Jasper County Democrat, Volume 23, Number 53, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 September 1920 — A TRADE WAR [ARTICLE]

A TRADE WAR

That there are men in this country who are looking forward, and with eagerness, to a bitter trade war, can no longer be doubted. There are now three propositions before the people that point directly to that purpose. There are those who would scrap the Versailles treaty and the league covenant, and make a separate peace with Germany, thus keeping America out-of a great league that already comprises 41 nations in its membership. It is hard to believe that there are any men favorable to such a policy. But such is the surprising and disheartening fact. Out of this policy a trade war would certainly be born. But it is proposed further to enact legislation exempting American ships from the payment of Panama canal tolls, legislation that would be in flat violation of a treaty by virtue of which we enjoy great benefits and advantages, benefits and which were withheld from us by the treaty which the later convention superseded. The repeal of the law exempting our ships from the payment of tolls was voted for by both Democrats and Republicans, and strongly supported by such men as Elihu Root and Henry Cabot Lodge. Yet the Republican platform declares in favor of toll exemption for “all vessels engaged in coastwise trade and all vessels of the American mer-

chant marine” using the Panama canal.” ThuSitls sought to reverse an act of the congress, participated in by many Republicans, which was generally recognized as just and right, and as In * accordance with the best traditions of the nation. It is another step in the direction of trade war. Finally, we are proposing to drive ships flying foreign flags out of American "ports by government dis crimination in favor of ships of American registry, and one American senator has said that he hoped that would be the result. Here, of course, is direct war. It Is, too, war on our own people and merchants, who would be deprived of a muchneeded competition. We can not think that such policies will ever commend themselves to the American people. In a Washington dispatch to the News of yesterday was this: American manufacturers, who have spent much money during the last 15 months investigating foreign trade possibilities, are much concerned over this foreign program. They confidently believe that should it be carried out in its entirety it would make it almost impossible for the United States to get trade footholds anywhere that would be worth while. Already South American countries, which had shown great interest in American products, are turning from us, and are now showing a preference for the tradesmen of Europe, and during the last six months our South American trade has been getting away from us at an alarming rate. We do not wonder that our manufacturers are “concerned.” Fo r there is nothing in the policy to attract, but everything to repel trade. —Indianapolis News (Rep.).