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W r'i ' '" THE RICHMOND PALLADIUM AND -SUN-TELEGRAM FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 1918. it ' (Political AarerUflement) Mm amdl Peace amd Them The fruits of victory the triumph of j ustice, right eousness and humanity will not be sweet to America if economic conditions in this country are not right when the war ends. We are almost face to face with this grave danger. The sudden return to normal con ditions that will be inevitable with the demobilization of our National Army will test the heart of this country. The sudden increase in the labor supply will impel a general readjustment that will affect every home in v the land. At this moment, just before art, election, it will be well for every voter to take solemn . thought of the condition of eco nomic and industrial activity that impends. On the shoulders of the party successful at the polls on .November 5th, will fall the great , problems that will have to be solved during the reconstruction period. shores Next Congress Vital To the next Congress will be committed the questions that will vitally affect labor, governmental policies, business, farming all now at war-time tension. All these must resume their normal course and enter into competition with war-impoverished nations, eager to refill their coffers. At this moment a Democratic "tariff for revenue only is the law of the land. History tells too plainly the story of the disastrous effects of every tariff law of this character ; that has ever been permitted to operate for any length or period. Even those of the shortest memory can recall the dark days that fol lowed the enactment of this law back in 1913, when industrial iactivity the country over was crippled and labor sought in vain for something to do. Not until the World Wide War temporarily took the place of a protective tariff was there any change or improvement in industrial and economic conditions in this country. The minute this War is over arid the Democratic tariff law will be placed in operation, industrial activity will again be paralyzed as it was during 1913. Needs Protective Tariff The United States will have to have a protective tariff to save American business and American labor from the influx of the products of the great factories that have been built up abroad during the war and that are now and will then be operated by cheap labor: when the Europ wars in e iv&re over we had no tariff, and the products of the factories of Europe were dumped on our -President Woodrow Wilson in his History of the American People. America cannot expect a protective tariff from the, Democratic party wnicn holds las ? one oi its cardinal principles "A Protective Tariff is Robbery". Have we any assurance that there will not be an influx of cheap labor products after the war? We can-, only judge the future by the past. Let us quote from an eminent authority on history. President Woodrow Wilson in his History of the American People, in the chapter dealing with the period from 1812 to 1820, said, in touching on the Napoleonic wars, ended in 18153 "Unfortunately when the wars in Europe were over, w - had no tariff, and the products of the factories of Europe were dumped on our shores." Remember 1913 What is the situation now? The wars in Europe are certainly approaching? an end. We have noi - tariff that will protect the labor of the country. That was provenj during the few months it was in force in 1913, when the prices of j labor and its products, including' farm products, were falling every; day, only to be saved by the break ing out of the war. After this war there will be more factories in Europe than ever! before, for all ammunition plants; will be turned ihto factories for thej production of manufactured arti-j cles of all kinds. Millions of disabled '' soldiers, millions of orphaned chil dren and widows will be utilized in these factories and it goes without saying that the wages will be low. How can American labor hope to comoete with European and i volant xauui utiuci uic ucw vwix- ditions that will prevail with the! coming of peace ?,. " S? The American standard of hvingalwaysTIIitghest, in the world, cannot be reduced to the European and certainly not to the Asiatic level. Yet it is as sure as fhafj two and two make four, that when the temporary bar-i riers to intercourse, caused by the great war, are removed as they will be the day peace is declared, the American manufacturer and the American laboring man will Have to compete with the cheaply run factories and the under, paid workingmen of all the world. No Relief Here There is a tariff commission, each member of which) was chosen because of his opposition to a tariff -that! protects. There will be no succor from that source.' The immediate prospect is not very promising. The only way to prevent a complete demoralization of industrial conditions following the dawn of peace is to elect a Congress that wiU promptly en The only party that will do this arte safeguard alLm th Repuh TI 11 HOWCO. Elect! on. Tuesday y November 5th AN ADVERTISEMENT BY THE REPUBLICAN STATE COMMITTEE