, 1922-06-09
Pointing Ii Out

OENAToR WILLIS, Of Ohio has placed mis- fin
~ ger on the real pulse of opposition to the pend
ing tariff measure. In the following statement
he makes it clear and plain:
Nothing since the senate finance committee in
troduced the tariff bill has SO truthfully branded
the opposition to the tariff as President Harding's
attack before the chamber of commerce on 'consci-
enceless business If it were not for the interna-
tional bankers who are profiteering as the presi-
dent said by buying cheaply abroad and selling
at hold-up prices to the American consumer, this
tariff bill would be passed within n few weeks. AS
it is, if this conscienceless lobby and propaganda
of the importers %cotinues to support a Demo
cratic filibuster it may be months before the Amer
lean people obtain relief from present chaotic in
dustrial conditions.
Throughout the country international bankers
are spreading reports that the allied nations con-
not pay their debts to the United States if we en-
act this tariff bill. This is an absurd argument
and a shortsighted policy. In the first place many
things those countries produce We cannot. We can
continue to buy from them what we cannot pro-
duce here. We purchase hundreds of millions of
dollars worth of raw materials and finished prod
ucts from the whole world which We do not produce
here. The tariff is not going to interfere with this
commerce.
Let those nations which owe us such vast sums
pay us in goods which do not rob the American
worker of a livelihood to develop his business in this
country. The argument of the importers and inter
nationalists that we must let Germany, France,
England Italy, Belgium, Central and Northern
European countries work while our people walk the
streets is not only absurd but as conscienceless as
the policy of buying the products of these countries
in deprecated foreign paper money and selling at
several thousand per cent profit to the American
consumer.
"Ever since this tariff bill has been before the
senate there has been no doubt about the source
of the opposition. 1t is in the minds of the bank
ers and importers who have become too big for
America, whose interests are world interests so
long as they can make money out of the American
people to finance their worldwide schemes. /
want other nations to be prosperous but 1 am con-
WINGED that we can best help the world by preserv.
inc and Incraa sing II nr0SnPrify here This IS
in foreign securities and whose hearts are where
their money is. This is the same crowd which tried
to jam this country into the league of nations. They
would sell the American markets to European pro
ducers for the next numbered years if they could
profit by it themselves.
"This is another example of constituencies bust
ness.
Ever since this tariff bill has been before the
senate the Democrats have been harping on the con-
sumer. They have said that the consumer is the
one most vitality interested in the tariff. They try
to camouflage their real policy, which is free trade,
by waving the flag of the consumer. They forget
that our prosperity as a nation rests upon our
production. If We legislate to take care of pro-
ducers no one will be benefited more than the con-
sumner who is a producer himself unless he is a
gress legislate to protect workers not in the inter
est of more ~loafers. The task of congress is now
TO pass legislation, which will encourage pro-
duction. If the industries, mines, mills and farms
of the country are busy making and raising pro-
duce the consumer will be taken care of by ma
tion-wide prosperity.
"But so long as the conscienceless business in
terests which SOW abroad and reap their profits
from American pocketbooks continue to filibuster
against the tariff and delay its passage, just so
mercy of unfair, dishonest competition in their
home markets.