Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1918-10-05
MEMBER OF THE ASSOCIATED
PRESS,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. 8, 1918
THE STATUS OF FREE TRADE.

There are gentlemen who see free
trade as one or the conditions to be
brought about by a league of nations
10 prevent wars. This is foolish, and
would ruin the prosperity of the
American people.
The free trade of the theorists
never did exist, and never will. The
populations that have had free trade
at times have had it thrust upon
them in some shape by superior
force. Germany, as the price OF
neutrality in the Jap-Russian war
exacted free trade on Russia's part
in some respects. Bismarck wrote some
free trade stipulations for Frances
injury in the treaty of Frankfort,
The British Isles have had free
trade in raw materials and toodstutfs,
but British manufacturers have eth
er enjoyed monopolies or have been
protected indirectly by British sea-
supremacy and insurance, as well as
ly the fact Of London's having been
the international exchange for all
the world.
The war has imposed state of
protection, in the Han ltonian sense
upon many nations in various re-
spects. Deprived Of sources of supply
upon which they depended, nations
have been compelled to improyise
means to make good the deficiencies
or to provide substitutes.
Concrete examples are numerous,
and we read how even such a prod
ucer Of raw materials as Brazil has
been stimulated to make what hereto
fore Germany, England and France
made for her.
The wars practical effects have moi
helped the doctrine of free trade. Or
the contrary, the argument for dutle
that shut, out competition has beef
reinforced The consequence of mod
crate duties frequently has been mere
" to raise the price to the customer
whereas the absolute prohibition af
forded by the war has compelled ne'
manufacture, that eventually mus
lower the price AT least new manu-
facture will make the nation indC
pendent, as in dyestuffs, and will pa
American labor and capital instea
of paying foreign labor and capita
1t will build up American industri'
instead of German industries, as
the past.
The duties under a democrat
party tariff which afford a revenu
often are not adequate to secure
new industrial development. Tit
have served merely as tax which IL
American consumer had to pay
In August, 1914,~the war gave Il
United States a protection not of Of
own devising. The protection Wi
thrust upon us. If we wanted dy'
We must ourselves compound thel
If we wanted various sorts of glas
we must ourselves get busy. AS
supplier of the world market &c
many abruptly ceased, and the e
ports of Great Britain and Fran
sharply fell off.
The first seven months of the ne
democratic tariff previous to Augu
/. 1914, proved to be inadequate (
re he mn rip ma nIif1
turers. but the war saved us fro
disaster. 1t provided us a substitu
tariff, as it were. And under til
substitute the country has been wor
ing for little more than four yea
When the war is over, if the dem
Gratis retain control of congress,
shall revert to the minus state of pr
lection, which is the normal incide
of a democratic tariff. We shall
left exposed to government buyi
and selling, regardless of the pri'
by. the European nations now at WI
Unless we have protective legislati'
the men and women now engaged
fighting or in war work, will be p
to work in government-controlled
dustries, and their products will
dumped upon our shores.
That is one of the issues of u
campaign. though it will attract I
serious consideration of the though
full people only.
$50 sa.,..aa oil rioht fnr