Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-04-16
INDIGNANT ABOUT HIDES.
leather Dealers Rising Against MeKInIey's
Proportions.

Propositions.
A storm Of indignation has been aroused
among the leather dealers Of New York
by Mr.. McKinley's proposed duty of a
cent and half a pound on hides. The
proposition is spoken Of as .'preposter-
Gus" ridiculous" ''monstrous" and
contagious" There is no division Of
sentiment among the dealers, Republic
cans as well as Democrats entering their
protests against the measure. Mr.. Mel
son, 81 the firm Of Palen, Nelson & Co.,
said: II went about Boston previous 10
the presidential election crying protec-
ton as a good Republican should.
have seen what the Harrison administra-
ton has done, and | am satisfied with
my experience with IL. / don't want
any more protection. l am not Mug
wunp in any sense. But | am. after
this exhibition Of legislation on the part
Of committee whose avowed intention
was 70 reduce taxation, free trader"
What makes this proposed duty en-
tirely characteristic Of the Republican
party is the fact that the duty comes az
the result Of pressure from the rich and
powerful II is understood that the
big -four" among the Chicago packers.
Messrs. Armour, Swift, lawrence and
Hammond, brought ali the influence at
their command 70 bear upon the WAYS
and means committee in order to secure
this duty. These four men are the
greatest among the packers and dressers
Of beef, and they sell more than :, 900, O01
hides year.
With such promising subjects for fat
frying in the exigencies Of future cam
pai2ns the committee could not do less
than heed their demand, especially 80
since In yielding 70 II they could make II
APPEAR that they were throwing a sop to
the farmer. The protective tariff Is
growing more and more irksorne 70 the
farmer, and his loud and frequent com
plants have made it necessary for the
Republicans 10 60 through with the
bOcus-pocus Of giving him his slice OF
protection, too.
Almost the whole value Of a beef is it5
flesh, and no one can pretend that the
addition 81 q few cents % the price Of
the hide viii stimulate the cattle raising
industry. The big packers viii reap
large additional profits by this measure:
but ninsteeT-rwentieth Of tine farmers
Of the country VIII never feel the differ
"ncs. Or if they GJ feel the difference
u Will b. IN the Increased price Of shoes
Everybody knows hDH SHOES have been
cheapened and their quality improved II
this country during the pas. twenty
has been 50 gratifying that it would
seem utter foily 10 take backward steE
now.
Hide were put on the free list in 1872
and our expectations immediately wen1
up with q bound. our exports Of leather
and lPatier goods last year amounted T.
Sl2, 22o 600. against S9G17 900 in 1888
Last year we exported 10000 900 pounds
more Of sole leather than the wear be
fore; the exports of UoDts and shoe.
showed a gain OF 5000 pairs This ex
pOrtation IL leather and the mauufac
lures Of it has grown up under the slim
ulus Of free hides and of the great ex
pansion Of the beef packing business i,
this country.
49, 'H-h--' f'IA- A'itt'a-l'A 'il tire iIf-f
list in 1872 there we're predictions Of rui,
in such a center a. Glover5ville anC
Johnstown, y. Y. These are twin vii
lagos, largely engaged in leather dress
ing and in glove and mitten making. I
is confessed by everybody there tina
free hides have been the making Of thes,
villages
The only feature about Mr. Mckinley
tax on hides which tariff reforrners NAV
welcome Is that it is 50 evidently a steI
backward and against the best interest,
Of the country that it will serve as an
other valuable object lesson for the PEG
pie in the educational campaign against
the humbug Of protection. The more
outrageous protection becomes the sooner
It will cure itself.