Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1906-02-01


Mon"D"ly and Injurc independent
Manufacturers.
What about this subject OF free hides
that was projected into the arena of
national politics by the visit of the rep
-'escntative boot and shoe men. mostly
'rom Massachusetts. to Washington re-
.ent!y?
The manufacturers came: they saw
President Roosevelt: they aired their
grievances; they obtained no encour-
agement. But they did accomplish by
their discussion one of the most inter-
esting things in connection with the
whole tariff agitation-namely
They demonstrated that the clamor
for free hides is based upon selfishuess
i'll large degree or Il mistaken idea of
what benefits would flow to the boot
and shoe business if hides were admit
ted free of duty. More than that, the
discussion of the subject brought out
Il fact that will not be lost upon the
people of the country during any fu-
ture discussion of the tariff question.
With such results it cannot be said
dent and the advocates of free hides
was without beneficial uses.
Let us look at the most important
fact brought out by the discussion in
Washington of the free hide PROPOSE
tion-namely, whether free hides should
he accompanied by free leather and Il
reduction III the duties on boots and
shoes. Considering that question as it
WAS brought out here and applying it
to the general field of tariff changes
cannot but have u valuable influence,
because the boot and shoe men were
candid, frank and fair in their discus
sion of the subject. and they sought to
cover up nothing that would be better
disclosed if the disclosure would make
for the success of their free raw ma
tcriai' propaganda. Well, ii is fair to
say that the boot and shoe manufac-
turers are willing, most of them, TO
cOnccde that if hides were admitted
free of duty leather really ought to be
placed on the free list or substantially
50 and that material reductions should
he made in the rates of duty on inn
ported boots and shoes. But they are
not prepared to admit that this course
with respect to leather and boots and
shoes should be followed. They admit
the soundncss of it, but their reply is
this in terms if not in precisely this
language:
NO, we are not prepared to advocate
free trade in. leather and for this rea-
son: 4 considerable part of the leather
product i'll this country is now con
trolled by a combination in the nature
of Il trust, and free trade i'll leather
would be disastrous to the independent
leather manufacturers. who are now
putting up a good fight against the
trust and are helping Us To secure
leather at lower prices than we would
be able to obtain it if the independents
were crowded our of business or re-
duccd III number by sharper competi
tion. The trust is better able to stand
the competition of free leather than are
the independent manufacturers, so we
must stand by the independents
There has not been given Il better IL
lustration Of the practical workings Of
free trade or tariff reductions below a
sure protective line than this one sup
Piled by the boot and shoe men. Wheth-
er consciously or unconsciously, they
have hit the nail precisely on the head
with respect TO the whole protection
proposition so far as it is related to so
called trusts Those who have rallied
against the steel trust and who have
demanded reductions in duties in order
I,I Al,
we'll take notice of the timely and sig
nicant suggestion made by the boot
and shoe manufacturers. Reductions
in duties would harm the small indie
pendent iron and steel plants or the in
dependent leather manufacturers vast.
ly more than ii would harm the great
combinations or 50 called trusts. 1t is
all the Independents can do to contest
in the markets against the combined
wealth and cheaper production of the
great plants. They could not stand
such competition as free trade would
force upou them. Thus was presented
Il practical business truth from prac-
teal business men who While attempt
ing to better their own interests were
quick 10 see what the effect would
be if Il logical application of the true
rules which accompany free hides were
to be made
Now let us consider for a moment
the real facts about the boot and shoe
industry and its relation TO free hides.
1t is probably true that if hides and
leather or either. were admitted duty
free or with marked reduction in the
duties on leather the boot and shoe
manufacturers would be willing to con-
sent TO reduction in the duties Oh
boots and shoes. It is assumed from
The record as 1t stands that they could
afford TO do this. The cheaper cost Of
production in the industry that is the