The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1921-08-26
UNEMPLOYMENT
AND THE TARIFF

/
the prospect that large percentage
of them will go through the winter ull-
employed, congress may well begin to
feel agitated on the subject. If it We're
merely question of individual or even
of national welfare, our lawmakers
might take the matter with compla-
cence, just as they did when they con-
tributed to the present situation by
delaying reconstruction legislation
and Juggling with the peace treaty
during the last two years of the Will
son administration. However, more is
involved that the general well-being
of the country. The congressional
election comes next year.
The Republicans in congress may
feel that they are as innocent as day
old babes, of responsibility for unem-
ployment, but they know it to be a
fact of practical politics that $685.
900 idle men next winter will mean s.
$4,000 discontinued voters later in
the year, and the party in power al
ways suffers from discomfort. The
; Republican party cannot afford to go
into the struggle for control of con-
gress in 1922 with unemployment pre-
vailing,. and particularly with rec
ord showing no efforts to deal with
the situation.
/ Congressional plans are still indef-
mite, but they are already notable be-
cause of one conspicuous omission.
There is no attempt in Washington to
cite the Fordney protective tariff bill
as a prospective remedy for dcpres-
sion. The financing of farm exploits,
I relief for the railroads-these are
mentioned, but where is the man who
says protection will bring prosperity?
Here is true testimony that the Re-
publican party has abandoned rs faith
in protection even when it is shaping
a protective tariff bill for passage.
Compare the present situation with
1896. In that year the Republicans
carried tie country on the protective
tariff and the maintenance of the gold
! standard. They Immediately passed
high tariff act. An era of prosperity
began at once. For the next dozen
years every Republican campaigner
declared that Republican tariff put
an end to Democratic hard times. The
economist, to be sure, said that Pc
riod of depression Which originated in
the last part of the Harrison admins
! traticn worked itself out in the Cleve-
land period and prosperity was on its
way when Mr.. Mckinley became pres
ident. But the protectionists did not
believe the economists. 1t was the tar
if that worked the miracle.
The time has come for another tar
if miracle. Again we have depression.
1t was visible in the last six months
of a Democratic administration. 1t
has become aggravated since the Re-
publicans took charge of the govern
ment. If the Republican leaders be-
lieve in protection, why do they not
announce that the Fordney act will
remedy the country's distress, and let
it do so?
Obviously, because they do not be.
lieVe in protection as an antidote for
bad business. They believe in it as
means of boosting prices and profits
for favored manufacturers when bus
mess is good.
1t would be an interesting expert
ment to pass the Fordney bill with
everybody invited to watch the wheels
spin, Protection would receive the
hardest jolt CT is long end varied life.
1t would be likely to pass out Of
American politics without further de-
lay. But the Republicans know bet
ter than to risk such test as that.
The protection prosperity" theory
is based on the sacredness Of the
home market. Opposed to this is the
theory of unshackled foreign trade.
To which is congress turning? The
one constructive step it has taken
, establishment of the War Finance
Corporation-is meant to stimulate
foreign trade. so it IS not only ig-
noring the protective tariff as a pros
perity measure, but is moving in the
opposite direction to find relief from
unemployment. A high tariff law
would conflict with this effort.
Then why does the Fordncy bill re-
main on the calendar of unfinished
business? If the Republicans cannot
use it as their weapon in this COM
bined business and political crisis,
why threaten the country with its pas