Los Angeles herald., 1892-09-09
LETTER BAG.
Some Effects of a Protective rarin

Some Effects of Protective Tariff.
EDITORS HERALD: The natural condi
ton OF commerce is free. Competition
then has the widest range, and the evo.
lutionary law Of the survival of the fit
test is in full operation A tariff de-
stroys this natural condition. and ere.
ates an artificial system OF prices in the
land where it prevails. Foreign compe.
tition is excluded to the extent of the
tariff, and the protected" manufac-
turer given a monopoly of the home
market. Will they compete or com
bine? Competition reduces prices and
profits, combination increases both.
Trust the shrewd business man to in.
crease his profits whenever he can.
To organize the whole world into a
combination to create monopoly is
too difficult. The tariff removes the diff
ficulty by raising wall of protection
around ones own country; then with
limited numbers to deal with, all in easy
access, the monopolistic combinations
are rapidly effected and this ingenious
monopoly-making system Immediately
receives from the ..combines" praise and
campaign funds in abundance to perpet-
uate the pet plan of protecting the few
while they fleece the many. The tariff
cry is raised as an issue in politics for
the plain reason that If the protec led
monopolies were certain of the perman-
ence of the tariff they would cease to
contribute to maintain it; but the tariff
sgitation creates the uncertainty and
brings the money desired by the agi-
tatorH,
Among the arguments advanced by
"protectionists" in defense of the con-
tinuance of the tariff, protection to
American laboreTs" is the most familiar.
This protection is afforded by giving
monopoly to the protected" manu-
facturers, out of which they can reap
enormous profits, which the theorist
fondly imaginea will be divided with his
laborers in high wages All, no, labor
is governed by the law of supply and de-
mand, there is no tariff on labor; but
the flood-gates of emigration pour into
this country until sharp competition
forces down the wages of labor.
Again, we hear that protection gives
us cheaper goods, as well as higher
wages. But lower prices come no. from
the tariff, but from cheapened produc-
tion through the employment of i'm
proved machinery, which is the direct
result of scientific discovery and the in
ventive genius of man. For example. a
cotton picker is invented, by which two
men can do the work of forty. These
two men may get increased wages, on
account of the skill required to run the
picker, but what becomes of the thirty
eight men thrown ont of employment? ?
They enter the ranks of the unem-
I'll o,,I ha
of laborers, intensifying the struggle for
existence growing daily more desperate.
Protection, as system of taxation, is
unjust, because OF its gross inequality,
in that it is based on what man con-
sumes rather than upon what he owns.
The rich are the greatest beDefciaries
under the government. In case of war,
the poor may 90 to the front and be
shot. If the rich man is drafted, he
sends substitute. This monHtrous dis
proportion in bearing the burdens OF
government fsvors the rich and OPP
presses the poor.
Here, then, is the result: Tariff makes
monopoly, monopoly makes millionaires,
millionaires buy improved machinery
market is glutted, and men thrown out
Va CAApAOy AuCAu3 tAO COuulblOuo VI lbUUI
degraded, and the nation suffers from
trampism and crime.
To rid ourselves of the curse of mo-
nopoly, to do justice between the tramp
and the millionaire and successfully
treat the unhealthy conditions which
have produced them, the causes must
be discovered and removed, and one
among these is the high protective
tariff. A. G. HNCKLEY.
Yea, Verify.
EDITORS HERALD: If there is stink
hole anywhere in the state of California
that equals the vile stencil of the regu-
lar IL O'Clock garbage cart, which goes
the rounds of the restaurants every
night, we would like to know where it
is. No greater punishment could be
melted out to offenders of the law than
to send them there. Remonstrance
after remonstrance. has been made