The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-27
THE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION ACTS

The Orientals who formerly gave England,
France and America cause for fellclta1on that
they would forever be importers are to-day not
only not importing their own goods but are
manufacturing them and have become export
ers Of the surplus in competition with America
and England.
The manufacturer of every article of wearing
apparel is confronted with competition in
not only the goods themselves, but owing 10
the absence of copyright and patent laws In
Japan his goods are not only duplicated but
also his brand, so that to-day 1t is possible to
purchase in Japan any OF these articles bearing
q fac-simile OF the brand of the American or
European manufacturer for less than tenth
of the price paid for the same article in this
country.
representative of one of the largest dental
instrument manufactures in this country
some time ago visited Yokohama with the view
of introducing his goods and forming business
communications in this new field. To his
establishment in looking in the windows OF
japanese shop he viewed instruments which
were exact duplicates OF those manufactured
by him-if anything more skillfully finished
bearing his own trademark. He said that he
could have bought these goods there at retail,
shipped them TO this country and sold them TT
wholesale ut profit
desire to call the attention OF your associa-
ton TO the action taken by the merchants in
New South Wales some time since TO prevent
this competition, the reports citing an in
stance where japanese buyer purchased
900 sides of leather in Sydney, shipped the
same to Japan and sold the manufactured
of the price of same goods of home manu-
facture.
These, together with numerous incidents the
data upon which are open to inspection in my
office, present an appalling state OF affairs
which requires immediate action upon the
part of American citizens, to the end that
not only will our institutions be protected
from the merciless attacks of these foreign
commercial invaders, but the American
standard of labor and manhood will be pro-
tected from this degrading and destructive
element OF cheap labor.
NJ. J. Keller, in speaking.of the question
after the meeting, said: ut is most i'm
portant now that the exact situation should
be made known to Congress, and we
should render them every assistance TO
reach conclusion as to what should be
done. Ii this invasion comes on us like
the invasion of Chinese labor the feeling
will be very intense, and that is liable to
occur if the situation is as it is outlined IN
the papers. The commercial bodies and
labor unions should begin and keep up an
agitation until we force Congress to seri-
ously consider the matter. Our represen-
tatives in Congress should be supplied
with backing from here. They must have
some authority to show that we are in
earnest. They will need all the backing
we can give them"
Senator Perkins before his departure for
the East said:
Ny position upon this matter ought to be
well understood. All my speeches in the last
Congress were in direct opposition to the I'M
portation of cheap foreign goods. | am pro-
tectionist out and out. When the Wilson bill
was under discussion l fought against those
portions which thought would do injury to
the manufacturing interests of this country,
especially against the interests OF California.
Then l predicted just sue. a state of affairs.
What l am surprised at is that my prediction
should have proven true soon.
The matter ought to be taken I'D by the next
Congress. Ordinarily the tariff bill would not
have TO be taken up at the Democratic term of
Congress, but think l voice the sentiments
even OF the anti protectionists that some
changer necessary IN the tariff which will
give the Government revenue. Even the
tarif-for-revenue citizens must want a change
that will give the revenue they hope for If
the tariff bill can be brought up for amend
ment will do all in my power to raise the
tariff on all articles that the Japanese are now
likely to undersell Americans in. This is q
question, think, upon which every citizen OF
California. whether a friend or an enemy of
the present administration. should mite