anaheim-gazette 1929-09-19

THE ANAHEIM GAZETTE HENRY KUCHEL, Editor and Priprietor. ESTABLISHED 1870 ISSUED EVERY THURSDAY SUBSCRIPT PER YEAR.....$1.50 SIX MONTHS.....1.00 Entered at the Anaheim, California, Postoffice as second-class matter. THE TARIFF—A LABOR QUESTION The tariff question is almost exclusively a labor question. It bears the same relationship to the standards of living for wage earners in the United States as the restriction of that immigration which once threatened the maintenance of these standards by the wholesale introduction of low-priced labor. To exclude that low-priced labor and at the same time to admit its product without equalizing by tariffs the difference in labor costs at home and abroad would be to produce the same economic result as unrestricted immigration, while losing whatever advantage might accrue by introducing that many more consumers into the United States. Intelligent American labor leadership sees the point and now stands committed to tariff schedules which equalize labor costs at home and abroad. Labor takes the position which every patriotic American should take, that obtaining cheapness in industrial output by cheapening of the workers employed in manufactures, is a self-defeating process. What is demanded by the foes of a protective tariff is that low merchandise costs be obtained by paying the wage earner employed in their production less than a living wage. Our present prosperity is based upon the theory that the consuming power necessary for the maintenance of a diversified industrial output, can be procured only through paying the wage earner enough to maintain himself and his family on a high and mounting level. Moreover even the pursuit of cheapness in price to the ultimate consumer through tariffs below this labor equalization level, is futile. The ultimate consumer in the United States cannot purchase directly abroad. He is dependent upon the machinery of distribution, which intertwines between the foreign factory and the self-defeating process. What is demanded by the foes of a protective tariff is that low merchandise costs be obtained by paying the wage earner employed in their production less than a living wage. Our present prosperity is based upon the theory that the consuming power necessary for the maintenance of a diversified industrial output, can be procured only through paying the wage earner enough to maintain himself and his family on a high and mounting level. Moreover even the pursuit of cheapness in price to the ultimate consumer through tariffs below this labor equalization level, is futile. The ultimate consumer in the United States cannot purchase directly abroad. He is dependent upon the machinery of distribution which intervenes between the foreign factory and the counter of his local store. The assumption that the importer of cheap foreign goods passes on the profits obtained through cheapening of the worker, to the ultimate consumer, can easily be disproved by anyone who cares to take the trouble to investigate. The importer sells the foreign-made articles at just enough below the prevailing domestic price to the distributor, to take the market. He is not in business for philanthropy, but for good, stiff profits. The result is that when the article reaches the consumer it is sold at the same price as the domestic article, regardless of whether the tariff on it is high or low. This was clearly demonstrated in an investigation by the United States Senate a few years ago, in which it was shown that some of the foreign-made articles sold in retail stores carried a profit running as high as one thousand per cent. The demagogic claim is made that the farmer will profit by keeping tariffs on manufactured articles so low that American manufacturers cannot pay present or higher wages and remain in business. The theory is that destroying or lowering the purchasing power of wage earners in home industries will help the farmer, although these people constitute the most immediate and most profitable market for what the American farmer produces. By increasing the surplus of the farmer through reduction of American purchasing power, it is claimed that the farmer will be helped. A more preposterous sophistry has never been preached in American politics. What is being attempted in pending tariff legislation is to put back to work in American factories from one to two million men now out of employment because they cannot compete with alien workers receiving from one-fifth to one-half the American wage. A visit to any large department store will explain all the unemployment that exists in this country, and foreshadow the still greater unemployment that agitators against adequate tariff protection seek to produce. The proportion of goods made abroad is greater now than it ever has been before. Such opposition to the protective tariff principle is in most cases camouflaged under the pretense that it is only "outrageously high" tariffs that are fought. But this outcry is singularly lacking in specifications. It is accompanied by no comparisons of the tariff rates proposed with the differences in labor costs at home and abroad. The truth is that every tariff bill intended to place American industrial production on a footing of equality with alien industrial production has been fought in exactly the same way. The unbuilding of the American structure of industry and prosperity for workers has been antagonized every step of the way. Today that battle goes on with more vigor than ever because we have developed in this country financial interests which seek an opportunity to plant their factories in foreign cheap labor markets and retain the right to sell in this market without tariff rates which measure adequately the advantage they are getting and expect to get from lower wage costs. With all this talk of special interests exercising influence on American tariff legislation are GOOD FOR CHINA An ever-present characteristic of revolutionary radicalism is its gloomy psychology—its total lack of a sense of humor. This has been illustrated anew in the solemn pronouncements of communist leaders in Russia protesting against China's "violation" of the property rights of Soviet Russia in electing employees and officials of the Chinese Eastern Railway who were conspiring to overthrow the Chinese government. Now that there is some prospect of peaceful settlement of the controversy between China and Russia, Soviet horneters in the United States will be found praising Moscow for having finally decided, after many threats, not to go to war with China. In this case, however, virtue has become a necessity and discretion has proved the better part of valor. Although maintaining a huge army, the soviet government must keep it in European Russia, astride the neck of the Russian masses, in order to maintain security for the Moscow masters. The beginning of a foreign war would be accompanied by uprisings at home. Consequently, since military threats have failed, Soviet Russia shows signs of willingness to settle by negotiation. Nationalist China is entitled to credit for having taken the bolshevik bull by the horns in the matter of Russian revolutionary propaganda and intrigue. China has shown wisdom and courage in this matter beyond that of other nations equally the target of soviet revolutionary intrigue. That other powers should permit Moscow-directed communism to foment insurrection within their borders, and openly develop military plans for the accomplishment of that purpose, is a procedure which passes comprehension. China has called a halt on the communist warfare waged from within against every non-communist country. Other nations might well follow her brave example. The Hard Season For Grandmother By Albert T. Reid *I GOTTA GO TO MY GRANDMOTHER'S FUNERAL* *So Do I! - LET'S GO TO GETHER.* THE TOWN DOCTOR Orange County Weeds THE TOWN DOCTOR (The Doctor of Towns) SAYS DON'T CONFUSE CIVIC LOYALTY WITH GOOD BUSINESS Maybe you have a perfect right to feel that your local merchants are behind times in the way they do, things and the merchandise they carry, but are you doing anything to help change the situation? "Not my lookout," you say—well, let's consider it this way: If, in your estimation, your stores and merchants ARE poor, it is not going to make them any better for you to tell everybody about it, and when you are in need of something to buy it mail order, from a peddler, or go to some other town. On the other hand, if you will give your local merchants a break, and OFFER to buy them you will be performing not only a service to your community, a good turn to your fellow citizen, but you will be doing YOURSELF a favor. This isn't a matter of community boosting or civic loyalty or civic welfare—it is purely a matter of good business—might good business on your part. If you live in a town—you, or those who provide your livelihood, are in business or they at least earn a living in the community. If you own real estate, there is that much more reason why you should go out of your way to see to it that your community gets all the business possible, bury you don't have to own two or three store buildings, a house and a lot, or be a stock holder in a bank, in order that it pay YOU a profit. Therefore, it is not only your duty, but it is YOUR BUSINESS to see to it that the community gets all the business from yourself and everyone else you can influence; also, it is your business to see to it that YOUR town is not looked down upon, as it surely will be, if its stores are behind the times. But it is ten to one that your stores are not as poor as lots of people think them to be. Your stores CAN supply you with most anything you may want to purchase. In this day and age of standardized merchandising, with present distribution system, any merchant CAN take care of your wants, IF HE WANTS TO. Of course, if your merchants really are far behind the times, or lack gumption to supply your needs and likes—that is different. All of this is said with the full realization that there are still some "store keepers" running "supply depots," who have "clerks" instead of "sales people." But YOU are responsible if you have good stores or poor ones. If you continually refuse to give your merchants first OPPORTUNITY to supply your wants, continually buy outside you turn yourself into a walking, talking advertisement for a bum town, and who want to live and have other people know that they live in a dead community? Also, if you live in the town, especially in a small city, your social lifeings you in contact with your fellow citizens, you associate with them; and can you really feel just right in socially fraternizing with them, when you know that you are not giving them a fair shake? Put yourself in their position—just what would you do? And as a tip to merchants let me add—Business goes where it is invited and stays and comes back to the place where it is well treated and served best. Copyright 1929. A. D. Stone. Reproduction prohibited in whole or in part. This Town Doctor article is published by The Anghelin Gazette in cooperation with the Lions Club. The growth of a United States of Europe might be a desirable thing from the world viewpoint but it will be slow in coming. The recent quarreling of the great powers at The Hague over the division of the reparations is not at all an encouraging sign of the unification of Europe. Orange County Weeds Perennial sow thistle is known as one of the worst weeds wherever it is found. It occurs in many of the northern states and Canadian provinces. In California, it has been found only in Orange county, in the vicinity of Winterburg. It was presumably introduced in celery seed when that crop was so extensively grown in the district. It has proven a very formidable weed pest in the moist peaty soils of the Santa Ana delta. All parts of the plant contain milky juice. The leaves are succulent, and first appear in rosettes resembling the young lettuce plants. The young leaves are almost entire, but the older leaves are deeply cut and edged with soft spines. The stems are hollow and quite tall and branched near the end. The lower part of the stem is leafy, the leaves partly clasping the stem. The upper part of the stem is leafless, but covered with yellow hairs which are somewhat sticky to the touch. The flower-heads appear in late summer. They are large and bright yellow in color, resembling dandelions in appearance, and are borne singly at the ends of the branched stems. On reaching maturity, the seeds bear a downy appendage, as in the dandelion, and may be carried a great distance by wind. The rootstocks are large and fleshy. They are capable of propagating the plant from small pieces, and because of this fact it is difficult to control by cultivation insub-irrigated soils, where it is necessary to stir the surface almost daily in order to dry it out sufficiently to destroy the broken pieces of root-stock. In dryer ground, although it is quite persistent, sow thistle may be controlled by clean cultivation in the same manner as morning glory or other perennial weeds. Chemicals also are generally less satisfactory in sub-irrigated soils. An excess of moisture in the soil interferes with the effectiveness of carbon bluphide. Diesel oil and arsenicals readily destroy the top growth of the weed in moist soil but new growth quickly reappears from the rootstocks. It is not known whether or not repeated destruction of the top growth by chemicals will eventually exhaust the root system. it is your business to see to it that YOUR town is not looked down upon, as it surely will be, if its stores are behind the times. But it is ten to one that your stores are not as poor as lots of people think them to be. Your stores CAN supply you with most anything that you may want to purchase. In this day and age The growth of a United States of Europe might be a desirable thing from the world viewpoint but it will be slow in coming. The recent quarreling of the great powers at The Hague over the division of the reparations is not at all an encouraging sign of the unification of Europe. OH, MOM! FREDDIE WANTS TO TAKE A BATH! HORRORS! WHAT'S THIS? WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THE MATTER WITH THAT BOY, PINKY? SEE MOM! WE WERE SEEING WHICH ONE COULD WALK NEAREST A MUD PUDDLE AND FREDDIE WON! TERRY OILNOW OBSERVATIONS LIFTING THE LID In a big city up the boulevard, it is printed in the paper, "there are places inside the city limits," the report alleges, "where 50 miles an hour is permissable." But, Mr. and Mrs. Motorist, you are cautioned to observe all the safety laws. All right—let's go! Give 'er the gun! Look out, there! HEADS I WIN, TAILS YOU LOSE If it so happens that the amendment may be found to be enforceable, why, the law will remain as it is. And yet again, if it is found that the law cannot be enforced (vigorously), why, it will remain as it is. DAR YOU IS When an irresistable force strikes an immovable body, what happens? And Uncle Reuben inclines to the notion that when you mix "alke" with grapejuice, you get an awful headache. LIKE POURING WATER INTO A RATHOLE A visitor who watched a man play the roulette wheel at a certain resort, said he saw the optimistic person separated from two thousand dollars so quick that it would make your head swim. WATCHDOGS OF THE TREASURY Some of the high priced stars appear to be having some trouble about that tax. Of course, it is said the stars relied on their agents to make out the reports according to Hoyle. But just why the agent should make out the reports for a whole lot less than they should be, is past finding out. Maybe the agent was handing the stars a Christmas present in disguise. Of course if the agent was poor at making figures and overlooked a lot of items that could be classed as an oversight, so long as Uncle wasn't looking. To be sure, it is said, earned incomes should be exempt, but so long as the law remains as it is, it is derned risky to try to hold out any of the movie mazuma. Anyhow, it is unfortunate that it ever happened, but there are visions of fines and hoosegows in the distance, and things are as uncertain as contract renewals. DIDJA GET IT, DOC? Aviation has its advantages. It is said there awhile ago DIDJA GET IT, DOC? Aviation has its advantages. It is said there awhile ago a fellow went up in an airship with a dentist and had him pull a tooth. The deduction to be arrived at by this novel and modern method is, while the man expected to be dashed to death any minute (but he was not) he felt as though the pulling of an aching tooth was just a gesture, or something. THEN, ALL YOU NEED IS A PENCIL After a thorough investigation it has been learned that an important requisite for a successful columnist to possess, is a clear conscience, and you must not crowd him. Hey, quit your pushing, back there! AMONG THOSE PRESENT From the best of newspaper authority it is learned that when that big blimp weighed anchor, besides the brave passengers, there were aboard a gorilla and a piano. Whether or not the latter were taken along for ballast is not stated. A deduction arrived at is that should the monkey have started climbing the chandeliers some one would have played the piano, for be it known that music soothes the savage breast. BOILED OVER No doubt one reason, and perhaps the main reason, why there is so much crime may be laid to the breaking down of the punishment of the criminal. There are so many major crimes that officers of the law are hard pressed to keep up with the procession. And when the "big boss" is wealthy he has a habit of heaving monkey wrenches into the legal machinery. THE OVERFLOW If you are interested you should have noticed in the paper where it is intended to build another rate down on the border line, so that customers who desire to crash the gate may get through without rubbing all the paint off their fenders. OTHERWISE THINGS WERE OKEY A husband sought a divorce from his mate because, as he alleged, friend wife was too fat (250 lbs.), was a poor cook, threw the dishes at him, and to cap the climax had such a heavy beard that she had to shave every day. AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE Intensive vigilance no doubt will prevent the dreaded Mediterranean fruit fly from getting into California. But, as a well-known orange grower said, there is no use for growers to get excited about it. The reason for that is, the people here believe in spraying and fumigating their trees, and that is part of their precautions to keep their trees free of pests. Through these practices that fly cannot thrive here—in other words, it cannot get started. It would be killed before it got very far—if it got here at all. However, growers should be on their guard and co-operate with the authorities who are determined to keep the fly out of AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE Intensive vigilance no doubt will prevent the dreaded Mediterranean fruit fly from getting into California. But, as a well-known orange grower said, there is no use for growers to get excited about it. The reason for that is, the people here believe in spraying and fumigating their trees, and that is part of their precautions to keep their trees free of pests. Through these practices that fly cannot thrive here—in other words, it cannot get started. It would be killed before it got very far—if it got here at all. However, growers should be on their guard and co-operate with the authorities who are determined to keep the fly out of California. PUT IT UP ON THE DESK, MISTER! There's one good thing about the new currency—you can crowd more of them into your pocket. However, the old ones are just as good. And it may be that the new ones are just as hard to get. And yet again, if you have a lot of the new bills you would be foolish to show them, should it so happen that you were up on supplementary proceedings. FIND THE COON BEFORE CHOPPING DOWN THE TREE! Now that an editor has picked out the best way to promote temperance, what's he going to do about it? DARK SECRET Now that some of the wimmin have taken to smoking in public, what a lot of guys would like to know is where do they scratch the matches. END OF LINE, EVERYBODY OUT! When wheat dropped to less than a dollar a bushel the other day, that unhappy event would lead a man up a tree to believe that any price fixing proposition would be a derned dangerous thing to monkey with. Supply and demand is a wonderful equation, and when the price of a commodity drops (unless there is manipulation) it speaks like a ton of bricks, or something. And if the invisible hand of the speculator is seen lurking around, something done about that might help a whole lot. SLAPPING ON THE BRAKES In a recent election in a city in an adjoining county there awhile ago, several bond issues were defeated. Meaning, no doubt, that the taxpayers are pretty well fed up on bonds, already. Bonds may come and bonds may go, but elections go on forever.