The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-09-28
WHY AMERICA WILL WIN THE
WAR

Protection has built up the United
States to the leading world position in
wealth, industry and commerce. The
utilization of our natural resources
has only been made possible by Pro-
lection. Free-Trade would have con-
fined our production only to the pro-
ducts of the soil and the mine. Many
of our mineral resources would have
remained undeveloped except for the
Protection they enjoyed against for
eign competition, and even in agricul-
tural production Protection has often
saved our farmers from the ruin Free
Trade would have inflicted upon them.
Free-Trade England is reaching the
limit of her resources, vast as they
have been. Freely Britons admit that
it was the entrance of the United
States into the war that will save the
allies from defeat. What is it that
makes the United States so powerful
in this great world crisis? Former
Protection Of our home industries, the
development of our vast and varied
resources, the diversifcation of pro-
duction, the accumulation of vast
wealth, the conduct of cl0ssal COM
merce, chiefly between our own states
China possesses immense resources
of soil, of mines and forests. What
holds China back from the utilization
of her resources and what keeps her
400, 900, 900 people on the edge of fam
inc all the time? The lack of Protec-
ton adequate for the development of
her resources, the Investigation of
her industries, the employment of her
people in well-paid industries. Low
Tariff conditions in China hold back
her development, just as present low
Tariff conditions restrict our develop
ment. But, we have been blessed with
a Tariff, adequate to our needs, except
during the periods between 1894-97
and 1897. AS to the last-named
period, during far the larger part of
1T the war has given to the great bulk
of the industries of the United States
the Protection denied them by the
Underwood Free-Trade Tariff act of
1913.
When Protection was accorded to
our iron and steel industries we tapped
the rich, the practically illimitable,
resources of the United States for the
ingredients necessary for the produc-
ton of iron and steel. What has our
steel done for the allies during this
war? What will our steel yet do for
the allies during the remainder of the
war? Had we ahered to Free-Trade
these great resources would still re-
main in the earth, our enormous blast
furnaces would not have been built
and our fabricating mills would have
never been constructed. When re-
course was had to the United States
for the winning of the war, thanks to
Protection, thanks to the previous
development of our resources and the
Investigation. of our industries in
cident to Protection, we were equip
ped, admirably, fully, thoroughly
equipped, to furnish the things neces-
sary for the winning of the war-not
men alone, but food and munitions.
No wonder, with these stern facts
staring them in the faces the allies
have concluded to abandon Free-Trade
and adopt Protection after the war.
Free-Trade, would have caused the de-
feat of the allies-Protectio will save
them from defeat-.Protection within
the United States.
You might think that this greatest
lesson of the war would have been
learned by the Free-Trade statesmen
who dominate the nations affairs, at
this time. With all the world turning
to Protection, as the rock of their
deliverance, shall the United States,
after the war; present the strange
spectacle of blind and fatuous adhes-
ion to Free Trade America Econ
sfnist.