The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-16
DOUGLAS MAKES PLEA
HEADS DELEGATION WHICH CALLS
 ON PRESIDENT.
0overnor and Shoemaker Says Ipterests He Represents Will Agree to Tariff Reduction to Obtain
 Cheaper Leather.

Washington, Nov. Ex-Governor W. L. Douglass of Massachusetts headed a delegation of boot and shoe and leather manufacturers that called at the White House today and made the principal ad- dress to the President in behalf of the movement to secure the repeal of the duty on hides.
 The delegation numbered in all twen- ty-eight men, representing the various industries interested. In addition to the remarks of Governor Douglass, there were addesses by several of the other members of the delegation. Gov ernor Douglass told the President that the interests they represented would willingly consent to a reasonable re- duction of the duty of % per cent. on boots and shoes in order to obtain free hides and cheap leather.
 Following presentation of views and desires of the delegation the Presi- dent assured them that their interests should surely receive the painstaking attention both of the Executive and of Congress.
 In his address Governor Douglass spoke in part as follows:
 We are not here as representatives of New England only, but here to rep resent the whole of this great body of manufacturers, representing the manu- faeturers of $S00,000,000 worth of shoes. We employ over 100000 workmen and pay something like $75,oo0.o0O to wage earners. We come here unanimous to ask and are united in favor of the re- duction of the duty on hides.
 Duty Evil to Country.
 This duty not only handicaps our industry and prevents its proper growth and expansion, both domestic and for eign; but Is an evil to the country as whole. Without, as we believe, serving any good purpose. this tariff duty heav- fly taxes articles essential for the health and comfort of every man, wo- man and child in this land and thus greatly increases the cost of living. This tax bears most heavily upon la- boring people, who spend almost as much for shoes, per capita, as do our professional people.
 Moreover, the cost of the leather in the cheap, heavy shoes worn by the great mass of our people Is propor- tionately greater than 1t is in expen- sive and highly expensive shoes.
 Thus. while we are pleading for the consideration of the interests of those engaged in manufacturing and repair ing boots and shoes and all others en- gagged in manufacturing harness, bags, belts, etc., we are pleading also for the consideration of the welfare of S0,000, 900 people who wear shoes. About 24O, 900, 900 pairs of shoes are made an- nually in this country. The differences in the price of sole leather in this country and Canada, where there is no duty on hides, vary from 3 to cents per pound, which equals from about 4 to cents per pair on the average fac tory cost of our shoes. While cents additional cost on pair of shoes may seem an unimportant matter to the or dinary person. that amount represents more than the profit made by the aver age manufacturer. So we are pleading for the very existence of our industry.
 The Advance in Hides.
 ''Ih July, 1897 hides were but'9 cents a pound. November 1. 1905. the price had advanced to Is 1-2 cents per pound. We under rstand that the hide duty was levied primarily for the benefit of the cattle raisers. In this country cattle are raised and slaughtered principally for beef. Hides are an incidental pro- duct of the butchering business. It is absurd to suppose that putting tariff on one of the by-products of the beef industry will materially change the prices paid for cattle. While the IS per cent. on hides does not protect or benefit the cattle raisers, it does compel all farmers to pay higher prices for boots, shoes. harness and saddles and other leather goods. We do not pro- duce enough to make our own boots and shoes. About 25 per cent. of all IS from imported hides and 4kins. We now export more than $S,000,O0O worth of shoes a year. but if leather be ad- mitted free of duty. not only will shoes be cheaper, but the export business much increased.
 Tn the boot and shoe industry we pay the highest wages on earth: but we have the cheapest labor, when efficiency and product are considered. Neither we manufacturers nor our employees are protected to any considerable extent by the duty of 25 per cent. on boots and shoes"
 Governor Douglass announced that the interests they represent will con- | sent to reasonable reduction of this l duty Willingly in order to obtain free | hides and cheap leather.
 "Whlle the duty on hides bears heay- l fly upon our industry in every part of | the country now that Germany. CanaSa and Mexico are discriminating apainst | our shoes and are levying or threatan ing to levy much higher duties r,rn,, them, 1t will be even more difIcult sa. us to hold our share of this jnSrs..'. ,oi as we are. rnIess tLo cost of materials can be reduced sbon. must soon sell at much higher nrinnS@
 A. August Healy. representina .L Hide and Leather Association of Nyd.', York City. said he appeared in baSe,f Of ain association composed of ,,'o,,t than 100 hrms with an aRereeatA na,, tai of s200, 900, 900 engaged i1 ts,'ri and deAlins in hides and leathsr
 In an address he re. echoed the .A,vt, ments expressed RX Governor pouEiasa. |