The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1916-02-16

OF IegisIa ton and the administration
OF the laws. Mr. Root continued:
"The great war has not changed
the lesson which we had already
learned when 1t began. 1t has but
obscured further demonstration. 1t
has caused an enormous demand for
some things which the United States
is able to produce in large quantities,
and in these lines. of production. while
other industries still languish, there
have been extensive employment OF Ia.
bor,E great exports and q great influx
OF money. But this is temporary, 1t
must soon cease and when the FAC
tories have stopped and their labor.
ers are no longer employed we must
deal with a situation for which wise
forethought makes provision.
more important still, the war has
paralyzed the peaceful industries OF
all Europe, and has stopped that com
I petitive foreign production which In
July, 1914, had already entered Amer
Iican markets to supersede American
products under the Tariff Law OF
l1913. 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 be-
I gins again, the American markot,t cop1'
pared with impoverished Europe. will
be more than ever before the object
of desire and effort, and we shall be-
come the dumping ground OF the
world to the destruction of our own
Industries unless that is prevented by
wise and competent government"
Taking up foreign relations, Mr..
Root said that for the first time with
in the memory OF men now living
these relations are recognized as vi
tai" He took UP first the Mexican
! problem, reviewing the situation when
President Wilson was inaugurated.
| Ellis duty then was plain" Mr.. Root
declared. ut was, first to use his
powers as President, to secure pro.
lection for the lives and property OF
Americans in Mexico and to require
| that the rules of war and stipulation
of treaties should be observed by
Mexico towards the United States and
its citizens. His duty was, second, as
the head Of a foreign power to re-
spcct the independence of Mexico, to
refrain from all Interference with her
internal affairs, from all attempt at
domination except as he was justified
by the law OF nations for the protec-
ton Of American rights.
"The President Of the United States
failed to observe either of those du-
tiles. He deliberately abandoned them
both and followed an entirely differ
ent and inconsistent purpose. He in
tervened in Mexico to aid one faction
In civil strife against another. He
undertook to pull down Huerta and
set Carranza up In his place. Huerta
was in possession. He claimed to be
the constitutional president of Mexi,
co. He certainly was the de facto
president of Mexico. Rightly or
wrongly, good or bad. he was there"
Mr.. Root reviewed our subsequent
relations with Mexico, declaring that
/ the United States interviewed in
Mexico to control the internal affairs
by. threat, by economic pressure, and
by force of arms" and that the Amey-
lean government Ignored, condoned,
the murder OF American men and the
rape Of American women and the de-
struction of American property and
insult to American officers and deffle-
ment of the American flag and joined
itself to the men who were guilty OF
all these things to pull down the. pow
er OF Huerta."
"The results of this interference
were most unfortunate" Mr.. Root con-
tinued. IF our government, had sent
an armed force into Mexico to protect