Omaha daily bee., 1905-11-16
IS PROVOKED
Says He Vas Nisquotsd by Late Dsne-
cratic Candidate in Massachusetts.
REFUSES TO DISCUSS TARIFF QUESTION
Tells Delegation of Leather Wen and
shoemakers that He viii Not
Express Himself on sub
iect Suggested.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 15.-Governor W.
L. Douglas Of Massachusetts,. who headed
a delegation OF boot and shoe and leather
manufacturers that called on the presi-
dent at the White House today and made
the principal address to the president IN
behalf OF the movement to secure re-
peal of the duty on hides The delegation
numbered in all twenty-eight men, repre-
senting the various industries interested.
In addition to the remarks of Governor
Douglas, there were addresses by several
of the other members Of the delegation.
Following the presentation of the views
and desires of the delegation, the president
assured them that their interests should
surely receive the painstaking attention
both of the executive and of congress.
In his address Governor Douglas said
! that the boot and shoe industry of the
country is greatly oppressed and burdened
by what we believe to be a needless tariff
duty on hides. This duty not only handi-
caps our industry and prevents its proper
| growth and expansion. both domestic and
! foreign, but It IL an evil to the country
| as a whole Without, as we believe, serv-
| ing any good purpose, this tariff duty
| heavily taxes articles essential for the
health and comfort Of every man, woman
| and child in the land, and thus greatly
| increases the cost Of living"
Governor Douglas claimed that the Is
! per cent on hides did not protect or benefit
the cattle raisers but did compel all farm
ers to pay higher prices for boots, shoes
| harnesses, saddles and other leather goods
Governor Douglas announced that the in
terests they represent would willingly con-
sent to a reasonable reduction of the q
per cent duty on boots and shoes in order
to obtain free hides and cheap leather
IAN we ask" he added. lis a free field
and no favor, either in our own or in for
eign markets. Unless the cost of materials
can be reduced, shoes must soon sell a
much higher prices"
A. Augustus Hesly. representing the HID
and Leather association of New York City
claimed that the removal of the duty OF
hides was an urgent necessity.
Matter in Hands of Congress.
After the delegation had presented IL
views and its desires to the president h
told them that as n matter of concret
fact the whole subject was one with which
congress must decide and he strongly i'm
pressed upon them that any action i'm tn
matter must originate in congress.
At the conclusion of the conference w
b. Rice of the firm of Rice & Hutchins o
Boston made a statement to the newspape
men Of the result of the interview. II
said:
We represent the majority of the leather
tanning and boot and shoe interests of tn
United states. We decided to request tn
: president to assist us in procuring legisla
ton placing hides on the free list and t
cent. where the McKinleV ea law placed y 4
We were able to assure the president tina
the boot and shoe interests would consen
to a reasonable reduction of the duty o
their products. The president manifesto
deep interest in the statements made (
him. He declined to make any statemer
: committing himself to advocacy of tn
repeal of the duty. on hides and did nc
authorize us to make any statement as
!. his position on the subject ''
We were much pleased with the inter
view, / think every man present was in
pressed with the presidents desire to d
the square thing by u.s.
. | go away from here with good deal {
courage that something Will be done, no
: that the ball has started to rolling.
Subsequent to the departure of the dell
cation from the White House Presider
: Roosevelt authorized the publication of h
remarks on the object of it's mission.
= the course OF his remarks he related a
= experience he had last winter with a con
mittee from massachusetts,. of which NJ
. Whitney, recently a candidate for lieute
ant governor of Massachusetts, was mer
Der. He said that when Mr.. Whitney hs
misquoted him in the campaign which WI
Z closed few days ago and declared that
was constrained to believe that Mr.. Viii
ney had deliberately misrepresented VIII
N had occurred" With this experience
m mind the president declined to enter up;
m a discussion OF the subject of free hides
~ y, this time. The address of the preside
m was In part follows:
m II is. of course. unnecessary to poi
out that no change in the tariff can
made, keeping in view only the interes
n, or desires of one state or one .localit
~ the law must first take tangible shape
=. - the lower house of congress and mus
-, ~ therefore, roughly correspond to the sem
- ments of the citizens of the several stat
:" as expressed through their representativ
- therein. Where the interests, and ther
~ fore the sentiments based on the interes
"a are diverse as Is almost invariably Z
III case in reference to the details of all tar
matters, the law must normally, althoui