The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-05-17
TO HELP HOME INDUSTRY
The Agricultural and Shipping
Interests Are to. Be
Fostered.
STIRRING ADDRESSES !. MADE.
John P. Irish Opposed the Resolu-
tons as Being Politically
Impracticable.

=. One of the most important meetings o.
the year in San Francisco was held by the
Chamber of Commerce. yesterday after
noon. 1t was called to consider the ques.
ton of a bounty ON the exports of agricul
tural staples and tonnage bounty, or diff
ferential duty, in favor OF American ship
ping, both of which. industries are at pres.
ent unprotected.
Whenthe meeting was called to order by
Fice-P President Craig nearly all the available
seating room; was occupied. Among the
assemblage were many representative men
from the interior of the State. The Hon.
Thomas Mcconnell of Sacramento and the
Hon. George Ohfeyer of Yuba City occupied
seats on the platform on either side of the
chairman.
=. Secretary Clement read letters from A.
P...Roaeh- of jacksonville, master of the
State Grange, and E. W. Davis, Superin-
tendent OF Schools of Sonoma County, ex-
master of the State Grange, expressing
= their regrets at being unable to be present
and indorsing the movement in the hearth
3. est TERMS.
Z: The master of the State Grange wrote as
follows:
~: WkTsoNv1LLE, CAL, May ID.
slerce, San Francisco, CdL-DEAR SIR: Have re-
:: Ceiyed:with pleasure your invitation to attend
the meeting ofthe Chamber of Commerce on
the 10th inst. / deeply regret my inability to
be present, as the most profound interest GEN.
tiers on the proposition you are about to dis
cuss,. because of its far-reaehing magnitude
and the multiplicity of beneficial effects its
speedy adoption and practical enactment into
laws would subserve.
= am not conversant with the evils which be-
Set the shipping interests other than to know
that our merchant marine has lost its former
prestige, and that our flag has been we'll nigh
driven from the seas through various remov-
able causes chiefest OF which was unfriendly
legislation.
I fully know the ills by which agriculture is
beset and If yours even remotely approach
ours 1t cannot fail TO produce bond of union
which should incite both industries to cease
less effort in the direction of emanci patton,
which efforts should never be relaxed until the
same measure of justice and equality before
the law is yeuchsafed to us as that enjoyed by
all other protected industries.
May the wisdom. integrity and patriotism of
this meeting invite all to a union of forces
favorable to progress and reform. And may
victory crown the manly effort for justice and
have the honor to. remain respectfully
yours, A. P ROACH.
" Mr.. Lubin of Sacramento was introduced.
He delivered forcible address, The SUBJ
ject is one to which he has given m och
study, and his enthusiasm and earnestness
were reflected in the close attention and
auditors. He prefaced his address by say
ing that in. the discussion of such subject
politics should cut no figure. Said he:
: We all know what is meant by tariff taxa
ton, but after listening TO the Democratic and
Republican orators, and then hearing another
discourse on silver, we are pretty badly mixed
up. But our purpose is to consider the ques-
ton of protection to our agricultural, CONNER
clal and shipping Interests from theview point
of what is best TO be done to accomplish the
greatest benefits to our interests.
1t seems hard thing to explain that the ex.
o port price is always the home price. The ex-
port price which Enga would pay us is no
greater on any commodity than she would pay
for the same thing from the country where the
cheapest labor is employed. The export price
Is obtained in free trade market.
We erect wall, as 1T were which prevents
too free a competition between US and the
products manufactured in the cheap labor
countries. In the matter of staple agricultural
products we must sell them at the free-trade
price IN open eompetiqon with the agricultural
protect them. One thing we lose sight of is that
we cannot get one cent more for the agricul-
tural staples consumed at home than we re-
ceive for the exports. Agriculture is absolutely
not protected. We protect manufactures and
other industries at the expense of agriculture.
The only parallel to the system of this country
is furnished by Russia Althe other European
countries grant the same protection to agri-
culture that is accorded to the manufacturing
and other industries. If wheat was brought
to 81 l5 bushel it would not remove the In
Justice that exists is the indisputable fact that
one industry is protected at the expense of an
other.
1fyou enable one man to sell his products for
a high price and do not make it possible for his
= neighbor to sell his goods at an equally fair
price, then the protection is not just or equable
We are here to-day to take position which
will be far-reaching in its effect. If the Cham
Der of Commerce has the nerve to pass this
measure the news will go abroad; it will go on
to WashiHgton and stimulate our representa-
tives to make the fight for equitable protec-
ton. But If we fail 10 do this thing ats effect
wi o. tot 81,
oranges and other industrial organizations
yes, and even throughout the length and
breadth OF the land.
Captain Charles Nelson followed. He
spoke with the earnestness of conviction,
and strongly urged the passage of the reso-
lutions. He said:
This nation ought to have to-day the su.
pfemacy over the thousands of steamships that
yearly cross the Atlantic, but until three wears
ago, when combination OF American capital
purchased two English ships, which were after.
ward granted American registers, then for the
first time since 1859 did the American flag float
annihilate time between this country and
Europe.
Those two great industries, agriculture and
shipping, the last of which has been knocking
at the door of Congress during several sessions
for recognition, which has to compete against
the subsidized and cheap-labor ships of Europe.
and the first, OF even. greater magnitude, has
also had TO compete against cheap labor and
cheap capital, without having received any aid
from the general Government, but instead has
been crippled by the protective duty levied by
our Government on imported goods for the
benefit of the manufacturers, as we'll as coal.
iron and other articles too numerous to men,
ton.
The silver question sinks into insgnificance
as compared with this, and then will the CRY
of hard times be heard no more; nor will the
question be asked, "What shall we do with our
boys?" as thousands, yea, millions, of them
will seek employment as of gore, and it will be
an honor and not degradation. as considered
nv ms nv nd q ~ drvift,
American merchant marine, as well as those
magnificent vessels of our navy, the admira.
ton of the world.
These two great industries will speak in no
uncertain voice to Congress, demanding from
it equal fostering and protection, which will
bring back remunerative prices; prosperity,
country; restore 10 our merchant marine the