The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1918-06-10


in the midst OF war as we were or war
In the midst OF peace. Our govern
ment Is displaying no interest "nn
over in national commerce. and It's In
trtcate problems On the contrary,
President Wilson has publicly declared
10 the whole world thai this country
will insist as a condition Of peace on
Tho removal so far MS possible OF All
economic barriers In the establishment
Of an equality OF trade conditions
among all nations consenting 10 peace
and associating themselves for Us
maintenance,
The establishment OF universal free
trade Us thus proposed would ruin
West Virginia commercially as com
pletelv as Belgium was physically
ruined by the German invader. 1t
would close our factories. for West
Virginia workmen cannot compete
with European workmen at one-halt
the American wage-scale. or the Jap
anese coolies at one-siXth the Amer
can wage scale. II would close our
mines. Under normal price condi-
lions coal can be produced In Canada
and China and transported to our sea-
board cities cheaper than West VII
gtnia coal mined by West Virginia
wprl1men can be produced and trans
ported. II would close our steel mills,
for rehabIltated Belgium and France
and a speed ed-up United Kingdom OF
Great Britain, not to mention the
Oriout where great steel mills arc now
being established and where wage
rate OF a dozen cents per day por man
prevails. can undersell US within sight
OF the smoke from the stacks OF our
own factories, II the American wage
scale Is to be maintained. We can
compete with the world. but We can
compete only when wage scales are
equali0ed and | am unnltcrably op-
posed TO lowering the American Wnge
scale to the standard OF the coolie.
the peasant and the peon. ! am will
ing To join in helping the whole world.
but not by taking the bread from the
mouth and the comfort from the home
Of the toilers OF the United States,
who are certainly entitled to the mar
kets Of their own country. tncompaT-
ably the richest markets in the world.
| believe that Germany would be
willing TO cease fighting today. with
draw within her boundaries as they
existed before the war, and pay for ali
the damages her ar1ulcS have done IN
Belgium and northern France. II she
should receive In exchange the free
gift OF our American markets proposed
by President Wilson to our foreign
competitors.
We entered tho war for high and
unselfish purposes. We should not,
in order to get out OF It, sacrifice the
Interests of the whole American cit
izenship. either as a bride for peace
'or in pursuance OF an impractfcable
scheme Of interuationalism, from
which our commercial rivals will de-
rive all the advantages. and We Will
make and suffer the sacrifices. This
nation owes protection in time OF
peace to those who. must protect the
nation in time OF war. and the govern
ment that will not protect It's protcc-
tors and defend It's defenders Is not
worthy OF the fealty Of any man.
Preserving the Protective Policy.
If you cleo; me senator and a treaty
OF peace Is submitted to the United
States Senate during my encum bency.
which contains L clause sacrificing the
right OF the people Of this country 10
maintain the protective policy which
has been favored by every great con-
atructive American statesman from
Washington to Mckinley. shall vote
to reject it rs a humi!iating and de-
structNc sacrifice OF American rights
and interests.
The Importance Of eleCing a Repub-
lican senator In West Virginia is more
apparent when II Is obvious that this
very question may he submitted to the
Senate for It's decision. | do not favor
the sacrifice o! American blood and
treasure 20 the end that peace may be
made at the sacrifice Of the prosperity
and happiness Of the American people,
and in order that the adrer.aaries with
whom we are now graphing on the
hnttle-held may fattcn al our expense.
Stand BY the Defend srs OF the Flag.
As gooh Americans We believe In
standing by the boys who are going
abroad 70 fight our battles for US, II
IS to them that we owe our chief con-
sidCratlon. II IS 10 our country and
not to any off1ce.holdor OF set Of pol
iucians that VIC should first be loyal.
Our first and only thought should DO
TO stand by our. boys Who are making
the supreme sacrifice on the battle
field: to back:them UP; 10 provide the
food, supplies and arms necessary for
their most eftectiTe eduipmen for the
great task before them. We should
stand by them not only now, bnt here
fnlr
farms and the mills to fight for our
fog: wo have imposed upon many OF
Them great sacrifices OF comfort. safe
~ and opportunity for profitable en-.
ployme ont What DO we intend to pro-
Vida for them upon their return
Something more than pensions and
wooden legs for the disabled will be
required. These yoang men will ask
first OF all fair opportunity in the
ranks Of industry from which they
were withdrawn.
IN 1914. before the European war be.
gan. under the economic policies Of
the party in power ard still in power,
there were three million unemployed
workers In the United States Shall
We muster these heroic boys out OF tho
army or the Republic into the army
OF the unemployed! Shall we bring
them home to face not only the heavy
burden OF debt In which FOUR nation
will necessarily be involved. to Shout
der tho burden this war will lay upon
the people under The ~uost favorable
and to march up and
down the nations highways and by.
ways in search Of work? That will be
the bate OF our boys now at the front,
on the way TO the front, or who may
yet be called. II the Democratic party
with its policies