The herald., 1897-05-08

| mote their advantages at the expense
of consumers
Those who are familiar with the his
tory Of tariff struggles will recall that
The suggestion is not a new one. But
the supporters Of class legislation-and
all who favor a protective tariff must
be included under that head-are not
likely to even consider such a feature,
because it would. If adopted and hon.
estly carried out. defeat the best laid
plans of those who profit most by the
grossly unfair protective tariff system.
The American system of protection
invites monopoly. helps and makes
easy the formation of trusts, and pro-
vides no remedy for the great evils
which inevitably spring up and flourish
under such a system. To be sure We
have an antitrust law, but 1t does not
accomplish the purpose for which 1t
is ostensibly intended.
To illustrate how the plan Of protec-
ton works, as it is manipulated in the
interest of certain favored classes, IL
is only necessary to cite the history of
earlier class legislation. For many
purported to encourage home manufac-
| lures and raise wages. Encourage man
ufactures it did, to a certain degree,
but the favorable result was almost
wholly to the interest Of the manufac-
turer and little to that Of his employees.
For while imports were protected
against by the imposition Of heavy
tariffs, the pauper labor Of Europe was
freely admitted to compete against free
American labor. The result was very
favorable to the manufacturer. 1t gave
him high prices for his goods. and ena-
bled him to obtain his labor at nearly
the pauper scale of Europe. In common
parlance, the American workingman
held the bag, while his employer potted
the game.
AS everyone knows. the importation
Of contract pauper labor grew
into an industrial Frankenstein
that cost the American people
dearly. Attention began to be
directed to our immigration laws, and
a considerable reform has been wrought
in spite of the selfish, greedy opposi-
ton of the manufacturers.
When imported contract pauper labor
was no longer available, something else
had to be done. The trust idea was hit
upon, and it has worked to perfection
| hoe
pronounced than those resulting from
the importation of pauper labor. The
| oppressed and buncoed people Of the
United States, the working classes and
the consumers. demand protection
against the evil, as they demanded pro-
lection against the other. The adop-
tion Of clause like the one in the
Canadian bill, mentioned in the forego-
ing. would, If honestly carried out, help
greatly to do away with the trust curse,
but this greatly needed relief may not
be expected from those who now have
power over our tariff laws
| When Senator-elect Deboe announces
that he favors a protective tariff and
opposes trusts, he tries to ride two
horses going in opposite directions.
|
1t is already becoming evident that a
mistake was made in putting Mr.. Sher-
man at the head of the state department
The burden of his great age units him
for the responsibility and he is likely to
soon become figurehead rather than
an executive actuality. 1t is not likely
that he will soon resign, because the
| changes that would ensue might be fatal
to certain Ohio interests that stand very
close to the administration. President
| Mckinley and the assistant secretary Of
state will probably assume the principal
| responsibility of Secretary Sherman 8
department: until such time as may be
| more favorable to a change, and when
the venerable secretary may with ease
| and credit step down and out.
Los Angeles will entertain several
thousand visitors next week, the occa-
sion being the meeting of the National
| Brotherhood of Railway Conductors.
That our guests will be we'll cared for
goes without saying. Los Angeles is
| not in the habit of doing things by halves
and she will take especial pleasure in
| extending a most cordial reception to
| the conductors, their families and their
| friends Railroad men are hard-work-
| ing class and their calling is invested
with great and peculiar responsibilities.
Let us see that our friends throw care
and responsibility to the balmy breezes
| OF the Pacific next week.
>
| The Greek campaign has been bitterly
disappointing to the friends of the
| staunch little nation, but in reading of
| the sequence of their defeats and routs
it is well to remember the overwhelming
| odds they have had to contend with
throughout. At Pharsalos, where it was
hoped the Greek forces would be able to
make a considerable stand, the odds
were nearly three to one against them,
$1,000 Turks to 5000 Greeks. The cause
of Greece today is almost desperate and
her ministers will be wise to accept what
terms they can before the Turkish army
| reaches Athens.
The estimated limit of gold exports to
Europe is $4,000, 900, according to Wall
street and other goldibug prognostica
tions But suppose the actual figures
should be $50, loco, 900? Visions Of more
bond issues are already looming on the
| horizon, and there is no Sherman law on
which to lay the blame.
~