The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-08-12
FREIGHT AND OTHER TRAFFICS.

The local trust organ has no use for
protection which appears to benefit the
farmers and fruit raisers of this state,
that adds to the wealth of eastern
combinations of capital is ever vigor-
Gus and enthusiastic.
Freight tariffs operate in a similar
way to import tariffs. Both restrict
commerce. Both are burdens on the
consumer Both are determinations in
the interest of favored industries. But
no newspaper nor man who favors tin
plate protection, or wire nail protec-
ton, or binding Irvine protection, has
any right TO complain if the farmers
who use those nails or that Irvine, or
the Gamers who deal extensively in
5inware, are afforded a little local pro-
lection no matter what may be the mo-
tives that prompt it,
Free traders might well complain, as
they review these matters purely from
the standpoint of the consumer; but
a champion of high tariff on the sea-
board, and a defender of trusts has 10
business to set up a howl because Col
lis P. Huntington applies the principle
TO an industry in Utah.
This is a practical lesson by which
our morning contemporary should try
10 profit. Nor is it the first lesson Utah
has had in this branch of commercial
education. Before the railroad came
through every infant industry had all
the protection against outside compe-
titien it could stand. The cost of bring
ing goods across the plains was so
great that few were imported. 1t was
a most effectual guard against the pro-
ductiVeness of other states. From 1850
10 1870 the women of Utah spun at the
wheels and made clothes for the fam
lily, gathered straw in the fields and
made their own hats, and the men
rugged up their own machinery for
house and field. The few articles that
had to be imported were necessarily
dear on account of the freight tariffs.
but the industries of Utah were Sc
curely protected against foreign com
petition. They were regular DingIey
rates that the teamsters put upon the
freights in those days.
Finally, the railroad was brought
through the state ana cheaper rates
were thus secured. a period of COM
parative free trade followed, and the
result is seen on every hand. 1t is a
lesson our neighbor has evidently
learned but only to apply to the state.
1t refuses to acknowledge that it would
help the nation. 1t is willing for the
tin plate trust TO have all the protec-
ton it wants. 1t is unwilling for Utah
Gamers to have any. 1t wants the
trusts favored in custom house rates,
but grows angry and spiteful when
railroad rates protect an infant indus
try of its home state from the compe-
tition of the cheap ''pauper" fruits of
California
This wouldn't be so bad, however,
If in its free trade argument our pro-
tectionist friend would not misrepre-
sent the views of others and particu-
larly of its own reporters. Editorially
the Tribune said yesterday: Where
win our Gamers send their surplus pro-
duct? Not to Idaho, for the California
fruit is sent there at the same rates.
Not to Montana, because the Oregon
and eastern fruit is sent there cheaper
than it can he sent from here
In the same issue but on the eighth
page the Tribune said: ''Jobbers say