Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1916-02-16

Continued from Page One)
tariff laws should be based. Mr. Root
said, had been driven out of business and
no substitute provided. At Washington
he declared, there was a nervous dread
lest somebody make money" AMI ENVY
of business success" was an element in
the framing of legislation and the admin
istration of the laws. Mr.. Root continued:
THE great war has not changed the
lesson which we had already learned
when It bagan. It has but obscured fur
Their demonstration. II has caused an
enormous demand for some things which
the United States is able 10 produce in
large quantities, and in these lines of pro-
luction, while other industries still Ian
guish, there have been extensive employ
ment of labor. great exports AMI great
influx of money. But this is temporary.
Il must soon cease, and when the fac
tories have stopped and their laborers are
no longer employed we must deal with
situation for which wise forethought
should make provision.
Peaceful Industries ParnIyxed.
more important still. the war has par
alyzed the peaceful Industries OF all Eu-
rope, and has stopped that competitive
foreign production which in July. 1914.
hal already entered American markets to
supersede American products under the
tariff law of 1913. The war has thus given
to 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 impov-
erishe Europe. will be more than ever
before the object OF desire and effort
and We shall become the dumping ground
of the world to the destruction of our
own industries unless that is prevented
by wise and competent government"
Mexican Policy il BunEIe.
Taking up foreign relations, Mr.. Root
said that for the first time within the
memory of men now living these rela-
tons ARE recognized as vital" He took
up first the Mexican problem, reviewing
the situation when President Wilson was
inaugurated.
His luty then was plain" Mr.. Root e.
clare 1T was, first to use his powers
as present to secure protection for the
lives and property OF Americans in Mex
leo. and to require that the rules of law
and stpulations of treaties should be
observed by Mexico toward the United
States and its citizens. His duty was,
second, as the head of a foreign power
to respect the independence of Mexico,
to refrain from all interference with its
internal affairs. from all attempt at dom
ination, except as he was justified by
the law Of nations for the protection of
American rights.
nrasidan.
failed to observe either Of those duties.
He deliberately abandoned them both and
followed an entirely different and incon-
sistent purpose. He interviewed in Mexico
to aid one faction in civil strife against
another. lie undertook to pull down
Huerta and set CarraRza up in his place.
Huerta was in possession. He claimed
to be the constitutional president of Mex
leo. He certainly was the de facto presi-
dent of Mexico Rightly or wrongly, good
or bad, he was there
With the occupation of Vera Cruz the
moral power Of the United States in Mex
leo ended. We were then and we are
now hated for what we did for our feeble
and irresolute failure to protect the lives
and rights OF our citizens. No flag is so
dishonored and no citizenship os little
worth the claiming in Mexico as ours.
And that is why we have failed in Mex
leo.
And for the death and outrage, the
suffering and ruin of our own brethren,
the hatred and contempt for our country.
and the dishonor OF our name i'm that
land, the administration at Washington
shares responsibility with the inhuman
brutes with whom il made common
cause"
European Policy Inadequate.
Mr.. Root turned TO the administration S
European policy. declaring that some of
the people were dissatisfied for specific
reasons some with vague impression
that our diplomacy has been inadequate.
AZ this point in his address the speaker
enumerated what he declared were the
administrations three fundamental er-
rors.' As TO the first OF these-"lack OF
foresight to make timely provision for
backing up American diplomacy by &C
tual or assured military and naval force
Mr. Root pointed TO Immediate mobil-
ization by Switzerland and Holland, and
continued:
"Our ordinary knowledge OF European
affairs made 1t plain that the war was
begun not by accident. but with purpose
which would not soon be reIinquished
Ordinary knowledge Of military events
made IL plain from the moment when the
tide OF German invasion turned from the
battle Of the Marine that the conflict was
certain To be long and desperate. Ordi.
nary knowledge Of history-of our own
history during the Napoleonic wars
made Il plain that in that conflict neu-
tral rights would be worthless unless