Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-11-16
OF DUTY ON HIDES.
President Raps Whitney For Mis-
quoting Speech OF Year Ago.
Whitney Says Not Wilfully.

Washington, Nov. 15-President
Roosevelt was asked, today, to use his
influence to have the customs duty OF
hides removed in the interest of all the
people of the country. A delegation OF
boot and shoe and leather manufactur-
ers. headed by Gov. ". l.. Douglas OF
Massachusetts, called on the President
by appointment and discussed with min,
the proposed repeal of the duty on
hides. The delegation numbered Is
members, the majority being from New
York and the West and the minority
from the New England states. The DEL
egatiOn remained with the President q
considerable time. Several brief ad-
dresses were made by members of the
delegation and the President replied to
them. In course of the interview the
President spoke as frankly and sincre-
ly to his callers that they burst into
cheers that made the executive offices
ring with enthusiasm.
Several brief addresses were made to
the President. Representative J. 3.
Perkins of Rochester, N. ", introduced
Governor Douglas to the President as
the chairman of our delegation. Besides
Governor Douglas, Jackson johnson of
St. Louis; A. B. Brown of st. Louis:
George E. Keith of Brockton. Mass: A.
Augustus Healy of New York, repre-
senting the Hide and Leather Associa-
ton; c. H. Jones and w. B. Rice of
Boston: and John H. Hanan of New
York, spoke in advocacy Of the delega-
TONS mission. A member of the party
said:
1.-THE President manifested deep in
terest in the statements made to him.
He declined to make any statement
committing himself to the advocacy of
the repeal of the duty on hides and did
not authorize us to make any state
ment as to his position on the subject
Eve were much pleased with the in
terview. think every man present was
impressed with the Presidents desire
to do the square thing by us. He said.
however, that the subject was one with
which Congress necessarily would have
to deal and that action in regard to our
request must originate with Congress.
81 want to say that it is a mistake
to suppose that our visit here had any
relation to the Western packing inter-
ests. They had nothing to do with it.
We are boot and shoe and leather man.
ufacturers entirely" Mr.. Rice said that
in the course of the interview the Pres
ident inquired as to the attitude of the
late Nelson Dingley toward the duty on
hides. l.. Pickard, a former mayor of
Newton, Mass, responded that Mr..
Dingley had been opposed consistently
to the imposition of duty on hides.
Mr. Rice said in conclusion that he
did not know whether this subject
would be taken up by members of the
present delegation with the committees
of Congress or not, but indicated that
some such action might be taken. II go
away from here, however" said he,
with good deal of courage that some
thing will be done now that the ball
has been started to rolling"
Subsequent to the departure Of the
delega ton from the White House,
President Roosevelt authorized the
publication Of his remarks on the SUBJ
ject of its mission. In the course of his
remarks he related an experience he
had, last winter, with a committee from