Tariff Troubles Ahead

Pacific Press Publishing Association · Mountain View, California · Jun 3, 1913

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 40, No. 22.

Tariff Troubles Ahead

The discussion on the tariff question is becoming quite acute and very interesting. As usual, there is the talk, on the part of certain business interests, that if the tariff is reduced we will have hard times and thousands of men will be thrown out of employment. But Secretary of Commerce Redfield has announced, in one of his speeches, that if "big business" resorts to such tactics as that, the government will be called upon to send competent persons to their business establishments to make definite investigations as to whether or no they are using this means of fighting the tariff in order to extort exorbitant prices for their commodities. It can be readily seen that as this situation becomes more and more strained, there is liable to be introduced into the country some very serious trouble. Some will say, of course, that in order to avoid this trouble the tariff should not be "tinkered with," and that the business of the country should be let alone. On the other hand, if "big business" is permitted to go on in the way it is going, it will of itself soon bring about great revolutions because of the dissatisfaction that is being stirred up among the rank and file of the people. So there is trouble ahead if it isn't attacked, and there will be trouble ahead if it is. This world is reaching a situation that may well cause uneasiness; but to the individual who knows what it means, there is no uneasiness whatever. The masterful hand of Omnipotence will soon seize the helm. This will be a necessity. Affairs are rapidly reaching the place where they are going beyond the control of mortal man. Good men and true are grappling heroically with the situation. We may be assured that in this they are having divine help and guidance; but even then it is getting beyond them, and the personal second coming of Christ will soon be found to be a necessity in order to meet the conditions. Thoughtful men who laughed at such an idea a few years ago, are coming to see it clearly, and many others still will see it as the days go by.