Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-06
THE TARIFF.
A Young Man wants to Know
something About 1t.

II ~ lA1eII
A Young Man wants to Know
something About 1t.
EDITORS HERALD-Our greatest men
and wisest statesmen differ upon the
tariff question. Then, to young men
who will cast their first vote this fall
how perplexing it must be! Do answer
the following questions, and please give
your opinion when a direct answer is
impossible. Pardon the first, in view of
your relation to this campaign, and Of
the fact that an answer, negative or
affirmative, will aid much u gauging the
exact stand point from which you
speak.
First. Do you believe in free trade
for the United States with foreign coun-
tries?
Second. Will free wool increase or
diminish the sale of our home wool, and
to what extent? Will The purchase of
foreign wool by our manufacturers be
increased or diminished, and what the
effect upon home wool?
Third. The keynote to free wool seems
to be the need Of certain grades OF foreign
wool to blend with home wool. Would
the products of such blending be neces-
sity or luxury? Did the Mills bill put
on the free list such, or all grades, and
why not so discriminate
Fourth. How does the Mills bill affect
the tariff on sugar? Why did not Mr..
Mills take the robber tariff off of this
article in preference to wool, which
comes much nearer supplying the home
demand than does sugar? Did the
Louisiana manufacturing companies OBJ
ject, and why does the tariff benefit our
sugar industry?
Fifth. Are not Messrs. Carlisle, Mills,
Scott, Breckenridge and Watterson free
traders? If the Mills bill is not free
trade measure, would they as such be
satisfied with 'seven per cent" reduc-
ton?
Sixth. Does the tariff help to build
up our native industries?
Seventh. How will free trade or low
tariff break down foreign tariff barriers
to our goods. FIRST VoTE.
The above letter has been in the
HERALD Office some time. The excuse is
that it was mislaid. The following
answers are given:
First. The HERALD does not believe
in free trade. 1t is soundly Democratic,
recognizes the fact that duties must be
imposed on imports in order to raise
revenue for the country. These duties
should be so arranged as to protect
American labor.
Second. The woolens manufactured
from any woods come rather under the
head of necessities than luxuries. The
blending will give US all grades of goods.
Some of these will be finer and higher
cost than the others. To levy duty ac-
cording to the grade of wool is very
complicated matter. 1t opens the door
to much corrupt practice. Besides
cheaper wool of all grades will give us
chance to compete with foreign mills for
the trade of the outside world.
Fourth. You answer this yourself.
The tax was left on sugar because this
industry is still in its inception. The
State of California alone is capable of
producing enough sugar to supply all
the markets of the Union, and in time to
export large quantities abroad. The
HERALD has no means of knowing what
the Louisiana people did in the prem
ises.
Fifth. The Mills bill is to be Judged
on its merits, by what it says. It is the
judgment of the Democratic party, not of
any individual or coterie. 1t is not clear
that some of the gentlemen named are
satisfied with it. 1t satisfies the general
good sense of the party. 1t is conserva-
tive, moderate and judicious. That set
ties its status.
Sixth. That is the Democratic doc.
trine-that proper adjustment of neces-
sary taxation should be made in order to
stimulate and encourage such industries
as suffer from too close competition with
foreign products. AS some lines of in
dustry grow to robust strength this Incl
dental protection should be shifted to
help others which are coming into ex-
istence. The objection is to the extreme
protection now for the first time in his
tory advocated by the Republican party.
Until this year all their own greatest
statesmen, including Blaine, Sherman.
Garfield, Arthur, Grant and others have
held practically the ground now &C.
cupied by President Cleveland. The
objection to over-protection is that it
builds up monopolies and does not help
labor. Mr.. Blaine is the only logical
Republican there is. He sees that a de-
tense OF the extreme protection of his
party involves the defense of trusts :.
which is the result. He therefore very
properly from his point of view defends
trusts.
Seventh. Cheaper raw material will
give American manufacturers a more
equal chance with those of England and
france to sell goods alongside of those
produced in those countries, and vet not
lower the rate OF wages here.