The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-05

eign ships, foreign labor and foreign interest
on the ground that these are from one-quarteT
TO one-half cheaper in foreign countries!
Surely, and let us observe that the shipping
men will be nearer the truth than the Marine
Journal.
That there is a seeming lack of congruity in
the statements and arguments by this journal
is evident. 1t makes the claim that cit is
matter OF evidence that the American shipping
INDUSTRY requires governmental encourage
ment." On what ground, pray? Is 1t on the
ground that home manufactures are so cheaply
ana excellently made that foreign competition
is out OF the question? Is it not, and Will 1t
not be. claimed that the ships in the foreign
trade, built and manned in the United States,
cost from one-quarter to one-half more in labor,
material and interest? Surely. Nor will the
advocates of protection to shipping make such
damaging admissions before Congressional
committee as have been made by this editor.
further on, in referring to the opposition OF
the farmers to the protection OF shipping, the
editor says: cit is a matter OF evidence that
our agricultural population are deeply inter-
ested IN the success of our shipping industry,
put are largelyln Ignorance OF it, and through
their Ignorance have baked by the adverse
votes OF their representatives in Congress sew
eral excellent measures Tor the benefit OF
American Shipping"
The Marine Journal is mistaken. The ''balk-
ing was not done through ignorance, but
through self-interest Any additional protec
ton must fall on the unprotected industry.
This was the reason of the baking. If there
was baking in the past there will be much
more in the future, for the producers Of agri-
cultural staples are being better informed as
to their best interests. Thousands of copies
OF this very article will be printed and circu-
lated among farmers, who will read and pass
them on to their neighbors, ana when chalk
ing" time comes they, if the occasion offers,
will chalk"
The chances are thew will not alone Chalk
against protection to shipping in the foreign
trade, but they will begin to 'balk' at protec-
ton to shipping on the coastwise and interior
trade. In fact, they will soon learn TO chalk"
at any and all kinds OF protection, unless they,
too Will receive an equal measure of it as long
as protection system shall be in operation.
Now, mark, whenever the stump speaker will
next talk to farmers, saying, "Our party stands
Tor protection, Tor protection of American in
dustrles against the competition of the pauper
labor of the world" or whenever they will tell
the farmers that they are natures noblemen"
stuff will no longer catch votes. Several hun
dred thousand votes nave already been won
over TO the true method of protection for agri-
cultural staples-which is by an export bounty
and they will educate others.
In conclusion, permit me TO observe that
there is but one way for the shipping interest
to obtain protection, and that way is in joining
the farmers in their endeayor to obtain pro-
lection for agricultural staples. Any unaided
effort on the part of the shipping interest to OBJ
tain protection will stand in the future less
chance than in the past Staple agriculture,
by its great voting strength, will always stand
a greater chance for obtaining protection by it's
own efforts than can the shipping interest.
union OF effort on the part OF both may, how
ever, bring victory much sooner.
And let me say right here that this union of
effort was earnestly and urgently advocated by
those OF high standing in the shipping interest;
since which time it has been Endorsed by the
Chambers OF Commerce of San Francisco, Port
land and Seattle. In the near future IL will be
submitted to the commercial organizations of
the East