Evening journal., 1917-10-04
INDUSTRIAL PREPAREDNESS DUE TO PROTECTION.

INDUSTRIAL PREPAREDNESS DUE TO PROfkCtiON.
A LTHoUGH the outbreak OF the European war In 1914
n and our entrance into that conflict In 1917 found
us almost entirely unprepared in military sense, yet we
were largely prepared ndustriay in Delaware and the
other States
It is true that because lack Of foresight, we were
without dye OF potash industries and were dependent
upon Germany for many drugs, chemicals and minor
essentials. On the whole however, American Industry
had developed to such degree that rapidly adapted
ourselves TO the task Of supplying the warning nations
with the food clothing and munitions for which they
had urgent need.
But mere statement Of this fact and self graduation
upon t would be waste Of time unless also consider
the means by which attained industrial prepared
ness.
AS new and undeyeloped country Of vast resources
OF raw materials we were, in Colonial days practically
without manufactures To such country there was Of
fered the temptation TO continue producing mate
rlas and purchasing manufactured articles from older
nations which had already developed manufacturing and
which could supply needs at less cost than we could
manufacture the goods ourselves.
But the wise men who shaped our economic policies
were not content that this natoa should remain merely
producer of raw materials. The FIRST act passed by an
American Congress revenue act which provided
import duties upon scale which constituted protection
The announced object was to provide revenue and, at
the same time encourage the founding and continuous
operation Of factories American soil From that day
10 this, with short unfortunate intervals, We nave OVu
tinued the protective policy
In 1893 we abandoned projections factories closed
or went part time
We repeated the experiment in 1918 and suffered like
consequences up TO the time when the European war
broke out August 1914, shutting off foreign compe-
tltion and providing new markets for goods.
The short period between the enactment Of the Demo-
cratic tariff law in October 1913 and the commencement
OF the war in August 1914 not SUFFICIENT to cripple
permanently our manufacturing enterprises. When Eu-
rope suddenly made large demands for supplies that de-
mand found in this country elaborate system Of fac
tories which could readily be expanded TO MI the alb
normal market Almost every Of these manufactur
ing enterprise had It's origin or rs development in the
fostering influence Of the protective tariff.
During the political campaign Of 1915. the Democrats
wore pleased to boast OF the prosperity enjoy
Ing due to suddenly increased export trade. They
ignored the that readiness to meet the demands
that trade almost entirely due to the extensive
system Of production which had been built up under
constructive Republican protective tarin policy
The question for Delawareans and other Americans
now 10 determine whether the return peace shall
find in the embarrassing trade situation which
froned just before the began whether it shall
fnd statute books protective tariff law such
that which built up the industries from which have
realized present prosperity and which have been
ready to perform their part in making Che United States
prepared to engage in a conflict against enemies.