Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-22
CALIFORNIA AND NEVADA.
The Political Situation in Both States is of
Decidedly Unce rtain Nature.


Correspondence of The Evening Star
SAN Francisco, Oct Is. 1892
According to the belief of the best local
politicians the vote of California for Presiden,
on November 8 is an uncertain quantity. Cali
fornia always has been republican the northern
and New England element preGominating
among the people who have settled in the state.
Therefore il ia not surprising that all the re-
publican nominees for the presidency have car
risi California except Fremont who received
only 10000 votes out OF 1000 in 1856. and
Garfield, who was beaten III votes by Hancock
in 1850. In lsc0 Lincoln carried the state BY
I'll and in 1864 his majority was over Is, 600.
In 1868 Grants majority 500 and 1872 ii
was II pa Hayes received 2,s2l votes more
than Tllden and then, already noted,
the republican record was broken in 1850,
when the state went democratic. In that year
Weaver received 3. +03 votes. Blaine has ALWAYS
been not only the first choice, but the idol Of
California republicans, and in 1884 he received
l02 406 votes out of total of l96, 1851. The
prohibitionists east 2. $50 and the greenbackers,
2.0l0 votes in that election. while Mr.. Cleye-
land received s9, 225. Blalne's plurality over
Cleveland was ISL. In 1883 the republican
plurality fell TO iii. while the prohibitionists
climbed up TO 6. l07 votes, and the American
party-a sporadic outbreak confined strictly to
California mustered $40 men at the polls
The last named party is no more.
Thus IL will be seen that. generally speakir z.
California has heretofore been a safe republican
state. The tariff question. however, has INTRO
duced a new issue that makes the states future
political status uncertain. The republican
leaders perceive and acknowledge this fact, and
for the first time IN many years they are forced
TO make a defensive campaign. -Four years
ago republican voters accepted the protection
issue on faith, but II is a question II enough Of
them not now dissatisfied with the local
results to turn the tide the other way. 1t is
not difficult TO discover the reasons.
WHY PROTECTION Is APPosED.
California is not a manufacturing state. Al
though still rich in gold she produces abso-
lutely no iron OF coal The long and expensive
haul from the Mississippi river across the plains
and over the Sierra Nevada cuts off all possible
ity of becoming a manufacturing state-as Con-
necticut aud Massachusetts, have done without
iron and coal even to the extent Of supplying
the wants Of the Pacific coast. At one tine
wooden mills fouri-hed in California and man.
aged TO send blankets east at profit even with
the handicap of exorbitsnt freight rates, but
the increased duty on wool has practically shut
out the Australian staple, without which the
better grades of wooden goods cannot be made.
As consequence ten of sixteen wooden mills in
California are closed and the other six are not
making money. The state still contains mag
niheent timber. including q monopoly Of valu-
able redwood; but again the long haul is a
barrier to its shipment east, there is no de-
nland for IL at home and retaliation By Austria
liza on account Of our wool tariff is diminishing
shipments 10 the south seas. The lumber trade
OF the coast, and particularly on Puget sound,
Is simply paralyzed and the dealers at the
present moment are endeavoring TO combine
TO close mp mills and increase prices
The wholesale trade in San Francisco 10 in a
demoralized condition and seems TO be getting
worse every month This IL In some measure
due To the competition OF Portland and the
| new towns In the northwest, but Il is also at
tributed by San Francisco merchants TO a
general falling on Of business In this city and