Evening journal., 1916-10-19

Congressman Thomas W. Miller
took some vigorous raps at the
record Of the Wilson Administration
in his speech at the Republican rally
at Centreville.
"Our opponents claim that the pros
porous condition of the country to-
day is due TO their party and leaders,"
said Mr. Miller. III they claim this,
they then must take responsibility for
the European war. Until the war
started this country was operating
under and at the mercy OF the Under
wood tariff law. which was in opera
ton sufficiently in advance OF the time
the conflict started to demonstrate
not only its failure as a revenue pro-
Queer. but its still more utter failure
as a stimulant for American industry
and labor.
DO we need recall the industrial
depression existing in the city OF VIII
mington during the year 1914. and
during the first year of the Demo-
cratic tariff law? The condition ex-
listing in our locality at election time
two years ago was serious and dis
heartening II there is any locality
in the United State that should not
be fooled by the prosperity cry OF
the Democratic party. il Is this one.
The greatest producing nations of the
globe were turned into consuming ma
tons almost over night. by the great
war. and they turned to this country
to buy.
Let us consider the export figures.
For the fiscal year before the wa'
started. 1913 to 1914. we exported in
sixteen different articles. S7S3 900, 600
worth of goods. and for the same ar
ticles for this last year just ended and
during the first eighteen months OF the
war. a grand total OF S2,S29, 00O0 600,
or an increase in exports OF over two
billion and one hundred million.
"In explosives alone. an article In
which this locality is especially in
terested. the increased value OF OK
ports jumped from six million the
year before the war TO $i67 100000
last year.
War Brought Prosperity.
when our opponents want to shoe
a comparison they must 30 back TO
normal times during the year proceed
ing the outbreak of the great war. and
which was the first year under DEM
ocratic control and the Underwood
law. Is any better argument needed
than the figures just cited and the
conditions in our own locality, both
before and after the war started. than
10 show the utter fallacy OF the claim
that the prosperity OF the country is
due to the Democratic party.
Another cry was the extravaganza
"a Hr -
Congress in control OF the Democratic
party. after the Republicans we're de-
feated, exceeded in appropriations by
over one hundred million dollars any
previous Congress.
During the Sixty-third Congress,
which was absolutely controlled by
the Democrats. with President VIII
son in the White House. there was
appropriated for the fiscal year end
ing June 30. 1915. a grand total OF
S1.114.000. 5000. OF this sum. S256.000.
900 was expended in the army, navy
and fertilization appropriation bills
the measures that in the next session,
the one just closed, that came to be
known as the preparedness bills
Record Of Extravaganza.
During the first session OF the Six
ty-fourth Congress, the session just
closed, the total appropriations
amounted TO s1,630. 100000. OF an in
creae over the previous session OF
S515,OO0.00O over a half billion OF ina
crease.
an the session just closed. the in
creased appropriations for the army
and navy and coast Notifications, the
soLcallsd preparedness measures.
amounted to $349.00O,000 over and
above the appropriations in the prev
ious session for the same purposes
But the difference between the total
expenditures of the two sessions, both
under Democratic control. is S515,-
100000. I mention these figures and
comparison to demolish the utterly
false assertion Of our opponents that
the increase in appropriations is
due TO the preparedness measures
What Is the explanation OF the little