The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1896-07-05
LOYALTY TO HOME PRODUCTION
AND HOME MANUFACTURE.

The complaint is made in a San Fran
cisco contemporary, the Bulletin"
that CalifornianS send millions of dol
lars East annually which might as well
be kept at home and used to employ
thousands of home workmen, and thus
increase the volume of money circulat-
ing and largely give employment in
home manufacture.
The reason given for this condition of
affairs is a sentimental one, namely,
that Californians being mostly natives
of the East prefer and demand Eastern
brands, and that sellers have come to
realize this so far that they urge upon
buyers Eastern-made goods with the
stated inducement that they are of
Eastern or foreign manufacture.
1t is further charged that in a great
many cases Eastern manufacturers do
not send US their best, but their sur
plusage, and often goods that will not
sell at the East, and an instance is
cited of condensed milk, which has been
relabeled and shipped to California be-
cause it was of poor quality and would
not sell at home. 1t is said that there
are 5000 makers of shoes and boots in
San Francisco, but only one-tenth of
the boots and shoes worn in California
are of home manufacture, whereas if
we purchased California-made boots
and shoes instead of 5000 workmen be-
ing engaged there would be nearer co.
600 employed in that home manufact-
ure.
Cigar consumption is cited as an ex-
ample. AS good cigars are made here
as anywhere it is alleged, and the stock
from which made is the same as that
employed at the East But the same
stock can be rolled here and would be
to the full extent of our need If we
would ask for and prefer California
brands.
We have often said that there is no
sentiment in trade, that men buy to the
best advantage for themselves. But it
may be conceded that there is some
thing akin to sentiment in the consump-
ton of home products as against East
ern productions, and it is Of a character
that must be encouraged.
We do not think, however, that the
bulletins" informant is justified in
placing the blame for small consump-
ton of home products wholly upon
sentimental regard for Eastern brands.
70 he
why we cannot putup as good condensed
milk here as can be done at the East.
Our workmen ought to be able to make
as good a shoe or boot. We ought to be
able. and are, to produce just as good
cheese; and as for olive oil and canned
vegetables we can and do put up as
good, and in the case of oil, better goods
than most that we receive from abroad
California olives properly cured are as
good for general consumption as any
we can procure from abroad. there be-
ing no reason, say expert growers, why
our soil viii not produce as good an
olive as that grown around the Mediter-
ranean.
In the IHdIleT Oh pork we pIAHS lue
picked article from the East and smoke
it here because it is admitted that in
this warm climate our pork is not sc
good as that grown in cold climates
Why we should import dressed poultry
from the East, or butter and eggs, oil
for the matter of that cheese of any
kind is incomprehensible. And so with
long list of articles representing some
millions of money which we send Easi
for supplies annually.
Primarily our duty is to conserve
home production and manufacture b.
preferring homemade goods. That i:
q species Of loyalty to the State thai
ought to be encouraged, even at somt
sacrifice. With markets of consump.
ton so far from us. we should do every
thing that we can to build up home in,
dustries. because that means the reten
ton Of money here and the employment