Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-27
r.p.e Ussues-Shail We Have Manu-
faCtures.


False Issues-ShaIl We Have Manu-
factures.
What will prove to be one OF the great
est debates ever chronicled in American
politics was begun by the Republicans
with great flourish of trumpets and
clashing of cymbals. Their plan OF cam
paign was quickly formed, and it con-
sisted of a great howl about free trade
and unlimited misrepresentation as to
the Democratic attitude on that great
issue. The Democrats have accepted the
challenge, and there can be no doubt
that they will gain in the discussion every
day from now till the closing OF the polls.
Why not? What the people OF California
need is free raw material. This common
wealth ought to be the richest spot on
earth, and it would be if we were not OBJ
liped to send our money to the East to
nav for highly protected goods OF all kinds.
We nay two dollars for everything we
consume when we ought, OF right, only
to pay one. When we do not have to
pay out these large sums for Eastern
manufactured goods we are obliged to pay
equally as much to the Collector OF the
Port of San Francisco. This is regularly
remitted by the Sub Treasurer to the
East, and that is the last we ever see OF
a dollar of it. Ten million dollars year
find their way East yearly in this man
ner.
What a difference there would be in a
few wears if we could keep all this money
in California. 1t would fructify in a
splendid manner, and there would soon
be no end of capital in the golden
State for legitimate enterprises OF all
kinds.
With free raw material men OF moder-
ate means can engage in manufactures.
As it is now, with heavy duties, most
men cannot raise the money needed to
start modest, productive little enter
prises. As a consequence only the
rich can engage in manufact-
uring projects, and they, OF
course, in nine cases out of ten,
employ Chinese labor. In many cases
the tax on the raw material is as great
as the first cost of the article itself. A
man who is obliged to pay s., 900 for his
raw material and $1,000 additional in
duties finds himself ruled out of the field.
If the raw material comes in free of duty
he can probably procure it on credit OF
sixty or ninety days and give the COM
munity the benefit OF his energy. He
can hire poor men like himself, who
will assist in developing the resources OF
the State, and who will spend the money
they earn in California.
What an inestimable boon is free
lumber to the people of this State Cali
fornians have for years been paying
ten millions of dollars annually in
bonuses to half dozen firms in San
Francisco, each consisting of two or three
members at the most, who own all the
timber lands on the Pacific Coast.
Why pay this royal largess?
What an impetus will be given to de-
velopment when the lumber rings are
brought to terms, and a man can build
himself house and barn without pay
ing two prices for them
Nothing could be more fortunate for
the Democratic party than an exhaustive
discussion of the Mills bill and it's effect
on the workmen. The wage-earner
wants cheap shirts, clothes, farming
utensils, cooking stoves, hoes, rakes and
q hundred other things. He wants to
see the duty lowered on iron and steel
rails, 80 that the profitable work of de-
yelopment that will give value to his
acres shall 20 on. What does the
farmer or laboring man of California
care about Andy Carnegie and the thou
sands of other rich iron masters of
Pennsylvania, Ohio and the other iron
States of the East? The Californian
wants to see his money stay at home, 80
that he can use it in the hundred differ
ent forms in which it may subserve his
pleasure or profit. 1t is true that it may
be said that for some things he will be
Obliged to send money away in any
event. Very good. That is no reason
why he should send two dollars out Of
the State when one ought to suffice.
Why should we send that SIC, 200, 900
East annually through the sub-treasury
duties paid on articles that we ought to
be able to get at half the money?
Why not, through the aid OF free raw