New-York tribune., 1922-11-01
Harding HasP ut
Nation on Feet,
Asserts Hughes
tcsnsiuuea from psss oas,

teonsiuued from psse oHes
it could get busy. You know the great
change that has been wrought. Instead
OF operating at less than 60 per cent Of
capacity industry Is now operating at
about 80 per cent of capacity, which
means the top level of useful work---i1n
enormous gain. 1t may be said that we
should not claim too much for govern
ment, and ! am the last to desire to do
SO. But think yop cannot fail to note
that the Administration has not stood
In the way. You have not had to climb
over it to get prosperity. 1t has helped
you immensely.
You wansed employment. A year
and half ago we had about 5000 900
unemployed. That presented the great
est problem and created the most
serious apprehension unemployment,
poverty and dire distress for a large
proportion OF the wage carners Of this
country. Now we have no problem of
unemployment. 1t has disappeared in
a renewed activity. The serious ques-
tion confronting business, industry and
agriculture is how to get the neces-
sary labor to meet its needs.
"You wanted reduction in taxes. You
have it.. Congress has reduced taxes
over S800,000,000, reductions which
have benefited every one.
Debt slashcd s1,oeo, 100000
"You wanted reduction in the
enormous debt which had been accumu-
lated during and after the war, You
| have it. The debt has been reduced by
over billion dollars.
"You wanted economy in government
You wanted to stop the wasteful and
extravagant expenditure which the
country could not stand. 1t has been
stopped and strict economy enforced.
For tho year ending June 80, 1920,
our public expenditures aggregated
SO, 0S,343,000; year later, $5,115,920,-
600; for the fiscal year 1922, $3,373,-
100000.
"You wanted protection for Ameri-
can industry. You have it, This
country has never been willing to
abandon the protective policy, and let
1T not be forgotten that the fundamen-
tai difference between the two parties
has been whether we shall have pro-
tective policy. You cannot get ade
quate protection to American industry
from Democratic administration. On
the other hand, if you wish to know
what Democratic business men really
think of the tariff now established
read the letter which John II. Kirby,
leading Democrat. president of the
Southern Tariff Association, has ad-
dressed to President Harding:
Democrat Praises Tariff,
"He represents an association COM
posed largely of Democrats in the
South without which the Democratic
party could not function, and he says:
There are doubtless inequalities and
determinations in the law recently en-
acted--to think otherwise would be to
assume human infallibility---but we
have come as Southerners, the repre-
sentatives of industry in B loyal and
tremendously important section of our
common country, to say to you that, in
our judgment, the Fordney-McCumber
tariff measure is, as whole. a just
measure and capable of promoting
thrift throughout the land and the con-
tentment and happiness OF our people
everywhere He adds thatEWhen tho.
emergency tariff act was passed under
the present Administration the pro.
visions of that law put their industries
upon tifefr feet in' ttffs ssffga tifar TREY
were able to survive, and in the pas
sage of the final act the door of hope
has been opened for which these lead
ing Democrats expressed their grateful
acknowledgment to the President and
the Congress. .
"The most important point, however,
as | view it, not being an expert in
tariff schedules, is that provision has
been made for needed elasticity, SO
that without the delays and uncer-
tainties incident to new tariff meas
ure an expert body constantly giving
the most intelligent attention to the
problem can advise the President of
changes in conditions and by appropri-
ate action these can appropriately be
met by changes in rates.
Interests Abroad Protected
You wanted an American policy in
foreign affairs. You desired adequate
protection Of American interests
abroad, freedom from being enmeshed
in European policies and rivalries into
which we never ougth to be drawn, you
wished candid and direct diplomacy
which did not threaten where 1T did not
intend to execute. This YOU have had.
"You wanted peace. For when this
Administration took Office, strange as
would have been debating yet had we
continued the old controversy, but the
country wanted peace. The commercial
interests Of the country depended upon
peace and we made peace without sac
rifcing our interests or detracting