The Lamar register., 1919-04-02
Others First-Ameriea Last.


mayor Rolph, of San Francisco,
wants to know why the Administra-
ton has turned its back Oh Pacific
coast shipbuilders and workmen while
Japanese shipbuilders em-
ploying Japanese workmen to go ahead
with the construction of ships for the
government. The reason is not far to
seek. 1t is but another example of
Wilsonian interrationalistic atruism.
In this instance it is Japan first"
..It is the same idea which prompt
ed Secretary Redfield, Chairman Hur-
lev. and the War Trade Board not
long ago to suggest that the United
States should be careful not to COM
pete seriously with the Allies in fore
ign trade, but should give them free
way, lest we be charged with greedi
ness and bad faith in grabbing trade
which was asserted to belong to them.
There il was Europe first
"This policy of trucking TO foreign
nations, To the disadvantage of the
United States, began when Mr.. VIII
son, after a campaign in which he had
approved the Republican measure
granting free tolls through the Pana-
ma Canal to American coastwise boats,
changed his mind, at the instance of
Great Britain, and killed that measure.
That time it was England first This
was quickly followed by the Democrat
ic tariff which opened the markets of
the United States to the competition
of the world and precipatcd the de-
preston of 1914. Again il was fore
gners first
Then the Mexican government fill
ed up on mcscal and started in to
massacre Americans residing in that
country and to appropriate their prop
|erty. When protests were lodged with
the Administration against such bar
|barities, the protestants were told that
if Americans did not like the way Mex
leo was carrying on they should get
out Of the country. 1t was Mexico
first
"For two years and half Ameri-
can residents in Germany were sub
iccted to all the indignities the Huns
could invent and American citizens
travelling on neutral vessels took their
lives in their hands-and nothing but
note writing to the kaiser. II was
Germany first When the war broke
out our Secretary of Commerce enter
ed into certain agreements with Cana
da with respect to the fishing busi-
ness, by which Canada received the
benefits and the United States the bur-
dens. 1t was Canada first
AT length, the chief executive, as
suming the role Of American premier
at the peace conference permitted GER
tain British statesmen to draft so
called League of Nations which, if
ratified would destroy the Federal
lConstituticn and give us one vote in
nine in determining such questions as
the regulation Of commerce with the
foreign nations, the definition and
punishment Of oifense against the law
Of nations, the raising and supporting
Of armies, providing and maintaining
navy, and what regulations we could
or could not enforce with respect to
Immigration. At length the President
had come out openly in advocacy Of
America last
"In 1920 this country is going TO elect
President of the United States who
believes that the chief function of his
office is to give precedence to the in
terests of the people who placed him
in the White House. This man will
be a Republican, and he will be for
America first And that attitude
does not mean a chip on the shoulder
nor a posture of sinking apology. 1t
means we have faith in ourselves"