The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-12-11
New Tariff Conditions.


America in the worlds affairs The
prejudice and passions engendered by
decades Of controversy between two
schools of political and economic
thOught-the one believers in protec-
ton Of American industries, the other
believers in tariff for revenue only
must be Subordinated to the single
consideration Of the public interest in
the light of utterly changed condi-
tions.
Before the war America was heav-
lily the debtor of the rest of the world
and the interest payments she had to
make to foreign countries on Amer
lean securities held abroad, the ex-
pend1tures Of American travellers
abroad and the ocean freight charges
she had to pay to others, about bal
anced the value of her pre-war favor
able balance of trade.
During the war Americas exports
nave been greatly stimulated, and in
creased prices have increased their
value. On the other hand, she has
purchased. a large proportion of the
American securities previously held
abroad, has lent some billion dollars
to foreign governments, and has built
her own ships. Our favorable balance
of trade has thus been greatly in
creased and Europe has been deprived
of the means of meeting it hereto
fore existing.
To Sell, We Also Must Buy.
Europe can have only three ways
Of meeting the favorable balance of
trade in peace times-by imports into
this country of gold or of goods, or
by establishing new credits. Europe
is in no position at the present time
to ship gold to US, nor could we con-
template large further imports Of gold
into this country without concern. The
time has nearly passed for interna-
tiona1 governmental loans, and it will
take time to develop in this country
a market for foreign securities.
Can Be Isolated No Longer.
mo policy of isolation will satisfy
the growing needs and opportunities
OF America. The provincial stand
ards and policies of the past, which
have held American business as if in
a straitjacket. must yield and give
way to the needs and exigencies of the
new day in which we live, day full
Of hope and promise for American
business, if we will only take adYan-
tage Of the opportunities that are ours
for the asking. The recent war has
ended our isolation and thrown upon
us a great duty and responsibility.
The United States must share the ex-
banding world market The United
States desires for itself only equal op-
pOrtunity with the other nations of
the world, and that through the pro-
cess of friendly cooperation and fair
competition the legitimate interests of
the nations concerned may be sue
cessfully and equitably adjusted.
There are other matters of impor-
lance upon which l urged action at
the last session of congress which are
still pressing for solution. l am sure
it is not necessary for me again to
remind you that there is one immedi-
ate and very practicable question re-
sulting from the war which we should
meet in the most liberal spirit. It is
matter Of recognition and relief to
our soldiers. l can do no better than
to quote from my last message urging
this very action:
I'VE must see to it that our return:
ing soldiers are assisted in every prac-
ticable- way to find the places for
which they are fitted in the daily
work Of the country. This can be
done by developing and maintaining
upon an adequate scale the admirable
organization created by the Depart
ment of Labor for placing men seek
ing work, and it can also be done
in at least one very great field, by Gre
ating new opportunities for individual
enterprise. The secretary of the inter
ior has pointed out the way by which
returning soldiers may be helped to
find and take up land in the hitherto
undeveloped regions of the country
which the federal government has al
ready prepared or can readily prepare
for cultivation, and also on many of
the cut over or neglected areas which
lie within the limits of the older
states, and / once more take the lib
erty Of recommending very urgently
that his plans shall receive the i'm
mediate and substantial support of
congress.
Aid to Dyestuffs Industries.
I'm the matter of tariff legislation, 1
beg to call your attention to the state
ments contained in my last message
urging legislation with reference to
the establishment OF the chemical and
dyestuffs industries in America.
Among the industries to which spe-
eia1 consideration should be given is
that of the manufacture Of dyestuffs
and related chemicals. Our complete
dependence upon German supplies be
fore the war made the interruption Of
trade a cause Of exceptional economic
disturbance. The close relation be-
tween the manufacture of dyestuffs,
on the one hand, and of explosives and
poisonous gases on the other, more
over, has given the industry an ex-
ceptional significance and value Al
though the United States will gladly
and unhesitatingly join in the program
OF international disarmament, it will,
nevertheless, be policy of obvious
prudence to make certain of the sue
cessful maintenance Of many strong
and well equipped chemical plants.
The German chemical industry, with
which we win be brought into compe-
t1t1on, was, and may well be again, a
thoroughly knit monopoly capable of
exercising a competition of a pecul-
larly insidious and dangerous kind.
During the war the farmers per-
formed vital and willing service to
the Nation By materially increasing
Belief is Everything.
Look at history and it becomes but
the thoughts of men come to fact. All