The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-12-09
CALIFORNIA; NEW IDEA.
DAVID JUBJN mas COME EAST TO
AROUSE INTEREST IN N.
To Pat ARricuIture on Eauai TERMS
with Manufacturing by Paying Farmers
nnnntiea On EfnnnfA of ThrIr nAnnlna-

uounties on Exports OF Their gtaples.
One Of the planks in the platform OF the Re
publican party In California in the last cam-
paign called for tho extension Of tho presents
system OF the protection Of manufacturing in-
tercsts to the projection of the other great in-
dustry Of the country-agriculture. Six out Of
seven OF the Congressional candidates VINO were
in favor of the proposition were elected. while
tho Republican candidate for Governor. who
was only lukewsrm in its support, was defeated.
The Insertion Of the plank was due chiefly to the
efforts Of David Lubin, a merchant Of Sacra-
mento. The State Oranges OF California and
Illinois, and all tho subordinate Oranges OF the
former State, have endorsed tho proposition.
The National Grange. at its last convention,
considered II fevorably, but was prevented by
Its constitution from taking final action upon 10
until next year. 1t ordered the state oranges N
take the matter up, ana also instructed the
legislative committee, at its coming conferences
with Eastern manufacturers. to consider IL.
Mr.. Lubin, the principal advocate Of the new
plan of protection, arrived In this city a few days
ago with n view OF arousing interest in the mat
ter in the Eastern States. lie had q conference
last week with Samuel Gompers, President Of
the American Federation of Labor, and 80 Inn
pressed was the labor leader with the proposition
that he Invited Mr.. Lubin to go with him to the
convention Of his order at Denver and lay the
matter before IL. Mr.. Lubin believes that q COM
mon ground has been found upon which the
farmer and the mechanic can combine to secure
protection against European, or ultimate Ash
attic, competition. The proposition, he says. has
been endorsed by every body to which 10 has
been presented, except one convention, which
postponed consideration for a year.
No one who has talked with MFR. Lubin can
fail to be impressed by his earnestness and en-
thusiasm in the work which he has been carry,
Ing on entirely at his own expense. Mr.. Lubin
told a Sun reporter how he became interested in
tho subject. In addition to the large mercantile
business In which he is q partner, he Is also in.
terested in wheat growing and has under Quilt.
walton In California nearly 1900 acres. A few
years ago he invented an agricultural machine,
and with a view to its introduction into other
countries. he visited South America, North
Africa, and various parts OF Europe. He found
that the use of improved agricultural machine
cry. for n time almost confined to the United
States, was rapidly extending.
TO that fact" he said to the reporter. is
chiefly due the present unfavorable condition OF
the American farmer. So long az he had an adj
vantage over the rest Of the world in possessing
superior machines. he was able to support the
burden Of protected manufactures. With other
agricultural communities on the same footing
In this respect, he Is no longer able to do 30, un-
less an equivalent amount Of protection is ex-
tended TO HIM. The true object of a protective
system ls not TO protect one class at the expense
OF another, but to protect oil American labor
from the competition of workmen having .
Tho situation is simply this: For a long time
there was II balance under the protective sys-
TEN OF the two great industries, manufacturing
and agriculture. From the causes | have men,
t!onei, agriculture has sunk. below manufac-
turing; 1t Il at an economic disadvantage. In
asmuch as there Is in this country n surplus ot
agricultural staples for export, prices are fixed
BY the price At liverpool, less the cost OF trans
trade prices, and the farmer has to pay protect
cd prices for hs manufactures, which gives rise
to an economic injustice.
Now, there are two ways OF restoring the
equilibrium OF the two industries. One is by
featuring down to the present level OF agrloul-
ture. But tho trouble here Is that wages would
again, L is practically impassible for US use To-
reach free trade, The manufacturers won't
g Srest ~ 70 tr ns; H ,ha nhey Are Are too Q s,fons l iGr It to be
the present drift OF sentiment:
The other way 70 restore the lost equilibTlum
Of manufacturing, and this is to be done by
placing u bounty upon exp }rts OF agricultural
discuss the way in which it operates TO main
tain prices. for that may readily DO seen by =
when a similar law was i%n'force there. A gov.
eminent bounty on agricultural products ex-
gree the much greater quantity sold
lean manufactures are artihcially en-
HANGED by tho. present tariff system, while
The lowest point to which international com.
petition can bring them. The injustice is evil
buy manufactures at free-trade. prices, or the
prices OF his own products should also be arti-
Now. il may be asked, where is the money
Tor az these bounties to come from2 Clearly,
out OF the i duties 7, on imports; The Governments
its expenses. They should be met by some diff
ferenL system Of taxation. Probably the Demo-
cratic inpa nf n rRyanna tariff nnnp arttrlaa nnA
That might properly be applied to
R%rS.' * eassoms a aatlss, rai ssi 1 asd srens
paternalistic system and for a .paternal-
for paternaiistlc functions and not for the ordi:
nary expenses Of government The customs
fund out OF which bounties should be paid on
exports. The protective duty
cultural exports would therefore protect both
manufacturing and staple agriculture. Practi-
trade, with It's economic equality and Justice. but
without the danger which free trade would
aTEi s" question 81 ISsf Is 4 y SSniP Srosd on ae i and il is of
the very greatest Importance. 1 believe that
safety and permsnSnce OF the republic do
interests, on an economic equality with our
manufacturing industries. Tn farming class
Is at the foundation Of an enduring demo-
government. The city population has
regardless Of conseauences Il is. Therefore. of
vital importance that the interests OF agricul-
ture should be guarded. IL the class OF farmers
" rho own their own farms should 10 permitted
10 die out, the country would be in constant
danger OF anarchy.
AT the present time the great staples, wheat
and cotton, are selling below the actual cost OF
production. This cannot go on for very long.
II IL continues 1t will result In a system Of land-
loTdism, and the farms will be- taken up by for
eigners who can live on much less than tho
sturdy American yeomen. and who will form u
class OF rent-paytng tenants. The danger OF tho
degradation of agricultural labor Is as great and
fully as important as would be the similar dam
ger TO Industrial labor, with the tariff removed.
Tile Roman republic could not survive the
movement OF the Italian farmers 20 the city
and the abandonment Of their farms 10 slaves.
and Italy has never 10 this day recovered from
The disbursement OF Rome's original yeomanry.
Shall we permit our republic u go through =
similar experience England. you know, when
she abolished the corn laws. sacrificed her agTi-
cultural interests 10 gain the commercial
supremacy OF the world, which she now enjoys.
She could afford to do 50, because the sacrifice
not made by a class OF farmers, but by the
landlords, who rented THE land 10 ten
ants. Our situation is entirely different.
Ms - -