The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1922-09-28
THE RESTORATION
OF PROTECTION

tective tariff bill brings to close an
era Of Democratic free trade when
has lasted almost exactly nine years,
and ushers in period of prosperity,
the duration of which will depend
largely on the span Of control allotted
by the American people to the Repub-
lican party" declares the Republican
Publicity Association, thru it's Presl-
dent, Hon. Jonathan Bourne, Jr. A
cursory review of the effects of the
Underwood Simmons tariff law, just
repealed, is pertinent on this occasion,
bearing in mind that the evil workings
of that law were suspended by world
war conditions beginning ten months
after it's enactment and perslstlng
down to 1921.
1.-The Underwood Simmons law took
effect October 4th, 1918 In the words
of Mr.. Underwood on the final pass
age of the bill, there was mot line
of production in it, The theory OF
the measure was that increased I'M
ports would result in lower prices
larger revenues from customs, and
expanding exports the more we
bought from others, the more they
would buy from us. At that time we
were enjoying a normal foreign trade
which in the decade 19O4-19l3 aggre-
gated nearly ,OOO0O0,OO0 in i'm
ports and almost $4,000, 100000 in
exports, or a favorable balance OF
trade averaging about $50O,OOO,OOO
annually. Six months after the
Democratic law took effect, the month
w balance turned against us, and it
continued against us down to Sep
TENDER, 1914, when war orders from
Europe began to turn the scale the
other way The adverse balance IN
August, 1914, was SIS, 4OO,OOO. At
the outbreak of the war in Europe
nearly 100000 Americans were out
of employment because of industrial
depression, and in the big centers OF
population the only wheels which re-
volved regularly were those OF the
soup-cart.
"The war gave an impetus to Amer
lean industry, agricultural and manu-
featuring, the like of which has never
before ben experienced, and the YES
sells of the allied powers were loaded
to the plimsol marks with food and
munitions of war to support the
cause. Democratic politicians made
capital of this blood -and-lron COM
merce, and Secretary Redfield of the
Department of Commerce brazenly de-
clared that but five per cent OF 1t was
attributable to the war, while the re-
mainder should be credited to Demo-
cratic policies. Following the war:
Europe found her warehouses swept
clear of raw materials: and her cities:
farms and Industries denuded OF sup
niles needed for rehabilitating pur-
noses. So the demands for American
products continued. From 1915 to
1921, inclusive, we exported $42,OOo,-
100000 worth of goods from this
country, or at the rate of S5,OOO,OOo,-
600 annually. Of this vast export
value 81 per cent went to Europe, and
since European mills and farms were
in no position to keep up their tor
eien trade, we we're requisitioned by
North and South America, Asia anc
Africa to meet their requirements.
The calendar year 1920 found ou7
foreign competitors securing a strong
position in our domestic market, evl
tenced by $5,27S, 100000 worth of i'm
ports, "a per cent of which were food
s.ttuffs competing with our farm pro
ducts. The Republican Platform
written in 1920, recited: The uncer
tain and unsettled condition of inter
national balances, the abnormal eco
non1ic and trade situation of tn
world, and the impossibility of fore
casting accurately even the, near fu
ture, preclude the formation OF a de
finite program to meet conditions
year hence But the Republican part,
reaffirms it's belief in the protectlv
principle and pledges itself to a revi
sion of the tariff as soon as condition
shall make it necessary for the pre-
servation of the home market TO
American labor, agriculture and IN
dustry.' The followers of Wilson an
Cox reaffirmed the traditional polio,
Of the Democratic party on the tar
if.
"The import record of 1920 mad
some protective legislation impera
tive, and on May 9th Of the follow
ing year the Emergency tariff bill wa
signed by Mr.. Harding, having bee
vetoed by President Wilson a fey
months previously. With one or tw
exceptions favorable to the South