Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-02-06
WHAT WE'RE UP AGAINST

One needs but glance over the pro-
paganda for and against the bonus,
for a tariff. against a tariff. for re-
funding the foreign debt and against
refunding. for a farm bloc and
against a farm bloc. Just glance will
be sufYicient. TO convince the ordinary
bystander that IL Congress fails to
set busy It isn't because there isn't
D plenty 70 do.
Take this matter Of the tariff for
Distance. and It is getting to be a
quite urgent matter II you please,
evidence Is piling UP that some
thing must be done II we are
20 hold our Jobs and our wages,
too. in this country. One author
ny has found that an ounce Of
gold will pay for but II hours Of our
labor, but will buy SO hours Of Eng
hsh labor. e5 hours in Japan, III
hours in France and 201 hours in
Germany. From this one may read-
~ conclude that. other conditions be-
ing equal. Americans can't compete
Not all other conditions are equal,
perhaps, the living expenses of labor
for one. yet II is sufficiently clear
that direct competition between the
industries Of this country and those
OF the countries mentioned would be
ruinous TO ours. Then what?V Is
there anything our labor could or
would do which wouldn't be exposed
TO this unfair competition Nothing,
surely, that would take care Of those
thrown out OF employment.
In opposition to this there are
those who will say. we must buy of
the foreigners so they may pay their
debts, Really this is putting on us
quite n burden, more than we may
he expected TO take up cheerfully.
While We produce much more than
We use. nevertheless this country
prosperous is the greatest Of all the
worlds markets. No one has yet told
us how we may continue to keep this
one OF the great markets unless we
have opportunity to do profitable
work.
Here are some of the facts which
are being presented to the committee
having the tariff bill under considera-
ton. one may buy German hair
clippers In this country for s1.39
which can't be made here at q
profit for less than five or six dollars:
manufacturer OF cutlery told them
German razors. for which we pay 81.
are landed in this country for 1894
per dozen; and while his concern
could make as good razors as
anybody. the Lord only knew
how long they could continue un-
der such conditions. The presi-
dent OF the Flint Glass Workers
Union stated that German workers
are getting Is cents per hundred for
making electric light bulbs, where
our workers get s1.54 and that It
costs nine and two-tenths cents to
make q thermos bottle in that coun.
try which couldn't be made in this
country for less than $1.o1. Another
Just back from Germany said: 1.-THE
German government may be bank
rupt but the people Of Germany are
making money faster than they ever
did before and they are perfectly
satisfied. They are building factories,
They are building homes: they are
paying on mortgages-with rotten
money. II you please-but when the
mortgages are paid their homes and
their factories are free and clear.
And they are without doubt the
most capable nation in the world
when Il comes to the development OF
Industry. Their factories are ready.
end they are ready to swamp the
world with their merchandise"
In greater or lesser degree the
whole tsaer Of the news from across
~ Wotoe y similar 70 this. what