Imperial Valley press., 1921-08-05
War Hero Wants
To Be Protected

10 BE Protected
Sacramento--The paradOxical STU
alton of war veteran who asks TO
be protected against those he fought
for is presented in the case OF Cap
tain H. W. Lewald, of Rio Linda. one
Of Californias 1000 ALMOND farmers
who are asking a protective tariff duty
sufficient to permit marketing their
crop in this country in competition
witt. the peasant growers of Southern
Europe.
Captain Lewald, who served in the
Navy during the World War, has writ
ten vigorous letters Of protest in true
fighting spirit to Senators Hiram W.
Johnson and Samuel NJ. Shortridge,
who are presenting the California farm
ers' demands before the Senate Finance
Committee for revision of the House
four and twelve cent almond schedule
in the Fordney bill to the absolutely
necessary minimum Of five and fifteen
cents on unshelled and shelled almonds.
Captain Lewald's letter to Senator
Johnson follows:
Dear Sir
knowing that you are one hundred
per cent American, also all for Cal
ifornia know that every Californian
will appreciate it II you use your
utmost influence to get at least
sc tariff on unshelled almonds and
% cha1 cd oil
cannot make go out here with
anything less than the above tariff
All during the late war | served part
OF the time as Captain of an Army
Transport and part Of the time as
Lieut.. Commander in the Navy, and
| will be son OF a sea cook If |
dcne my little part towards Winning
the war and then have Europeans
put 1t all over us as they will surely
be doing il the &c and l2c tariff goes
through.
| am like you all for America and
ask nothing but fair DEAL but |
can sincerely say that the almond
growers of California will come out
Of the little end of the horn, with
any less than a sc and 15c tariff.
Knowing that California can always
depend upon you and thanking you
for past favors. | remain.
Very truly yours,
CAPT. H. A. LEWALD.
In another letter to Senator Short.
ridge, Captain Lewald points out from
al l-vn IL I
ards Of living against which California
farmers must compete If not given
proper tariff protection. In his letter
to Senator Shortridge he says:
"On my own ranch l cannot make
it pay If the tariff Is less than &c
on unshelled and 15c on shelled
almonds. For years | travelled all
over Europe, and the conditions that
the people OF Southern Europe work
under no true American would think
Of asking his help to work under
the same, and even If he wanted to.
doubt if he could get them to.
"lf the 4c and 12c tariff goes
through | know that the California
almond grower may as we'll grub
out all of his trees and let the land
lay idle for he will be as far ahead
as trying TO grow almonds with an
inadequate tariff.
IL know that you will do all within
your power for the almond growers
of California. just as you have al
ways fought for the interests Of
California, and | also know that
the people of California are proud of
you and behind you"
California Is an agricultural state
We must protect our farmers. Tele-
graph the Senate Finance Committee
today demanding adequate protection
for California almond farmers.
The difference between four and
twelve cents and five and fifteen cents
In tariff duties spells financial disas-
ter or prosperity for 1000 California
almond farmers. Statewide supnort
should rally to their aid.
The members OF the Senate Finance
Committee hold the last hope for sav.
ing the California almond industrv
by adequate tariff protection. Wire
California's senators today 80 that
they may have statewide support In
fighting the almond farmers fight.