The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-15
TO Ray AND GRAIN GROWERS
OF CALIFORNIA.

The argument in support of the protec-
tive system that has most weight with the
men of any industry is that which is drawn
from their experience in the conduct OF
their business. You who are engaged in
growing hay and grain in California know
how much you have profited by the devel-
opment at your farm gates of a market for
your produce. You know also that this
home market has been the creature of the
protective system. You know that it has
fourished with protection and that it
broke down the moment protection was
Withdrawn.
Not long ago nearly all the farmers of
the State were engaged in the production
of hay and grain. The product was far
larger than the State could consume and
distant and foreign market had to be
sought for it. In those days the farmer
had TO sell all of his product to a middle
man, who sought a purchaser for II
wherever in the world he could find one.
That state of things was broken up by q
system of protection which build up a
diversified rural industry in California.
Protection enabled large proportion of
California farmers to engage in fruit
growing, wine-making and raisin- growing.
This withdrew a large number of men
from competition in the hay an grain in
dustry and at the same time made a mar
ket for those products. You have felt the
benefits of this change under protection,
and you have also felt the injury that has
resulted from the Democratic attempt at
free trade.
Those of you who have reasoned out the
full effects of protection on your industry
are aware that it has done more than
make a home market for your products.
1t has made home market for your LABOR.
In the spring before the time has come to
harvest your hay and grain, you have
employment for yourselves and your
teams in dong the blowing and cultivat-
ing of the orchards. When the hay and
grain harvest is over you have further
employ m ent in the fruit harvest. Neither
you, your children nor your teams are
idle at any season of the year under this
diversified system of rural industry. Pro-
lection, therefore, has benefited you in a
double way. 1t has given you at your
farm gates a neighbor who is not only q
purchaser of your hay and grain but an
employer of your labor.
The disas trous experience of the raisin
and fruit growers OF the State since the
Democratic party began its attempts at
legislation in the direction of free trade
shows clearly that these industries can
not flourish without adequate protection.
7 ou are aware that when hard times came
upon them they at once became less valu-
able purchasers of your products ana en-
ployers of your labor. You have learned
from this experience that your interests
as hay and grain growers are irreparably
bound up with those of your neighbors
who are producers of fruit, raisins and
wine. The protection of one is the pro-
lection of ALL There is no division of in
terests among the farmers of California.
There ought, therefore, to be no division
of politics on the subject of protection.
Let US unite as people this year and put
an end to the free-trade heresy in Califor-
MIA for the rest of this generation. This
ought to be accounted your duty to your
State. Help your neighbors and you will
be helping those who help you.