Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-10-06
Industrial Preparedness Due to Pro.
lection

pean war in 1914 and our own entrance
into that conflict in 1911 found Us al
most entirely unprepared in a military
sense. yet we were largely prepared.
industrially. 1t is true that because
of lack of foresight we were without
dye or potash industries and we're
dependent upon Germany for many
drugs, chemicals and minor essentials.
On the whole. however, American in
duAtry had developed to such a de-
gree that we rapidly adapted our
selves to the task Of supplying the
warning nations with food, clothing and
munitions for which they had urgent
need.
But mere statement Of this fact
and lf-congratulation upon it would
be waste of time unless we also con-
slider the means by which we attained
Industrial preparedness.
AS a new undeveloped country Of
vast recources Of raw materials. We
were in Colonial days practically with
out manufactures, To such country
there was offered the temptation to
continue producing raw materials and
purcha sing manufactured articles from
older nations which had already de-
veloped manufacturing and which
could supply our needs at less than
cost than we could manufacture the
Goods ourselves. But the wise men
who shaped our economic policies were
not content that this nation should
remain me rely a producer Of raw ma
terials. The first act passed by an
American Congress was a revenue act
which provided import duties upon a
scale which constituted protection, the
announced object of which was to pro-
vide revenue and at the same time
encourage the founding and continuous
operation of factories upon american
soil. From that day to this, with
short unfortunate intervals, we have
continued the protective policy.
In 1893 we abandoned protection; our
factories closed or went on part time.
We repeated the experiment in 1913
the time when the European war broke
out in August, 1914. shutting off foreign
competition and providing new mar
kets for our goods. The short period
between the enactment of the Dem =
ccratic tariff law in October 1918, and
the commencement OF the war in Au-
gust, 1914, was not sufficient to per-
manentlv cripple our manufacturing
enterprises. When Europe suddenly
made large demands for supplies, that
demand found IN this country an elab-
crate system of factories which could
readily be expanded to fill the abnor-
mai market Almost every one Of these
manufacturing enterprises had its ORR
sin and its development in the fost-
oring influence of the protective tar
if.
During the political campaign of 1916,
the Democrats were pleased to boa st
Of the prosperity we were enjoying
due to our suddenly increased export
trade. They ignored the fact that our
readiness TO meet the demands of that
trade was almost entirely due to the
extensive system Of production which
lad been built up under a construc-
tive Republican protective tariff policy.
The question for us now to determine
IS whether the return of peace shall
hnd US in the emba ira ssing trade ..it
tation which confronted us lust he
lore the war began or whether il
shall find on our statute books q pro-
tective tariff law such as that which
built up the industries from which
we nave realized our present prosperitv
and which have been so ready TO
perform their part in making the Init .
ca states prepared to engage in a con-
hict against our enemies.