Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-08

erect of the emergency tariff on
wheat are anything but enthusiastic
over tho effect of this congressional
action, so far as the tariff has bene-
fitted them. >. The people who
purchased flour have paid this tariff
and the farmer has not realized one
groat of advantage"
That is, the only result Of this
emergency tariff bill has been to in
crease the retail price of -four to the
consumer, thereby demonstrating
that economic truth that a higher
tariff means higher prices and an in
creased cost of living to the consum-
er which must inevitably be the re-
suit of every Republican political
high tariff law.
1t is certain that our domestic and
foreign trade are inseparable parts
OF whole and that to disentangle
them is impossible, that basic eco
nomic laws are at work and that to
hinder their. working by the passage
OF tariff laws which prohibit the in
terchange of goods is to invite disas-
ter to the business and agricultural
interests of our country. World con-
ditions have greatly changed in the
last lew years. We were a debtor
nation. We are a creditor nation
and have practically a corner on the
gold supply of the world. Foreign
governments owe our government
more than ten billions of dollars.
Ihey can pay in no other way than
IN goods. How can they pay if we
erect prohibitiye tariff wall? Due
to the increased productivity of our
country caused by the necessities of
war, our surplus is greater than it
was formerly and its disposition
therefore constitutes a greater eco
nomic necessity than ever before.
We can only dispose of this sur
plus to foreign countries. taking
thclr GootA in exchange and out of
thls ioreISr trade Europe will be able
20 pay her debt to US, and as a re-
suit OF this foreign trade our fac
tories and mills will be operated and
our labor employed. If they can not
sell to us, they can not buy from
US. The unemployment in this coun-
Try TO very considerable degree at
least IS caused by the decentralization
OF our foreign trade, and the moro
high tariff laws that are passed bv
congress, the more demoralized will
our foreign trade become, with ever
increasing unemployment not only in
tiis country but abroad, together
with higher prices here. We are now
on both sides of the tariff wall.
To riff .,l,
as matter of politics but rather as a
matter of sound business or com
merclal policy. The greatest boon
that Congress can confer on Amor
lcan business is to assure it that the
tarht VIII be left alone politically in
ofdef mat 1T may proceed with con-
ndence and not uncertainty to adjust
Itself TO economic conditions as they
may exist ..
Among the dismal failures of the
republican party must be recorded
the tax bill denounced by the Chair
man of the Finance Committee. as "a
temporary makeshift." In the cam
palgn, the Republicans promised Nc
business of the country tax laws
when do not, for tax laws which do.
excessively mulct the consumer or
hecdlessly repress enterprise and
thrllt.' They boosted as always thu +
the republican party contained all
Inc brains and ability of the country.
with here and there 30 best mind -
and that they only had the ability TO
frame and enact laws that would en-
courage and not hamper business.
v hat did this party of alleged abil-
lty do? Its great committee of finance
drew a tax bill that was so bad that
Senator Smoot refused to sign the
republican report in its favor. And
the senate to this product of Repub-
lean ability 60 added thereto s33
amendments.
NO party in the history of ON.
country has ever failed so lamentably
as has the Republican party in the
passage of this Revenue Bill. They
admit that the bill fails to carry ont
the pledges of their party, thereby
confessing the decentralization and
impotence of their party to give the
country constructive legislation.
The cry of the Republicans during
the last campaign was back to nor
malcy."
Before election we were a busy
country, labor was employed at good
wages. we were country of happy,
prosperous homes. The Republic
cans said that the country demanded
a change. We had no doubt that if en-
trusted with power the Republican
party would accommodate them.
The votes had hardly been counted
when the Republican party said that
the way back to normalcy" was to
reduce wages, and while the Repub-
hcans drove wages down, they kept
the cost of living UP. And this from
the party, which for so many years
has pretended to be 50 interested in
the standard of living of the Ameri-
can working man-beforc election.
By this policy, the purchasing pow
er of the public was diminished
while prices were kept up. which of
necessity resulted in a falling off of
sales OF merchandise. There being
Il restricted domestic market. and
our foreign trade being already de-
moralized by the failure to ratify the
Peace Treaty, industry came to a
stand, and the American workingman
finds himself today without money
and without job. Such is Normal
cy."
The Republican party must be
judged in the coming election on the
record of this administration rec
ficiency. Republican dissension and