Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-09-14
ALKArHERwoRKER
Answers Mr MoKinlsy's Free-aide Argu-
ment.
U-uuo w Va G,nkamhar ID

Answers Mr McKinley's Free-aide Argu-
mont.
WHEELING, W VA, September IL
To TIC Editor QfGS Register.
SIR have waited, hoping that an
ADLER writer than myself would cay some
thing in reply to Mr.. McKinley's remarks
on the free-hides question. In his great
speech at Atlanta, Georgia, delivered some
weeks ago, while on the subject of protec-
ton 10 American industries, and free raw
material for them, he took occasion to say
tlat q mistake had been made in 1872 when
hides bad been placed on the free list, at
which time his party was IN power and
could have prevented them from being put
there, but TOR the mistake which he o
claims was made. Says Mr.. Mckinley: :
THE Government was asked to confer this
blessing on the tanning interests and al
the people Of this country. The request
was granted, and now, after sixteen years
OF the greatest prosperity ever known in
the leather business and in the boot, shoe,
harness, and other dependencies OF the
business, Mr.. Mckinley has the hardihood
to stand before an intelligent audience and
give utterance to such q thought,
and assert that no advantage
has been derived, simply be.
cause the statistics OF exports fail TO
show that no more than 2 per cent. OF the
leather production Of this country has been
shipped to other countries as leather.
What q sumner.
AND why not, I ask. land answer my
self. Simply because no more OF 1t could
be spared to be sent away, over and above
the needs and wants of the home market
Allow me to say in this connection, /
think this experiment can be tried with
profit with other industries, notably the
wool business. This the Mills bill pro-
poses. Go back with me a few years II
You please. WHAT was gentlemen's wear,
10 the way of boots and shoes, made Of? In
this country uppers were made from either
country tanned cali, kip or upper leather
when II could be obtained, otherwise from
tanned calf, kip or upper; more OF
the latter is used in the cities and towns
sill the while than of the former because OF
is being more easily obtained, owing to
the scarcity Of the country article; the
bottoms were made from, for insoles, part
of the heels and the filings, country
sole leather; outsoles and the bet
ter part OF the heels, from Spanish sole
This was the case with reference to
the shoe business; harness, ssddlery, trunks
and other leather goods we've about the
same l suppose, bat a. l was more familiar
with the shoe business, speak more par
ticularly of it. Why was this thus? Be-
of the fact inst stock could not be
tanned for want of the hides. At that
early day beef caters were not IN the land.
could not be obtained for Want OF a
for the carcasses- Later, whe
railroads we're built, as the country in
IN population, and the people De-
came more enterprising, tanneries in
creased and the business enlarged. Al
though there were millions OF cattle on the
plains OF Texas, and the Western States
and Territories, there was still not enough
market for the meat. At times the demands
for hides because so great, that cattle were
killed for their hides and tallOw only, the
being lett, when butchsred, for
the Yultures 90 feed IN. This ID no fancy
but facts that can be verified by
living witnesses to-day. Later the aye Of
Improvement and invention came on
space. The Armours and other entsrpris-
Jog beef dealers built the patent r~efrigeIa-
tor cans and alright compartments on
board of vessels, 10 which and by which
meat could be shipped east TO the cities
and TO Europe. And with oil this vast
growth and enterprise in the business there
still q short supply Of hides, culmin-
.ting foally IN q united request for the
government 10 admit hides from South
American and elsewhere free of duty.
The request WAS granted and now, after six
teen years we have unparalleled prosperity,
steady work for the workingmen, at bet
Ter wages than ever before paid them, and
to the employer.
A LEATHER WORKER.