Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-08-22

his mind, is it not strange that he
should argue that his election is neces-
sary to prevent a panic?
I have referred to two of the three
panics, both of these coming under
conditions which compel the Republ-
can party to accept the responsibility
for them. Now let us consider the panic
of 1888. If that could be properly
charged to the Democratic party, IL
would only be one Democratic panic to
two Republican panics. But can 1t be
fairly charged to the Democrats? 1t
came, it is true, a few months after
the Inauguration of a Democratic pres
ident, but it came while the Mckinney
high tariff was still in effect and before
single Republican law had been re-
pealed, and it came from causes that
were in operation before the election.
In fact, 1t was the failure of the Repub-
lican party to do it's duty and satisfy
the people that brought about Demo-
cratic victory, and these causes would
have brought on a panic even If the
Republican party had remained in
power. Now, this is the record, and
yet, in spite of this record, the Repub-
lican candidate presumes to threaten
panic in case of Democratic success.
Overlook Necessity
The third proposition which the pro-
tectionists must establish, namely, that
the tariff asked for is necessary, is
still less considered. 1t is true that we
pay higher wages per day than are paid
elsewhere, but that does not necessarily
mean that the actual labor cost of an
article is higher here than abroad. on
the contrary, the rule is that high
priced labor produces a cheaper article
than low priced labor Manufacturers
of hardware will tell you that they can
H. ,.,1x. xnrI1iO contains a.
great deal of labor and small amount
of raw material, but that they cannot
export hardware in which the raw ma
terial constitutes large proportion OF
the value We are sending manufac-
lures of steel all over the world. The
steam engine, for instance, is made by
skilled labor and yet we can send 1t
abroad and defy competition. Our cleo
trical machinery is made by skilled Ia
Dor, and yet we have no fear of foreign
competition, even in the foreign mar
kets Our agricultural machinery is
made by skilled labor, and yet we eX-
port it to all countries. Our sewing
machines are manufactured by skilled
labor, but the American traveller finds
our sewing machines everywhere; and
the list could be extended indefinitely.
For twenty-five years the American
workingman has been told that he re-
ceives higher wages than the English
workman solely because of protection,
but our wage earners now know that
this cannot be due to protection, be-
cause the English workingman receives
higher wages than the German work.
man, although the German tariff is
higher than the tariff of Great Britain.
Protection does not make good wages.
Our better wages are due to the greater
Intelligence and skill of our workmen.
to the greater hope which free institu-
lions gave them, to improved ma
chinery, to the better conditions that
surround them, and to the organiza-
lions which have been formed among
the wage earners.
A revenue tariff will not bring a
panic; it will not inaugurate industrial
depression; it will not reduce wages;
on the contrary, it will stimulate busi-
ness and give more employment, and
larger demand for labor will be a
guaranty against the reduction OF
wages. A reduction of the tariff VIII
reduce the extortion that is now prac-
ticed because of the high schedules; u
reduction in price will enable more
people to buy and this larger demand
for the goods will put more people TO
work and increase the number OF IN
dustries. A lower price will greatly
stimulate expectation and manufac-
turers who are now crippled by tarln
upon what they use will be better pre-
pared to enter the contest for SUI
premacy in the worlds trade.
We cannot hope to invade foreign
markets to the extent we should, until
we relieve our manufacturers of the
handicap that protection places upon
them in the purchase of materials they
have to use. Neither can we nope 10
continually increase our exports with
out Increasing our imports. Trade must
be mutual If it is to be permanent.
President Mckinley recognized this,
and in the last speech that he made
he pointed out that we must buy from
other nations If we expect to sell to
other nations.
What Democracy Plans
The Democratic plan does not con-
template an immediate change from one
system to the Sother; 1t expressly de-
ciares that the change shall be gradual
and a gradual change is only possible
where The country is satisfied with the
results of each step taken We elect
3, congress every two years and presi-
dent every four years, and the people
can soon stop any policy. Il the results
of that policy are not satisfactory But
we believe that the experience the peo-
pie have had with protection for pro-