The Washington herald., 1921-03-18

ut1"r w d.. y - wv -
PRorECT LABOR, URGES DIGGs,
SOUTHERN SHIPPER.
The, new tariff schedule should be
framed with view toward the pro-
lection Of American labor against
the chsaply paid labor of Europe.
Clevsland Diggs. New Orleans ship
per. said yesterday, when seen at
the Raleigh.
Unless there IL speedy readjust-
ment In the industries Of Europe
and in the exchange rate, the per-
manent tariff bill thaty Is now be-
ing framed for Introduction in the
special session of Congress must
take into account both these fac
tors, which place the American
made goods at disadvantage" said
Diggs.
Tariff experts believe that Eu-
rope Is recovering rapidly in an in
dustrial way, but that the low
wages permit her to manufacture
her goods at only a slight advance
over prewar times, SO far as the
wage scale is concerned. There
fore, 1t will be necessary to have
tariff schedule which will protect
American labor against the cheaply
paid labor of Europe. 1t is admit
/
| Aldfich law would not be sufficient
protection for the United States un-
less some plan Is devised to counter
act the difference OF exchange which
Is now working to the great ad-
vantage of the European producer"
| Diggs pointed out.
Tariff trainers should consider
just how long the difference in ex-
change will continue. Diggs be-
lieves.
1T certainly exists as q real fac
tor today" he said, so much so
that 1T appears impossible to place
a tariff on any product that comes
into competition, with American
goods. without considering the me-
cessity to add an additional pro-
lection to overcome the difference
in exchange. II the tariff bill is
not enacted hastily. it may not be
SO necessary to increase the rates
to absorb the difference in exchange.
IF on the other hand the tariff
bill is not enacted within the next
six months the exchange rates may
disappear as a tariff issue. But II
the bill comes up promptly in the
next session IL must be readjusted.
1t has been suggested that it would
be perfectly feasible to place an
American value upon foreign COM
modities at the port of entry and
thereby overcome the difference in
exchange. Such a plan has been
followed in previous American tar
IFS and was employed in the first
American tariff act In 1888. Japan
follows this practice today"
GREAT CHINESE ECONOMIC
PROGRESS IS FORECAST.
China will take great strides in
economic, Industrial and govern
mental progress. provided she is let
alone by foreign powers. according
to John H. Bagley of Vancouver
B. c., who arrived here yesterday
from San Francisco.
The average Westerner has ar
idea that China is changeless and
that the present industrial and po-
litical disturbapces in that country
are the result of her failure to adapt
herself to modern conditions" said
Bagley.
Il Tt may be true enough that today
there exists in China a certain de.
gree of unrest and political dis
turbance. These conditions are not
indicative of China's incapacity Il
adapt herself to a new form OF gov
ernment and new methods of livint
but represent system typical o.
any country where people are con
fronted with the problem of adapt
ing themselves to a new environ
ment in which they find themselves
Under the old regime the govern
ment of China was autocratic. To.
day the government of China is tn,
property of the nation and ther,
has been the question of readjust
ment to the new order of things
involving the creation and evolution
of parliamentary institutions. Chin;
is now passing through a period o.
transition. Her people. civilized 70
centuries, are incapacitated b.
neither race nor inherent faults o
character. Whatever unrest is prev
Rient today in China is a sign o
vitality rather than of decay. >
"A strong national public opinion
Is growing daily in China and al
though as yet 1t does not manifes
itself as 10 the West in accordanc,
with legal forms prescribed by
constitution, 1t is growing NOR
powerful every day and promises t
become Irresistible. This view wa
taken by M. Paul Painleve. forme
premier of France, who made a trfl
to China last summer"