The New York herald., 1922-11-05

to meet the needs of a growing popu-
| lation. ~
THE problem was a basic one, be-
cause you can have no progress without
economy and efficiency We are fond
OF contenting ourselves with forms OF
words, with plausible schemes. with re
trims in propositions. deluding our
| selves with the notion that IL We ear
only contrive new expression, or 9
new statutory provision we shall be
able to improve our condition while we
reglect the fundamental requisites Of
economy and efficiency without which
Under any forms administration must
be failure. This is a toilsome task
for which few in politics bave any
stomach
Waste Has Ended.
1T is to the Asting credit of the Re.
publican Administration that. despite the
enormous difficulties in the way, this
problem has been successfully attacked
! wasteful expenditures have been stopped
and efficiency improved. This great
achievement has been due to the coopera-
ton of the Executive and Congress- but II
has been primarily due to the infleXible
purpose. courage and sagacity of Presi-
dent Harding. The President has not
permitted any selfish interest of any
sort to get in the way of rigidly en-
forced economy in Federal expenditures
Don't forget the figures; they are most
eloquent. For the fiscal year ending June
80, 1920, our Federal expenditures aggre-
gated s6.403, ,345, 900; a year later. $5,l15.-
$4,000; and for the fiscal year 1922
/ &,373,607 ,00O The President has estab-
lished. not reform In words. but IN
actual budget control, and the prom
made lCen
filled
The new Administration was faced
with excessive taxation and a coloss Al
public debt. This problem has been
attacked. Taxes have been reduced by
SSeDOD.OO0. reductions which have bene-
fitted every one. The public debt has
been reduced over 81 900 o00. 600.
1--WE needed protection for American
industry. 1t has been supplied. Here
we touch a fundamental point of diff
ference between the two parties. That
difference is one OF principle, The Re-
publican party believes in a policy OF
protection. The Democratic party, as a
party. does not although 1 believe
Democratic business men do. You can
never get adequate protection for
American industry from a Democratic
Administration.
Permit me to refer here. as I have
I
opinion of Democratic business men as
to the recently enacted tariff act
do not believe in the extravaganza OF
campaigns. and there probably is nc
question about which 1t is so difficult
to form an intelligent opinion in the
midst of campaign as the effect of O
new tariff. N~
1T is for this reason that refer not
10 the arguments OF Republicans with
which you are acquainted, but to the let
ter which Mr.. John II. Kirby, leading
Democrat, president of the Southern
Tariff Association, has addressed tc
President Harding. He represents an as
sociation composed largely of Demo
Gratis in the South, without which tho
Democratic party could not function
and he says: There are doubtless in
equalities and determinations I'm the law
recently enacted--to think otherwise
would be to assume human infallibiity-
but we have come as Southerners, tbs
representatives of industry In a loya
and tremendously important section oi
our common country, TO say to you that
In our judgment the Fordney- -McCumbei
tariff is, as a whole, just measure ant
capable OF promoting thrift Throughout
the land and the contentment and happi-
ness of our people everywhere He add:
that when the Emergency Tariff act was
passed under the present Administration
The provisions of that law put their in
dustries upon their feet in the sense
that they were able to survive, and ir
the passage OF the final act the door oi
hope has been opened for which these
leading Democrats expressed their CRATE
full acknowledgment to the President
and 10 the Congress.
"I do not profess to be an expert ir
tariff schedules, but I think that state
ment voices the sentiment of the busi-
ness men of this country who are not
misled by partisan clamor The mos
important point. however, in connection
with the new tariff act, in my Judgment
is that provision has been made fol-
needed elasticity so that without the de
lays and exigencies incident So n new
tariff measure au expert body constantly
giving the most Intelligent attention tC
the problem can advise the President o
changes in conditions and by appropriate
Executive action these can be met by
changes In rates"
Mr.. Hughes then reviewed tho worl
of the Administration in foreign affairs
and described the accomplishments o
the Washington arms conference.
No Cry Unhecded.
NO cry OF tho afflicted in any, par
! OF the world has reachedi America IL
vain" the Secretary added. He
wealth in unstinted measure has beer
poured out for the relief of the starving
and distressed. Moreover relief TO Eu
rope, aid in her economic recuperation
has bee lavishly extended. Europe
has needed credit. IL has sought from
the American people investments 70 hell
her in her productive enterprises and
about four billions Of dollars have beer
cent 10 Europe from this country since
the armistice.
But We cannot change the chcrishe,
policies Of European states. These pol
icies have their background In history
and have their explanation in natlona
convictions with respect TO the require
ments OF national safety and nationa
aspirations. There Is now an intense
feeling Of natlonalism IN Europe which
Is readily explained. and this IN eacl
case gives aim TO national endeavor and
determines national policies as to Euro
pean questions
THE American policies to which
have referred will gain nothing by be
ing confused with others. our potential
helpfulness will be diminished, ana no
Increased by mixing in matters that arr
not our concern and becoming parties {,
controversies, and partisans of interests
and ambitions, that are not ours. w,
have n great influence for peace ant
heipfulness IN this world and we pro
pose to preserve IL, and the best way e
preserve it Is to maintain our owf
definite American position unconfusec
and uuobscured."