The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-09-06

convention did not adopt schedule, but
principle that is 10 control all the tariff
schedules. There may be differences OF
opinion among protectiOnists as to the
rate upon particular articles necessary to
Affect an equalization between wages
abroad and at home. In some, not re-
mote, national campaigns the issue has
been. or more correctly, has been made
to appear to be, between high and low
protective tariff, both parties expressing
the same solicitous regard for the wages
OF our working people and for the pros
perIty OF our domestic industries, But,
under more courageous leadership, the
Democratic party has now practically de-
clared, II given power, it will enact
tariff law without any regard to its effect
upon wages or upon the capital invested
in our great industries.
The majority report of the Committee
on Platform TO the Democratic National
Convention at Chicago contained this
clause: THAT when e.CustOm- house
taxation is levied upon articles Of any
kind produced in this country, the differ
ence between the cost OF labor here and
abroad, when such a difference exists,
fully measures any possible benefits to
labor, and the enormous additional i'm
positions OF the existing tariff fall with
crushing force upon our farmers and
wOrkingmen." Here we have distinct
admission OF the Republican contention
that American wOrkmen are advantaged
by a tariff rate equal to the ditlerence be-
tween nome and foreign wages, and a
declaration only against the alleged 'ad-
dItiOnal npOsiJiOns'' ofthe existing tariff
law.
Again, this majority report further de-
cIared: But IN making q reduction i'll
taxes 1t IS not proposed 10 injure any do
mestlc industries, but rather promote
their healthy growth. Moreover, many
industries come to rely upon legislation
for successful continuance, SO that any
change III the law must be at every step re-
gardIul Of labor and capital involVed.'
ii ere we have an admission that many of
our industries depend upon protective
duties for Il successful continuance, and a
declaration that the tariff should be regard
full OF workmen in such industries and of
invested capital Overwhelming reduction
or rejection OF these propositions which
had before received the sanction OF
Democratic National Conventions was
not more indicative of the new and more
courageous leadership to which the party
now committed itself than the substitute
clares protective duties unconstitutional;
high protection, low protection, all I'M
constitutional.
y Democratic Congress holding this
cannot enact, nor Democratic President
approve, any tariff schedule, the purpose
OF SlI6CJ u w IlCIl Is 10 lliIllG
give any advantage to the American
workman or producer. y bounty might,
L Judge, be given to the importer under
this view of the Constitution, in order to
increase important impOrtations. Reel
prociGy Of course falls under denuncia-
ton, for its object and effect is not reve-
nue., but the promotion of commercial
exchanges, the profits of which 60 wholly
to our producers. This destructive, uu-
American doctrine is not held or taught
| by historic Democratic statesmen. whose
fame as American patriots reached a gen
Grafton; certainly not by jefferson or
Jackson. This mad crusade against
American shops, bitter epithets applied
to American manufacturers, persistent
disbelief of every report of the opening
of tin-plate mills, or of the increase OF
our foreign trade by reciprocity, are as
surprising as they are discreditabe.
There IS not thoughtful business man
in the country who does not know that
the enactmentintOl law Ofthe declaration of
| the Chicago Convention on the subject of
tariff would at once plunge the country
into business CONFUSION, such as it has
never been seen, and there is not a
thoughtful wOrkingman who does not
know that it would at once enormously
reduce the amount Of work to be done in
this country by the increase of importa-
tons that would follow and necessitate a
JCuuCJIOu Vi HIS NdStS VI Tie European
standard. If anyone suggests that this
radical policy bill will not be executed, if
| the Democratic party obtains power,
what shall be thought Of the party that is
capable of thus trifling with this great
interest. The threat OF such legislation
would be only less hurtful than the fact
A distinguished Democrat rightly de-
Scribed this movement as a challenge TO
protective industries
TO FIGHT TO DIFFERENTIATION,
And another such rightly expressed logic
Of the situation when he Interpreted the
Chicago platform to be an invitation to
all Democrats holding even most moder-
ate protection views to go ilto the Re-
publican party.
And now Il few words III regard to the
existing tariff law.
We are fortunately able to Judge of
its influence upon production and prices
by market reports. The day of the
prophet Of calamity has been succeeded
| by that of the trade reporter.
An examination into the effect of law
upon the prices Of protection products
and OF the cost Of such articles as enter
into the living of people of small means,
has been made by Senate Committee
composed of leading Senators of both
parties, with the aid of the best statis-
ticians, and the report, signed by all of
the members OF the committee, has been
given TO the public. No such wide and
careful inquiry has ever been before
made. These facts appear from the re-
port: First, the cost OF articles entering
into the use OF those earning less than
SI,UOO per annum, a decrease OF three
quarters per cent, while in farm pro-
ducts there has been an increase in
prices, owing, IN part, to Increased for
eign demand and the opening OF new
markets. In England, during the same
period, the cost of living increased one
ninth per cent.
Tested by the power of purchase of
articles OF necessity, the earnings of our
working people never have been as great
as they are now. Second-There has
been an average advance in the rate of
wages of 10 OF l per cent. Third-There
has been an advance in the price of all
farm products OF 1857 per cent. and on all
cereals of $3.50 per cent. The ninth an
nual report OF the Chief of the Bureau of
Labor Statistics, a New York Democratic
officer, very recently issued, strongly
corroborateS as to that State the facts
found by the Senate Committee. His ex-
tended inquiry shows that in the wear
Immediately following the passage of the
Tariff Act OF 1890 the aggregate sum paid
in wages III that State was 81, 81 ,975 in
excess, and the aggregate production
S3I, 6l5, $50 in excess OF the preceding
year. In view of this showing the in
crease in wages. of reduction in the cost
OF articles OF common necessity and of the
marked advance in prices of agricultural
products, 1t is plain that this tariff law
has not imposed burdens, but has con-
terred DEMENT'S, upon the farmer and
worklngman.
FOREIGN MONOPOLY.
Some of the special efforts of the Act
should be noticed. 1t was a courageous
attempt to rid our DeoDle of the iong-
maintained foreign monopoly on the pro-
ductlon OF tin plate, and pearl buttons,
silk, plush, linens, lace, etc. Once or
twice in our history the production of tin