tition, the American standards of living cannot be maintained. At present, the American laborer is living far better than any other laborer in the world. He receives much higher wages, and is prosperous. If our manufacturers had to compete against goods made in countries where the labor cost is a mere fraction of what it is in America, it would not be profitable for them to do business. They would close down their plants; labor would be out of employment; and general hard times would ensue. It is largely upon these grounds that the Republicans make their appeal to maintain a high protective tariff, particularly at this time (1925), when there is such a great disparity between labor costs in America and elsewhere. Protection has been the permanent American policy, interrupted but twice, during the last sixty years. These two short periods of Democratic control were noted for the depression in industry, and the suffering of the American working man. When we opened the gates for cheaply made European goods, we displaced that production in America, and closed up American industries. During both periods, industry was paralyzed, capital went into hiding, and the home market was disorganized by the invasion of foreign producers. When the American laboring man has no money he doesn't pay his rent; he does not buy from the grocer, the tailor, and all the other integral units of our civilized society. He is by far their greatest customer; and when he is hard up everybody suffers, even the salaried man who is not at first affected. It would appear from past experience that it is a matter of primary importance to keep American labor employed at good wages. The Democrats claim that protection destroys our foreign trade. According to the Republicans, the record of facts conclusively refutes this claim. The imports from the first year of the Underwood Act (Democratic) up to July, 1914, were $1,466,127,497.00. In the last full year of its operation (October, 1921, to September, 1922) they were $2,887,500,625.00. Under the Fordney Act (Republican) they were (October, 1922, to September, 1923) $4,766,109,906.00, a large increase. The exports for the same periods tell a similar story, namely, that under the Republican tariff, large increases are shown against the periods of Democratic control. In other words, the figures indicate that we sell more goods to foreign countries under protection than under free trade. New evidence of the importance of the protective system can be found in the fact that more than thirty foreign countries since the war are employing this policy. If the United States were to abandon its policy of protection at this time and allow competition against the German laborer, who is working for about one-sixth of what the American gets, it is easy to see that the results would be disastrous; and the voters of the United States showed in the election of 1924 that they understood it. CHAPTER III COLLEGE HE college catalogue is not given enough TH attention by those who intend to go to col lege. When you have decided upon your college (or, at the latest, immediately after leaving school), get the annual catalogue of your college and (1) study its table of contents; (2) turn to the section covering the department in which you are entered or are considering, and read it through; (3) make notes as you go along about parts regarding which you desire further information; (4) pick your courses on their merits-not upon the hours at which they come. Select any course with a good professor rather than some course that sounds easy or impressive, and is taught by a poor professor. It is easy to select gold bricks. Ask acquaintances and friends about the best men on the faculty. You have been treated like a boy while you were at school. You have been watched. Masters have helped, pleaded, and scolded when you didn't get the desired results. You have been treated with leniency and indulgence. At college you will be treated like a man. You will not be criticized, helped, pleaded with, nor scolded. No one cares whether you stay in or flunk out. It is all up to you, and you will be judged entirely by your results. In regard to taking notes, there are a few principles to bear in mind: 1. Do a great deal of paragraphing. Notes that 4. 3. Try to start each paragraph with a brief statement of the essential point. Many lectures are arranged that way. It makes reviewing easier. Be very sure that you get your facts as they are given. Don't write anything unless you are cer, tain that the lecturer said it. The inaccuracy of notes taken by students is at times astonishing. 5. Practice condensing what is said into clear com |