, 1922-09-15
Pomerenc's Faulty Memory

ATLEE POMERENE, Democratic senator from
n Ohio delivered the keynote address at the state
convention of his party. 1t also formally opened
his campaign for reelection. According to press
reports of his speech he dwelt quite a bit upon the
tariff measure, charging that it would increase the
cost of living to the working man, and injure the
farmer and destroy foreign markets. This is an old
familiar sound. During the discussion of the en-
Urgency tariff in the senate in January, 1921, Sen
ator Pomerene delivered several speeches in OPP
position and among other things said:
"Last week L was in the city of Cincinnati. Up
on inquiry 1 found that the shops there were only
running about 40 per cent of their capacity. 1 am
advised that in the great iron and steel centers of
Ohio the mills are running about 80 per cent of
their capacity. 1 have in mind at the present time
a great manufacturing plant which ordinarily en-
ploys about 10000 men, but which today is en-
ploying about 1000. L have in mind another plant
which employees, ordinarily about 5000 men; it is
closed down now. l have in mind another plant
that employs ordinarily, about 4,SO0 men, whereas
now 1t is employing about 200 men. There is not
an industrial center in the state of Ohio or in
western Pennsylvania or ii New York or Illinois
that is not more of less very seriously affected by
unemployment. The other day, adding to. my dis
tress of mind, when-I picked up one of the Ohio
newspapers L found that in the city of Toledo al
ready there had been formed a bread line of 1000
men; and a day later 1 found on reading another
newspaper that that morning the authorities had
TO feed 1000 men for breakfast and TO give them
baskets of food TO take home to their families.
Then, L turn to this bill, and I find a duty placed
on wheat; 1 find eight cents a pound duty added to
butter, and as much added to cheese, and in the
same relative proportion increased duty is pro-
posed to be levied upon nearly all the substantial
food products of the country. What are we to do
for those who are now out of employment?
On another occasion but ON the same subject he
gave utterance 10 these statements:
81 sent out a QUESTIONABLE to every chamber of
commerce and to every central labor union in the
cities of 10000 and over in my state, and word
comes back from nearly everyone of these indus
trial centers that about 40 per cent of the work
ingmen, of the country are out of employment; and
now with that situation confronting us, the con
gress of the United States seeks to place a heavy
tax upon everything which goes on the working
mans breakfast table.
"The newspapers last week carried the informa-
ton that in the industrial city OF Toledo there was
a bread line of 1000 men, and the civic authorities
not only gave them their breakfast but gave them
baskets to carry home to the famished ones there.
Yet the congress seeks to put a duty upon milk,
butter, bread, meat and eggs.
"Mr. President, at the proper time I will not op-
pose a vote on this bill, but l warn Republicans
that if you fasten this bill upon the American PEG.
pie it viii be the handwriting on the WALL for
YOU
1t is of considerable political significance that
Senator Pomerene in his Columbus speech failed
10 refer to his predictions of over a year ago as to
what would happen in event a farmers tariff were
enacted. The senator like practically every other
Democratic politician spends a large part of his
public career in running away from his own re
cord. Democratic politicians in every campaign
are very busy trying to forget what they said in
the previous campaign. They spend their life max
ing direful predictions.
, senator Pomerene's speeches in January, 1921