Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-03-08
About Tariff.

The Los Angeles HERALD, the lead
ing Democratic paper OF Southern
California, takes exceptions to the
proposed new tariff measure that has
lust come from the hands of Mr..
Mills and his Democratic COMMITTEES,
for the reason that reduction is pro.
posed on fruits, etc., which would
necessarily affect California producers.
This is d demonstration that Gas the
Times puts it) the HERALD is for Cali
fornia first, the Democratic party
afterwards, which is certainly
not very strengthening to its
political stomach or satisfying to
members of its household of faith.
If the principal Of protection is
wrong it must be as far from right
when it applies to the productions OF
our neighbors as those Of our own.
If it is right for us to force our neigh
bors to accept the results of free trade,
is it not fair for them to ask us to be
governed by the same law? Why
should the man who buys sheep and
grows wool be refused protection,
while his nearest neighbor who pur-
chases land and raises grapes, figs,
etc., is granted the benefits of liberal
tariff? More than that, wool ard
fruits figure largely as California pro-
ducts, and why should the HERALD
accept Tree trade for one and demand
protection for the other? The
Star don't want to appear
factious, but really would like to
see it's esteemed cotemporary lift up
its electric countenance and enlighten
the world as to its position on the
question of tariff. We are free to ad-
NIT that the present tariff regulations
need q severe remodeling, and We
would rejoice in seeing the necessities
of the people made as cheap as posi-
BILE, and the luxuries forced to bear
the burdens, but We are not in
favor of sectional favoritism in the
matter. We certainly shall not claim
the right to have California produc-
tions protected and force the
people OF other states to fiee trade re
suits. Tariff is not ga local ISSUE" as
Hancock stated when he was trying
to be elected President. Il is either a
national question or it is too small to
deserve national attention. Pasa-
dena Star.
If our Pasadena neighbor would go
directly to the HERALD's own columns
for information he would get nearer
our own views-not to speak OF other
valuable considerations-than by tax
ing incomplete reference to them
from some other source. In the arti-
Gle referred to there was no attempt
to make merely local interest out oi
the tariff. We have been most ex-
plicit on this head in all our outgiv-
ings, Lumber is put on the free list
and we are glad of it despite the fact
that it is one Of our local interests
that is, it is California and Coast in
terest. Our reasons are these: Our
woods are being cut rather more rap.
idly than the best interest O.
the Coast will bear. Again, the
parties protected by the tariff on lum-
ber are few rich people who can
we'll do without this aid at the expense
OF the people in general. Free lum.
ber may retard the cutting Of our for
ests, and will give us cheaper lumber
which means cheaper houses, cheaper
rents and more building improve
ments. All Of these are things which
benefit the general public and not |
few monopolists.
Wool is also on the free list and i
also is Pacific Coast interest. Blu
we think the people will be abl'
to buy q warmer blanke
and finer coat for les
money than they can now. The re
scinding of the protective tariff will no
hurt the sheepmen Of this Coast, a
W. understand the question. On th'
contrary, it is likely to help them b.
stimulating wooden manufactures il
this country. Our objection to takini
the tariff off fruits in various form
and their products, is not merel.
that this enterprise is mainly on
Of local interest. There is thi
ID be said in favor Of maintaining th,
import duty on these commodities
The industries are in their infancy
They ~ IN many respect