Automobiles, Politics, and California Schools
Exports of automobiles from the United States to foreign countries increased from $1,069,782 in 1902 to $21,636,661 in 1911; imports from $550,000 in 1902 to $2,446,248 in 1911. In the year 1908 the leading manufacturers of France, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Italy exported $45,000,000 worth; this had increased in two years to $75,000,000. In 1900 the value of automobiles manufactured in the United States was $5,000,000; in 1909, $249,000,000. Canada imported from the United States in 1911 automobiles to the value of $7,180,547. This is an indication of the world-wide growing extravagance. A report from Berlin states that the kaiser got out in his home district during the recent political campaign and made stump speeches in order to keep his immediate neighborhood from electing a Socialist to the Reichstag. The Socialists are throwing the kaiser more and more into the arms of the Catholic party. There is a constant demand arising that the poll-tax in California shall be abolished. It is not popular in its nature or operation; but the school people are urging that before that is done something like $800,000 a year must be provided to help out in the school funds.