Speech #620219307

I stand for an adequate measure of protection on all competitive articles. the amount of protection to be governed by the difference of cbst of production at home and abroad. and this difference to be scientifically ascertained by a continuing nonpartisan tariff board. Free trade or a tariff for revenue only is impossible for this country. Our dustries must be protected against the products of poorly paid European and Asiatic labor. and unless this is done panic and commercial ruin must inevitably. as in the past. sweep the country. But in order that the law of supply and demand may operate unhindered the gigantic pricefixing monopolies must be brought within control or destroyed. Amply protect our industries. but let competition within this zone of protection make the selling price to the consumer. Restrict immigration. not only as a measure of protection to American labor but for moral and hygienic reasons. A protective tariff must be maintained if we are to hold our commercial status and be prbsperous as a Nation. for free trade means a business and labor parity with the cheapproducing and cheapliving countries of Europe and Asia. The commerce between the States of the Republic. which Is greater than the commerce between all the nations of Europe. must not be sacrificed. b ut. on the other hand. the power and will of the people must assert itself and strangle the pricefixing monopolies. And until immigratign is restricted the labor of the country can not receive that full measure of reward and benefit which protection offers the manufacturer. Let there be maintained a tariff that will protect all competitive articles. smash the pricefixing trusts and monopolies. restrict immigration. and require the untaxed billionaires to bear their share of the Nations burdens in equal proportion with the manufacturer and workingman. then we believe many of the ills of the country will disappear and something more akin to 6h ideal condition prevail for all classes. This is my platform. and while briefly stated. I believe goeq straight to the vitals of the paramount Issues of ihis era. I .unuclated these doctrines Iong ago. I reiterated them at te farmers picnic in Union County last August and again as late as February 22. 1912. at Lewistown. when I was the guest and Speaker at a banquet given by the Patriotic Order Sons of Amerida. During this Congress I introduced a bill providing for thle restriction of Immigration. within a month I voted to tax the big billionaires. ever and always my voice and the weight of my influence have been against monopolies and illegal trusts. For the soldier and his widow and children. for the great farming industry In contingencies like the discussion on reciSfrocity. in which I stood the defender of the interests of Penn.ylvania farmers. for the arm of labor I have always been. for the home and fireside and the boys and girls at public school I have given. and will give. a maximum of effort and energy.