The sun., 1919-05-21

ences Of the war have made Il
plain that in some cases 100 great
reliance Of foreign supply is dan
gerous, and that In determining
certain parts of our tariff policy
domestic considerations must be
borne In mind which are political
as well as economic. Among the
Industries to which special consid-
GRAFTON should be given Is that of
the manufacture of dyestuffs and
related chemicals. Our complete
dependence upon German supplies
before the war made the Interrupt
ton Of trade a cause of excep-
tional economic disturbance.
The close relation between the
manufacture OF dyestunfs on the
one hand and of explosives and
poisonous gases on the other,
moreover, has given the industry
an exceptional significance and
value. Although the United States
will gladly and unhesitatingly join
In the programme of international
disarmament, it will, neverthe-
less, be policy of obvious pru-
dence to make certain Of the sue
cessful maintenance of many
strong and well equipped chemical
plants. German chemical in
dustry. with which we will be
brought into competition. was, and
may well be again, a thoroughly
knit monopoly capable Of exercis-
ing a competition of a peculiarly
insidious and dangerous kind.
Tariff Retaliation.
The United States should, more
over, have the means of prop
.erly protecting itself whenever our
trade is Disseminated against by
foreign nations, in order that we
may be assuerd of that equality OF
treatment which we hope to ac-
cord and to promote the world
over. Our tariff laws as they now
stand provide no weapon OF
retaliation in case other govern
ments should enact legislation I'm
equal in its bearing on our prod
ucts as compared with the prod
ucts Of other countries. Though
we are as far as possible from
desiring to enter upon any course
OF retaliation, we must frankly
face the fact that hostile legisla-
ton by other nations Is not be-
yond the range of possibility, and
that 1t may have to be met by
counter legislation. This subject
has fortunately been exhaustively
investigated by the United States
Tariff Commission. A recent re-
port of that commission has shown
very clearly that we lack and that
We ought to have the Instruments
necessary for the assurance Of
equal and equitable treatment.
The attention Of the Congress has
been called to this matter on past
occasions, and the past measures
which are now recommended by
the Tariff Commission are sub
stantially the same that have been
suggested by previous Adrfiinistra-
tons 1 recommend that this
phase OF the tariff question re-
ceive the early attention of the
Congress.
Suffrage for Women.
VIII you not permit me. turn
ing from these matters, to speak
once more and very earnestly OF the
proposed amendment to the Con-
stitution which would extend the
suffrage to women, and which
passed the House OF Representa-
tives at the last session of the Con-
gress? II seems to me that every
consideration of justice and of pub
lie advantage calls for the immedi-
ate adoption OF that amendment
and its submission forthwith to
the Legislatures OF the several
States. Throughout all the world
this long delayed extension of the
suffrage is looked for: in the
United States, longer, believe.
than anywhere else. the necessity
for 1t and the immense advantage
OF it to the national life has been
urged and debated by women and
men who saw the need for it and
urged the policy OF it when it re-
quired steadfast courage to be go
much beforehand with the COM
mon conviction; and I, for one,
covet for our country the distinc-
ton Of being among tine first to act
in a great reform.
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