Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-12-04
MORRISON IS CLEARED
Did Not Contract Foreign Labor
..Glove Cutters Union Sc
yerely Rebuked.
Attempt TO Ruin a Western In.
dustry Given a Set Back in
McPherson's Court.
Imported Cutters Not Detrimen.
tai to Interests Of Amer
lean Labor.

lean Labor.
Special to Times-Republican
| Des Moines. Dec. 4-The decision OF
| Judge Smith Mcpherson in the Morrison
glove case from Grinnell was rendered
last evening, the judge filing with the
clerk Of the district court written
opinion In the case, in which he clears
the defendant Of the charge of violation
| of the contract labor laws. As expected,
the court renders decidedly interesting
decision and raps over the head those
who have sought to prevent the estab-
lishment Of new industries in the west
ern country. He gives three distinct
reasons for deciding in favor of the de-
PENDANT. The first is that the two Aus
trians who were alleged to have been
imported under contract and are cut
tiers of ladies' fine kid CLOGS. were not
shown to have been imported at all by
Mr.. Morrison. They borrowed money
from a gentleman who Is an agent of
Morrison for purchasing kid skins and
shipping them. but 1t was not shown
that he was an agent of Morrison for
procuring laborers. They came to Chi
cago, where one had q sister living, and
after remaining there about week they
made arrangements by telegraph to go
to Grinnell and work for Morrison. He
advanced the railroad fares from Chi
cago. which he held out Of their wages.
No other contract appears from the evil
dence. The alleged confession can be
considered such only by inference and
even a confession does not establish
guilt. Both Austrians denied having
come over under contract to labor. and
so under the evidence the guilt OF de-
fendant does not appear. The court says
in regard to the second phase Of the
question:
Much Of the evidence and the argu-
ments Of counsel were directed to the
way ladies' kid gloves are made and by
the kind OF persons making them, and
to the extent the industry is now and
was heretofore established. A fair esti-.
mate Is that more than 80 per cent OF all
ladies' and gentlemen's kid gloves made
in the United States are made in and
around two towns In northeastern New
York, named Johnstown and Glovers-
vile. And am not certain but that the
Ter cent is more nearly 80 ger cent. And
the increase OF the manufacture at those
towns has been very marked since the
enactment of the present tariff law by
congress called the Dingley law. But
even now, from the best estimates Of the
wit nd fha SrP n oH kof
from the records and reports Of the
treasury department. shows that less
than 20 per cent of such gloves worn In
this country are made in the United
States. More than so per cent are inn
ported and are the fruits of European
labor. And on such a statement, which
from the evidence can not be doubted,
how can it be said that the manufac-
ture OF fine kid gloves Is now, or was,
when these two Austrians came over in
June, 1900, an established industry?
Perhaps the best informed witness who
testified upon the subject was the sec
rotary Of the organization OF glove max
ers. For several years he has been in
Johnstown and Gloversville. He i'm
pressed me as being also candid. He has
had much to do with bringing about this
prosecution. But he could only locate
very few and very small establishments
outside of the two New York towns
above named. And the few he men
toned are insignificant because Of the
small volume of work done. 1t is a mar
row view to take, because kid gloves
are made in two small towns in New
York, that thereby the business Is an
established industry in this country.
know of no reason for holding that two
small towns in one state shall be al
lowed to dominate the business, and by
closely-bouEd organizations freeze out
all similar industries in all other parts
of the country. 1t is not for the inter-
est OF the manufacturers of those two
small towns to have a monopoly Of the
business, particularly as they can sup
ply but small part of the demand. 1t
is not for the interest of the glove cut
tiers Of the country to supply such q
small part Of the demand. And it Is not
in harmony with the laws of congress
which were enacted for all Of the United
States and not for one county in the
state of New York. A glove cutter is q
skilled workman. Any one can soon
learn to do the cutting. But he must
be skilled in preparing the Skins In
this case the government undertook to
show that this can be done by machin-
cry In part 1t is so done, the skin Is
fired or burned and thereby weakened,
and the glove much the inferior, and the
purchasers thereby imposed upon. 1t
can serve no purpose to discuss the mat
ter further; and especially 80. in view of
the fact that this is a criminal case, and
all penal statutes must be strictly con-
strued as against the government. and
construed on behalf Of the
charged with crime"
Judge Mcpherson decided another
point, namely. that the defendant should
be acquitted because under the intent of
the statutes he has done no wrong. AS
every additional glove cutter employed
gives employment to from five to eight
glove makers. it is in the interest of
American labor that more glove cutters
should be employed. 1t is not contrary
to the spirit of the law to import such
laborers as cutters Of fine kid gloves.
MONEY FOR THE FARMER.
A Renter in Pocahontas Gives Some