, 1922-07-28
A Decade of Duplicity

1t seems incredible that voters will
place reliance upon the statements of
Democratic leaders Upon economic
subjects when previous statements Of
those leaders have been proven unde-
pendable in the past. Just at the
present time Democrats in congress
and in editorial sanctums are assur-
ing American farmers that they will
profit nothing by protection but will
be its victims through higher cost of
living. In 1912 when the Democratic
party was seeking control of the ma
tionai government similar statements
were made. Subsequent records
proved them to be untrue.
The figures for a single month IN
der Republican agricultural tariffs
and for\ the corresponding month
under the Democratic law after 1t
had come into full force. Illustrate
tho effect of throwing our markets
open to free foreign competition. In
March. 1918. after the Democrats had
won their victory at the polls but
while the Republican tariff was still
in effect. we importd. In round num-
bers, s50s 900 worth of cattle but In
creased those i~mportations to $685.
900 worth in March. 1914. when the
protective duty had been removed.
We imported no fresh meat in March.
1919. but 2.34s. 900 pounds in March.
1914. We imported 4.262 900 pounds
of wool in March, 1918. and 5000. 900
pounds in March. 1914.
The Democratic tariff law became
effective in October, 1918. Under the
previous Republican law there was a
duty of six cents per pound on butter.
The Democratic tariff law reduced
that rate to two and a half cents per
pound. During the first mint months
under the Democratic law. prior to
the outbreak OF the war. we imported
100000 pounds of butter as COM
pared with less than 1.ooo,o 900 pounds
during the corresponding period III
the Republican year
During the early period of the
Democratic law our commercial rep
resentatives in China were reporting
to the Democratic Department of
Commerce large exports OF eggs from
China to the United States. Seventy
five thousand dozen eggs daily wsre
brought to Marking for export.
These eggs, according to our CONNER
cial representative. cost about ~
cents per gross'or about three and a
half cents per dozen. So serious was
tho competition that Pacific coast
state endeavcfed to check the impor-
tations by barring the eggs under
health regulations.
At the same time that these large
Increases in importaticns of foreign
food products were coming In. there
was no fulfillment of the Democratic
promise of reduction of the cost of
living. On the contrary. the records
of the Democratic administration ad-
nit that the cost of living advanced
from the time hat party came into
power.
Turning from consideration Of spe-
cific articles in the agricultural sched-
ule to a brief view of totals. We find
hat in the ten months of the Demo
cratic law. prior to the outbreak of
the war in Europe. our imports as
compared with the previous period
under the Republican tariff, increased
more than 500. 900. 900 while our ex-
ports decreased $3.50. 100000. making
a difference against us of $3.50, 900. 900
in our balances of trade or a loss of
sac, ooo. 900 a month to the industries
OF America.
This brief comparison. showing the
relative effects Of protection and free
trade. is worth remembering when
reading the statement now being put
forth by Democratic leaders regarding
the benefits of protection and effect
upon cost OF living. =