Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-09-21
Twenty Good Reasons for Tariff
Reform.

We give here twenty good reasons for
the tariff reform proposed by the Demo-
cratic party. Wages is the point around
which Republican objections to this re-
form revo]ve, and most OF these reas ons
refer to wages:
l. Because to say that wage-earners
as body can increase their wages by
paying excessive tariff taxes, which fall
mainly upon them, is to say that man
can increase his wealth by picking his
own pocket.
.. Because the value OF wages con-
sists not in money, but in the articles
which money buys, and the express OBJ
ject of an excessive tariff is to make
these articles dear, thus decreasing the
real reward of labor.
s. Because the war tariff policy,
while taxing the wage-earner upon
nearly everything that he has to buy,
gives him no protection upon the only
thing he has to sell. We have free trade
in human labor.
4. Because wages represent the wage
earner's share of what he himself pro-
duces, and are high or low, according as
his production is large or small.
5. Because the wages OF even the one
wage.earner out of ten claimed to be
protected" are determined by general
causes rather than by the tariff.
6. Because if excessive tariff raises
wages at all, its first and greatest effect
must be in the protected" industries,
whereas the rate of wages is considerably
lower in these industries than in the un-
protected ones.
Z. Because the high rate of wages in
the United States is due to other causes
than the tariff, such as the extent OF
unsettled territory, the large returns OF
agriculture, the natural resources of the
country, the extensive use of improved
machinery, the intelligence and energy
OF the working population and the great
er efficiency Of their labor.
8. Because at least nine wage earners
out of every ten in this country are en-
gagged in occupations not subject to the
competition Of foreign importations, SO
that the rate Of wages which they receive
cannot be in any degree dependent on
the tariff.
9. Because tariff upon raw materials
raises the cost of manufacturing restricts
the market for goods, and prevents the
manufacturer from paying as high wages
as he would have to if his materials were
free.
10. Because the rate of wages in
creased faster in this country in the low
tariff period between 1850 and 1860 than
it ever has since under an excessive
tariff.
IL. Because wages were high in the
United States compared with those paid
in other countries before it ever had an
excessive tariff.
II. Because China has enjoyed for
thousands OF years the full benefits of ex-
elusive protection" while her wages
for skilled labor are 20 cents a day, and
Chinese immigration in search of higher
wages has become menace to American
wage-earners.
13. Because there are greater differ.
ences between rates of wages paid in diff
ferent parts of this country, all subject
to the same high tariff, than between
rates OF wages in Massachusetts, and in
England.
IA. Because the rate Of wages has in
creased from so to 100 per cent in Eng
land since she abandoned the high tariff
policy, and because her wages are from
80 to 100 per cent higher than in the
high tariff countries in Continental
Europe.
Is. Because excessive tariff fosters
trusts and other combinations of capital
for raising the price of everything but la
Dor, and destroys that competition for
labor between different employers which
is the great agency in raising its wages.
Is. Because if the manufacturer really
believed that high tariff compelled him
to pay high wages, he would be low
tariff man.
II. Because the manufacturer does
not raise his rate of wages when he gets
a higher duty upon his product; the
manufacturer who makes the large profits
out of the tariff can undoubtedly pay
high wages, but he doesn't.
Is. Because the average amount OF
wages paid by the protected manufact-
urer in the production of 81 worth of
goods is less than twenty cents, while
the average tariff is forty.seven cents,
leaving twenty-seven cents for the profits
of the manufacturer and the extra cost of
raw materials due to the tariff.
10. Because the theory that high
tariff makes high wages is principally
advanced by men who have never shown
any sympathy with legislation to pro-
mote the welfare of the wage-earners, by
doctrinaire protectionists, political parti-
sans, and manufacturers who have a
selfish interest Of their own.
20. Because this theory is opposed
by the Democratic party, made up prin-
cipally of wage.earners, ever GEEK
ing to promote their true interests.