Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-20
country's Greatest Need

Former President Roosevelt point
cd ont the need of a Republican Con-
gress. He said the country was SUI
fering for a Congress that "ouia
vigorously support the administration
at the same time it was fearlessi'
supervising activities for making the
world fit to live If.
More and more the country is see
ing the need of just that - vigorous
support" and fearless" supervision
and investigation. The Democratic
party must be judged not by its
present day professions and prom
| ises but by it's record. 1t has never
been a party of construction but al
ways a party Of destruction. where
constructive results have sometimes
been attained during a Democratic
administration, it will be found that
these accomplishments were usually
secured by the adoption Of ideas ad-
vanced by Republicans or by the aid
of Republicans. The Democratic
party has never devoted it's policies to
the building up Of American indus
tries, but rather to the tearing
down. This was illustrated in 1888
and in 19l3-1i, when that party
repealed the import tax law and adj
mitted to our markets the cheap pro-
ducts of the cheap labor Of Europe
and Asia. The Democratic leaders
have not acquired the habit CT think
ing in terms of construction.
America First" is not a mere
empty slogan for lip use only. 1t is
not a slogan for use only in time OF
war. The man who is not Tor
America First in both word and
action, in both peace and war, Is nn
unsafe leader, however good his IN
tentions Our success in war de-
ponds very largely upon our indus
trial prosperity and our economic IN
dependence in time Of peace. Eus-
sias present chaotic condition is
very largely due to the fact that she
was content to be economically de-
pendent upon Germany - dependent
for the manufactured goods she
must have in time of war. What
Russia needed years ago was leader
who would insist that the Russian
people must learn to produce for
themselves the things they had been
purchasing from the factories OF
Germany. That could have been
done only under a protective tarif
law which would have enabled enter
prising men to build factories in Rus
STA and keep them in operation in
the face of German competition.
Fortunately America was depend
ent to only a limited extent. Under
the Republican policy Of protection,
we had built up permanent industries
so extensive that we were embar-
raised to only a limited degree when
: outside sources of supply were cut
off. We were much embarrassed by
lack of dyes and other chemicals
one line of products which even the
Republicans had neglected. But il
. 20 no nrff
neglecting one line of industry. what
= great credit they should be accorded
for maintaining successful con-
structive policy with regard to al
other industries, in the face Of deter
" mined opposition on the part OF thf
Democrats. For all the industrial
preparedness of which this country
can boast. the nation is indebted t.
> Republican economic policies.
In the face of all the experience
America has had with free trade
President Wilson insists that one u
the incidents of return of peace mus
be the removal OF economic oar
riers." Our markets, in his opinion
must be thrown open to the loves
bidder. The American produces
must meet the foreign price or e
out of business. With all due re
spect for President Wilson's good III
tentions, and without in any way
questioning his patriotism. it is i'm
possible to agree with his judgmen
= in a matter Of pure business such a.
this. America must be Independent
not only in government but in com
~ merce and industry. and that indie
"a pendence can be insured Only b.
maintaining the economic barrier
,s which have protected us N the past
;, In view Of recent happenings on thu
- western front. the German war lord
must be finding it harder and harde
to maintain the policy of holding tn