Evening journal., 1921-12-07
HARDING's CARDS ARE FACE UP.

NTATlOAL control or strikes ana other forms OF huuS
~ trial disturbance; an elastic tariff system which will
meet both normal and abnormal conditions the setting up
OF scientifically organized and co-opersted selling asen-
ces for the benent Of American farmers and adequate
support Of an American merchant marine, free from
harmful and discriminating duties against foreign ships
are the four outstanding features OF the message "ncn
President Harding submitted Congress yesterday for its
legislative guidance.
That message which was published in full in The
Evening Journal yesterday has been read in whole or in
part by thousands Of Delswareans. 1t meets with the
hearty appreciation OF a vast majority OF them
Commenting upon the proposal for the national con-
troll Of labor troubles. the New York Herald says
The Presidents stand as TO the control Of both parties
10 Industrial warfare just in lbs conception ana so
clear in its logic that the American public can DC cquneu
for il whether The present Congress shall be or not When
he SAYS there should be question as to the right o
labor 10 organize TO bargain collectively and to act to-
geiher other ways. he says no more OF IL uah nc say
Of organized capital and no more than is esal ac az
Ia Organized capital. When he says organized lanor as
ench should not be permitted 10 conduct seli 10 me IN
hry of the general public again he says no more Of II
than says OF organized capital ana aso no hore "
is a legal fact 10 organized capital
And there is nobody That will fail to recognize the sim
plclty and force Of his parallel between he world now
seeking for its seproecton suitable procedure 10 auJus
differences among nations without recourse TO war ana
the country seeking for It's sefproecon TO adjust
differences between organized labor and organized capita
yitout resort to those forms Of warfare which we rec
oenlze under the OF strikes ockous, boycots and
the like" -.
--'NN
American favor Continuing, the Herald says:
Rut among all these noteworthy recommendations anC
suggestions OF this very extraordinary message the mos
srkne note is struck in the Presidents treatment OF the
tsriT nrobiem American industry and American EN-
nor nat NAV be irresistible whether OF pau
per labor costs in some foreign countries or because o'
debased currency values in DINERS.
But nobody in Congress has yet succeeded In workne
o,,s constitutional tariff scheme which will reasonably
ec,aze he cheapest labor cost article abroad with the
hgh labor cost article here at home and yet not exclude
production are lower than ours, but very much higher
than those Of the very cheapest labor country against
which our tariff rate would be distinctly directed
The method which The New York Herald sees as the
most effective as reasonable proc on against all coun-
tries but least prohbve in case does not appear
10 fundamentally legal and therefore practical This
s the theory OF one tariff for country say Great
Brtan another tariff for another country say
many still another tariff rate for still another country
such measure not appearing 10 be feasible the Housi
of Representatives has inclined toward the so-cale,
American valuation plan, in spite Of It's obvious uncer
taines disadvantages and dangers they frankly
discussed by The New York Herald when Chairman Ford
ney reported his bin last summer from the Ways an
Means Committee 10 the House. This plan proposes Z
make all foreign countries pay duty their exports
the American port OF entry based the value Of sue
goods not where they originated but in this country
There Is no question that such tariff, while maxim
all imports OF a given kind from whatever country pa
MS the amount OF duty in dollars and cents wou
very largely raise american prices in such lines Nobod
ever has gansaid this fact II is the very purpose Of ih
measure in II is 10 give protection 10 American good
against which foreign goods severe competitors
n Is not 10 be denied also that the American people sin
plv will 20 wild with indignation and wrath II sue
prices are excessively raised when they pleading
demanding that their living costs continue to he reduces
not increased.
Now comes President Harding with his suggestion of
grant by Congress OF executive authority to make spec
arin duties special articles In special cases bis ar
parent desire being 70 approach nearly possible
the principle OF varying duties against different counirie
10 put them an the same footing with produc
when they here 10 compete with them Preside1
Harding offers his plan "ihe only promising alternay
DO the American valuationl namely provision auth
izing proclaimed American valuation under prescribe
conditions any given list OF articles imported"
This would give nexibiy 10 meet changing condition
~ home well as sv8ryng costs abroad 10 would seel
Ia answer the serious objection af American importer
and merchants TO the uncertainties OF duties 10 be pa
under the American valuation plan The proclaimed
iuty Of the President undoubtedly would be payable onl
after the giving due notice To when ID would tsb
rect In this way fhe importer could know when ne a
- buying what duty he would need 10 paw as
scarcely ever could know under the Foriney America
sauaton plan
Be the differences of opinion, IN Congress and out
Congress with respect to the tariff what they may Pre-
dent Harding has laid his cards face up on the table
he Capitol and invited he senators and the Represent
lives 10 sit in and take intelligent and patriotic part in
real mans legislative game.