Milford chronicle., 1922-08-04
UNCLE TED'S
BEDTIME STORIES
"AUNT ALICE" TELLS A STORY

few days, after a long visit abroad.
She expressed the hope that he might
meet her at the dock. He decided he
would do so, and started to pack his
grip.
ooh, Uncle Ted, can't we go too?'
exclaimed Ruth and Jack in unison.
Mother was astOunded at the question,
but after pondering a moment Uncle
Ted replied: "Why not? 1t is time you
saw something of your country and
its great metropolis, and I'll tell you
what we will do: We will visit Wash
y ington on the way back home and you
can put in a few days at the National
Capital and see all the sights"
There was anecstacy of delight and
Uncle Ted was smothered by legs and
arms and sweet young bodies. Mo-
ther had hundred objections to make,
each one nipped in the bud, and three
hours later a starchy little girl, a
cocky little boy, and kindly man
were aboard the train and hoping that
the railroad strike would not leave
them stranded on the prairies. They
arrived in New York in due time, met
Aunt Ina who was a progressive wO-
man-her first desire was to meet the
Lady from Oklahoma, Representative
Alice Robertson, affectionately known
to Congress as "Aunt Alice"
The latch-string of Aunt Alice's Of
flee hangs outside and it was no trou-
BILE at all to secure a chat with her.
She had Just completed an address
which she was to present in the House
next day, and since Aunt Ina, who had
become somewhat influenced by for
eign ideas, had criticised the Republi-
can tariff bill, Aunt Alice took occa-
sion to set her right while the chill
dren listened intently to what she had
to say:
'When I was young girl 1 became
stenographer to commission sent to
Indian Territory to make treaty with
\the CherOkees. The chairman of the
commission, Southern born and bred,
had been a major general and prom
inent in our diplomatic service. Stu
dies of labor conditions and questions
of American protection and foreign
free trade had been a passion with
him. From him I first learned that
Americas battles, Americas victory,
Americas lasting freedom and pros
perity lay in protection. He was in
s1stent that Americas greatest war
fare was to be for her homes, to keep
her people above the horrors of fore
ign free-trade labOrers. From that
time free trade and protection have
been my constant study, not from the
standpoint of a lawmaker but of
plain American woman. There is no
argument that I have ever found IA
voring free trade that has not been
completely demolished in cOnsidera-
tion. 1 we had before us a health
chart of American prosperity-such
chart as is made for hospital patients,
and you could follow with me the up
and down wavering line of depression
and prosperity, it would startle you
to see how this line has followed a
protective tariff.
There is in the heart of woman,
especially the woman who has had
the conceded duty, always, of caring
for the family and eXpending the sup
port provided by man, the protector,
a keen interest in making the most
of what comes to her.
There is a phase of protection that
I have never seen fully explained, at
least not by a woman. think you and
L
a woman's life quite like shopping"
Aunt Ina, who had returned with
three trunks filled with French luxur-
les, agreed. Aunt Alice continued:
"Men do not know how fascinating
it is. Marketing may be drudge, but /
shopping is a delight. The great de-
partment stores in our large cities are
the most seductive places on earth.
First, there is the appeal of advertise
ments of about everything in about |
every store below cost And how we |
women fall for these bargains We do |
not stop to consider that if there are |
actual reductions and below cost |
sales there must be some tremend- |
Ous profits to more than balance them, |
because of the millions and millions |
of capital invested in these stores and |
the other millions spent in advertis- |
ing and like endless expenses. But |
are they really bargains? Why, we are |
told that the profits on imported wares |
run from 100 to 1000 per cent. The |
thoughtless woman who buys the i'm
ported hose or gloves or dress pat |
tern little realizes that she may be |
contributing towards her husbands or |
sons or daughters idleness. we do |
not realize what the continued buying |
of foreign-made goods may mean. We |
do not stop to consider that every dol
lars worth, every hundred dollars
worth, every thousand dollars worth,
every million dollars worth of inn
ported goods that are bought dis |
places Just that amount of American
goods and deprives our working men |
and women of just so much wages.
Combine the words imported and re
duced' and the bargain becomes ir-
resistible.
"And so we must be protected |
against our own acts. A protective
tariff is a national safeguard. 1t di-
rectly and indirectly protects us all.
It promotes opportunity, it safeguards
every occupation, it insures us against
idleness. We need protection to enable
us to buy our homes; we need pro-
lection to enable us to furnish them
and maintain them. Free trade is not
a home builder and our homes are the
basis of our fine manhood and woman
hood and childhood. The only way to
elevate the rest of mankind is to main
tain our own high standard and in
cite their emulation"
'Me for American toys!" exclaimed
Jack. "And me for American dolls"
cried Ruth. And Aunt Ina pulled her
Paquin dress over her French-clad
ankles