Speech #630245167

I would regulate the conduct of our own business men and at the same time I would. by our revenue laws. .say to the foreign business competitor. we have certain regulations in this country governing the conduct of business. we prevent the employment of children. we require proper sanitary regulations. we pay our workmen a living wage: our business men are taxed heavily to support our Government. and before you can come in and rob him of his market and the workman of his opportunity. you must lay down in form of a license a sufficient revenue to at least put you on an equality with him. before you are permitted to dump your cheap labormade goods into our channels of trade. To my mind. gentlemen of the committee. this is not only just but it is wise. I want to say also in relation to the amendments proposed to the section of this bill dealing with labor that I have never felt that the only way to benefit the workingman was to place him in a class by himself and exempt him from some of the laws of the land in which he lives. but I wouldprotect him further. as r endeavored to do a short time ago by my vote on the immigration bill. by saying to him who would come from a foreign land. you shall not come Into this country of ours and take from the American laboring man his place in the industrial world at a lower wage. In this way I would protect him against unjust and unfair competition. and this is the character of protection the American workingman desires and should have. In connection with the proposed amendments relating to the farmer I have but a word.