Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-04-14
Lucid Tariff Views.

A Republican paper in San Fran
cisco has sent forth broadcast over the
streets of that city circular in which
the following conundrums are pro-
pounded: s'Is Protection benefit to
you in your business? Is Protection
aNational benefit II Gould your bust
ness exist without Protection?" By
the way, it is not set forth what is
meant by Protection but it is fair to
assume that Protective Tariff is the
point aimed at. 1t is quite natural
to hear our esteemed contemporary
and all papers Of its kind speak in this
loose ia shion. Protection is Protec-
ton i n their mind, and they are
in the habit of entertaining
the ut terly absurd ideas that the
greater he tax the greater the benefit,
that the protection of any industry
must of necessity be a benefit, not
only to tn ose engaged directly in it,
but that all industries, kindred or un-
related, must share in this benefit,and
to the full extent of the tax. Those
who reply have quite as clear and
broad views of the question before
them as the person who PROFOUND
ed7 the: conundIums had. In
one list of answers embracing
about tw enty separate replies we note
there are represented lumber dealer,
. stationer, glue manufacturer,
gunsmith, a secondhand furniture
auctioneer, maker of picture frames,
. wine- maker, a dealer in tea, coffee
and spi ces, a manu- tacturer Of carriage
springs, a wool merchant, a commits
sion merchant, a leather betting man
ufactur er, an electric supply company,
= stencil maker, boiler maker, tool
company, a glove manufacturer,
tanner, "maker of models" Some
of the establishments have invested
1s low as $1,000, and employ
AS few as two hands
in their business.l There are two
members of the firm of stationers in
the list ,and it is worthy of note that the
firm sen ds in an answer and each
member of the firm makes reply per-
Donally. In every case but one the
answers are of a most unanimous
tenor. All the respondents are per-
fectly sure that their business could
not flourish without Protection, that
Protection is great blessing.
One firm, makers of carriage springs,
has capital of 10000 and employs
ten hands. The answer from this en-
ferprise seems rather strange in the
company in which it is found. 1t says
Protection is not an advantage to
their business, and that it is doubtful
If it is National benefit.
The objection to this sort of business
Is that it proves nothing excepting that
those who m axe the replies are Pro
tectionists. As to the question which
It is intended to influence opinion
upon, this sort of interview is worth
less. The Republican party proposes
10 pose as the champion of the pro-
tective idea. Although four years
ago the party distinctly took the stand
that there was too much revenue
being raised, and that the tariff
schedule required reforming, yet in
tho present year of grace it eats its own
words without compunction, and re-
eists all efforts, rejects all PROPOSE
lions and decries all suggestions look
ing to any change in the present tariff
schedule. Mark, there is no move
ment on foot towards Free Trade. All
tho Democratic party seeks is a con
osrvative reno deling of the imposts
which will bring the revenue down to
Ehe requirements Of an honest and
economical administration of the
Government. The Republican party
resist this. In effect they come
before the country With the
monstrous proposition that all
imports should pay duty, that the
afGi,er th dut y the greater tho sd-
unn1aGe 20 the country, that = duty |