party 20 the bar OF public
Judgment. 20 put II upon It's defense
40 fur as we see Just and substantial
grounds 60 critcise It's conduct and 20
ask the voters OF the country 20 decide
whether that party, organized as II Is.
represented MS Il has been since II
came into power, has shown Itself
competent 60 govern the country as II
should be governed and whether its
spirit. its policies. and It's performance
are the best that the American people
onn do IN the way OF popular self gov.
eminent
In the field Of domestic affairs some
facts relevant 10 these questions had
already been nscertnlned when IN Au.
gust. 1914. the great European war
began. During the year and half OF
Democratic control OF government IN
n period OF profound pence there had
been stendy decrease IN American
production, IA exports and in revenues
aud n stcady Increase In imports and
expenditures. Enterprise had halted
The Democratic tariff had been framed
upon an avowed Reputation OF all pro
tectlon. however moderate and reason.
able. ana because all protection was
repudiated practically all information
from competent witnesses as 10 the ef-
feet new provisions would have upon
business was rejected. IL was with
Just cause that the enterprise OF the
country halted. timid and irresolute.
because II felt and feared the hostility
OF government.
Foreign Composition After War.
The great war has not changed the
lesson which we had already learned
when II began. II has but obscured
further demonstration. II has caused
an enormous demand for some things
which the United States is able TO pro-
duce In large quantities, ana In these
lines OF production. while other indus
tries still languish, there have been ex-
tenslye employment OF labor. great ex.
ports and n great Influx OF money,
But this is temporary. II must soon
cease, and when the factories have
stopped ana their laborers are no
longer employed we must deal with a
situation for which wise forethought
should make provision. More impor-
tant still, the war has paralyzed the
peaceful industries OF all Europe and
has stopped that competitive foreign
production which In July. 1914. had al
ready entered American markets TO
supersede American products under
the tariff law OF 1913, The war has
thus given 10 American products an
immunity from competition far more
effective than any possible protective
tariff. But that Is temporary, and
when the war is over, when foreign
production begins again. the American
market compared with impoverished
Europe win be more than ever before
The object OF desire and effort, and we
khall become the dumping ground OF
the world 10 the destruction OF our
own industries unless that is prevented
by a wise aud competent government
How caaws Defend oursslVss2
But it is not from domestic Ques-
tions that the most difficult problems
of this day arise. The events Of the
last few years have taught MS many
lessons. We have learned that civiliza,
tion is but veneer thinly covering the
savage nature of man. How can this
nation. which loves peace and intends
justice. avoid the curse OF militarism