Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-10-28
ANTLDUMP|NG LAW!
. CALLED ''FARC|CAL"
Mr.. Hughes Criticises Presi-
dent Wilson's Plan of Meet
/ ing Foreign Competition.
CONDITIONS AFTER WAR

Charles E. Hughes last night replied
to statements in President Wilson's
Cincinnati speech concerning prepara-
tfons to meet commercial competition
following the war.
Mr.. Hughes told an audience here
that the administration views reminded
him of it's views on preparedness in
December. which were afterward
changed; that he considered the anti
dumping provision of the revenue bill
intended to meet the situation as far
cical" and worse than useless" to pro-
tect American workmen, and that even
If the percentage of exports of COM
modities to supply armies was small,
1t required but very little Ito contract
or destroy the prosperity of the coun-
try"
Mr.. Hughes addressed an audience
that cheered him repeatedly. He told
them that. as he had been while Gov
eornor of New York, he was now, and
should be in the future; that he was
willing to stand or fall by what he
believed to be right.
1t was said in December 1914" Mr.
Hughes asserted. that America was
ready; that any suggestion to the con-
trary was thoughtless. but. in truth.
said with refereice to the commercial
rivalry. that America is ready l think.
In truth. that America is far from
ready, and that we shall not be ready
until We have clearer notion of what
we may expect"
Cites Statistics of Imports.
Mr.. Hughes cited statistics of i'm
ports in answer to the Presidents
declaration that everything exported
from the United States to supply armies
does not total per cent of the total
of American commerce. After stating
breadstuffs, iron and steel, cotton and
other commodities. Mr.. Hughes declar-
ed that expectations of explosives. in
Guiding cartridges, had increased from
with an increase in total exports of
S2,000.080.00o He said he was "amaz ed
at the suggestion that it was such a
small percentage that sit could hardly
affect the great remaining percentage"
why, II you had the greatest dis
tress in this country" Mr.. Hughes said,
you would still have tremendous
volume of commerce and trade. 1t does
not take much to contract the prosper
ity of this country. to destroy the pros
perity of this country. The great per-
centage of our exchanges and of our
commerce would continue, if we were in
very serious straits.
when you infuse this abnormal de-
mand to which I have referred, you
have given a stimulus which undoubt-
eddy is felt throughout the country, and
when you have a policy carried into eff
feet. such as was involved in the I'm
derwood bill, the contraction result
ing from that policy, although perhaps
q small percentage, was enough to send
hundreds and thousands of working
men into the street.
Counsels Protection of Industry.
Let .us not deceive ourselves. Let us
take account OF what Is necessary for
the protection of our industry and let
us have It understood that we are do
ing 1t, not to give benefits to few.
but to provide a basis for prosperity
for the many.
ut is said. after scofing at the sug-
Eestion that is made with respect to
competition with an energized Europe
after suggesting that America Is able
to take care of itself, implying, OF
course. with the present governmental
policies-after saying there is no such
made provision with respect to it In
our anti-dumping clause. in our reve-
nue. bill. And anybody that is going to
threaten American industry and any
body who will in any way interfere
with our conditions may have to pay
few thousand dollars fine or go to
fail"
That. Mr.. Hughes said. reminded him
of the story of the man charged with
the theft OF a copper Kettle. who was
ready with two defenses: First. that
he never saw the kettle and never stole
IT. and. second. that the kettle had
hole in 1t anyway.
= Talks Of "Anti-Dumping Clause"
Now. let US consider this anti-dump
ing clause" the nominee continued. Il
have read some of the legislation
which has recently been enacted and
for legislative phrasing it holds the
palm. If there is any place where you
cannot accomplish anything by the
mere use of words, unless they are wei
directed and have an obvious and clear
content, II is in a statute That is the
place where you have got to tell what
you really mean.
In this anti-dumping act. We fnd
one OF the msrvsis OF recent
think II IL farcical- I think 1t is per-
fectly preposterous to say that It pro-
tscts anything or anybody. And as
dsfense to American trade and Amer
loan workmen against the competition
Of European nations after the war 1t
II worse than useless.
Let me show you what II says. II
starts By saying: That IT shall be un-
lawful for any person importing or as
sisting in importing any articles from
any foreign country into the united
states commonly and systematically
how defendants counsel would love
these words commonly and systematic
aiIy-to import and sell, or cause to be
Imported or sold, such articles within
the United States at price substantial
ly less than the actual market value or
Wholesale price of such articles in the
principal markets of the country OF
their production.
NOW this is a criminal statute, and
/bsfors you get under way you have
got to prove that this thing has been
6one-commonly and systematically.
How long would 1t go on before the
prosecuting attorney feels he can trust
Q case?'
ReiteYates Attack on Proviso.
: Mr.. Hughes then reiterated his at
tack on the acts proviso. declaring
that he did not think ut left anything
of the statute SO far as practical
operation Is concerned"
Now. I am amazed" he continued.
ct am really amazed at intelligent men.
in the face of this economic situation.
which in all probability will follow tho
cessation Of the war, to hold up 4
thing like that as a protection to
American enterprise and American
labor against foreign competition I
doubt IL there ever will be a prosecu-
ton under that statute. ! doubt very
much IL with these qualifying words
you can expect to make out a case