Valentine Democrat. (Valentine, Neb.) 1900-1930, 1904-11-03
PiCKLED SHEEPSKINS.
Senator Lodge in a Peck of Trouble
and Teddy Goes to His Rescue.

Hon. Charles s. Hamlin, who is to
make a number of speeches for the
Democratic national ticket in the mid
| die West, begrudges the time be must
! give to that pleasant duty simply for
! the reason that he would like to devote
! all Of his time 10 the "doubtfur' State
! Of Massachusetts.
While no we'll Informed person in
| cludeS the Bay State among those that
are likely to 90 Democratic. nor even
among those claSSed as doubtful. there
yet is less of righteousness in Nh Ham
Inns remark than might at first thought
be supposed Senator Lodge, the Re
publican leader i'll Massachusetts, and
bosom friend of President Roosevelt,
is in peck of trouble, and is making
frantic demands upon the Republican
National Committee for money and
speakers TO help him carry MasSachu-
sets.
Thirty thousand Republicans. acting
with Il like number Of Democrats, have
compelled Mr.. Lodge to right-a bout
face on the question of reciprocity with
Canada, and it is now probable that the
Senator will be further Inundated by
being forced to turn Il complete SOmer
Sault.
But whether the Republican organi-
ZatiOn does or does not come out square
footed for this measure Of relief which
is demanded by the people Of Massa
chuSettS, there is bound to be trouble
for the hide-bound partisans of pro-
lection in that State and the Demo-
Gratis should profit thereby.
The absurdity OF the siyty-seven
cents q ton duty on coal is one of the
things which is keenly realized by the
New England manufacturers who in
sist upon reciprocity with Canada The
sole effect of this duty, so far as they
are concerned. is to exclude the New
England States from the nearby Nova
Scotia supply of coal. and to compel
them to pay an excessively high price
as 4 slight benefit to distant mine own
ers. to the material injury Of their own
industry. This same duty, it may be
said in passing, handicapS the people
of the Northwest, who but for it might
draw their coal from the fields of Brit
iSh Columbia at a considerable saving
over present cost.
But reciprocity with Canada is not
the only important matter which is
troubling Senator Lodge and his Re
publican machine. Picked sheep
skins are causing great annoyance.
Large quantities Of them are imported
into Massachusetts every year. For
merly they came in free Of duty. but
recently the Treasury Department dis
covered that there was an Infant in
duStry' in domestic shecpskins which
must be helped over the rough places
in its pathway. Hence the department
officials decided that these picked
sheepskinS must be treated as partly
manufactured goods. and taxed at
twenty per cent. Senator Lodge has
appealed TO the President. and unless
he has lost his pull with his Old
friend entirely picked sheepskins will
be restored to the free list at least IN
Ill after election
2. S.-Pickled sheepskins are back
on the free list. Following his order
that 10 department estimates showing
the cost of running the Government
should hereafter be given out, Mr..
Roosevelt has given orders to the
Treasury officials that no more duties
shall be collected on picked sheep
skins until they hear from him again.
This may possibly save Massachu-
sets.