Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1901-01-24
WHAT PROTECTION HAS DONE.
Philadelphia Press.

Philadelphia Press.
When the Mckinley bill was pending in
Congress, some eight or ten years ago, a
great outcry was raised against the duty it
imposed upon hosiery. The public was
told that the price of these necessary ar
ticles would be increased to such an extent
that poor people could not afford TO buy
them. GERRY" Simpson used as an argu-
ment in his canvass for a seat in Congress
from Kansas the assertion that he could
not afford to buy socks, and became known
as "Sockless jerry" though he secured a
seat in Congress. But there was no in
crease in the price of hosiery despite the
increased tariff duties. The foreigners re-
duced their prices, though the industry
largely increased in the United States.
Now we hear the complaint from Great
Britain that American hosiery is being ex'
ported to that country. The United States
consul at Nottingham, Mr.. Q. 5. Mctar-
land, in late report to the State Depart
ment, says that the American commercial
invasion in England continues to grow to
such an extent that "hardly an issue OF the
leading English papers appears without ref
erence to American competition in some
line." Leicester, in that consular district,
is the seat of two great industries, the
manufacture of boots and shoes and OF
hosiery, including underwear. A few
years ago large quantity of boots and
shoes were exported to the United States.
Now the consul says not only are there no
exports, but enterprising American firms
have actually opened retail stores there,
while much of the machinery used IN the
mills of that city is of American make.
Hosiery exports from Leicester 10 the
United States few years ago were very
large. They are now comparatively small
and are constantly declining in volume;
and to cap the climax, the consul says
American goods are actually selling at re-
tail in that market. The leading trade
organ, the Hosiery Trade journal" Of
Leicester, calls attention to this matter IN
a recent number as follows -
"The report from the British consul at
Philadelphia strengthens the fact that
America is making fast strides in the man
ufacture of hosiery of all kinds, and that in
the near future American goods will be
net in many markets where same have
been up to the present unknown. AS such
advancement takes place, so will decrease
the importation by that country OF hosiery
goods, and those countries which have III
the past supplied America with hosiery
will have to find other markets. This Is
no surmise, for at the present time the ex'
ports of hosiery from both Germany and
England are nothing like what they were
in years past, and, as stated, have the
tendency to still further decrease.
"We have previously commented on the
importation of cut underwear from tht
United States into England, and there are
those who are inclined to treat this ques
ton as a mere "bogie," but when suct
goods can be seen exhibited in the win
dows of such hosiery towns as nottingham
and Leicester, then the "bogie" has as
suredlv taken some form of reality
Critics say the goods are not so well knit
ted as English fabrics, but certainly il
tleeced goods the fleeing has had tn
special study of the United States manu-
, facturers."
That is the result of affording protection
to American manufacturers. The protec
ton in the matter of hosiery has not beer
as great as it ought to be. The import
still average nearly 100000 annually
but they are not as great now as they wer
few years ago. What has been accom-
plished in this and other industries by
tariff can be accomplished in the merchan
t marine by applying to it the same princl
pie. Our merchant marine in the forelgl
trade is the only great industry that ha
been left without any protection whatever
Once that is furnished the nation will b
10 fair way to become commercially indie
/ pendent il every respect.