Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-02-14
Notable Addresses Before Home Mar
ket Club at Boston, Taft Speaks
atDetroit--- Democrats at Milwaukee.
HOME MARKET CLUB.

Boston, Feb 13.-Former Governor
Frank s. Black Of New York and Con-
gresham Henry T. Bannon of Ports
mouth, Ohio, were the principal speak
ers tonight at the annual banquet OF
the Home Market Club, a leading high
tariff Republican organization, held at
Hotel Somerset. Former Governor
Black reviewed the business situation
Of the country and although he did not
mention President Roosevelt by name,
much of his address was criticism
Of the administration. which Mr.. Black
held as partially responsible for the
business depression. The former gov
ernor. referring to William j. Bryan
indirectly, thought that he and the
President were engaged in rivalry to
see "who can say the most and worst"
The speaker said that the two great
political parties are playthings in the
hands Of two men to whom the intel
ligerce Of the country rejects. The Mt
tendance at the dinner was very large
The first speaker was Former Gov.
Black. who was followed by Congress-
man Bannon. In opening his address
Congressman Bannon made his only
reference of the evening to either Taft
or Foraker in these words: 1--WE can't
afford to dispense with the services Of
such a grand Republican as Joseph
Benson Foraker. Further than this
the prophet speaketh not
Mr.. Bannon discussed the tariff ut
'rent length and advocated 2 contin-
uance Of the present policy of Drotoc-
ton of american industries. He spDh"
In nnrt ms follows:
"Prctection is not a local issue, but
is great national question, and the
individual who considers it purely
from local standpoint is like a man
attempting from lofty mountains to
view the beautiful area of the scenery
about him through the wrong end Of
a soy glass.
Massachusetts is a great manufacture
ing state and naturally many of it's man
ufacturers urge free raw material for
consumption in their industries. But the
farmer and the mine owner who produce
this free raw material have their rights
Statistics show that industries using ag-
ricultural materials employ 81 per cent
Of all the persons engaged il manufac-
ture. and that the capital of these indus
rites is AZ per cent of the capital of all
ACCOMPLISHMENTS. one or
the free raw materials persistently asked
for. especially by the shoe interests of
Massachusetts. is cattle hides.
THE farmer is the greatest consumer
of leather in this country. He produces
the raw material from which leather ar
ticles are made. and tariff IF Is per
cent. advalorem is levied for his protec-
ton upon the hides of cattle imported
into this country. This tariff not only
protects the farmer. but it Yields for the
support of the government two AMI . huff
or S30O0,oo0 annually We slaughter an
nualy approximately T. 100000 heal of
cattle, and the hides of these animals
are worth at least $4,000 600 II Il per
cent. of their value is to be taken away
from the farmer it means an annual loss
to him OF more than sl1.OOO,O0O
Our total product of leather manu-
features have increased from SEQ 900 O0o
in 1850 to s6l5 coo in value in 1880, the
average number of wage earners en-
ployed annually in 1900 in the manufaC-
ture of articles from leather was o52OO1
and there was paid to them in wages
during that year more than Sl0J, 900 900.
The question is. are we going to bring
those men and that payroll in COMPETE
ton with the workmcn and the payrolls
OF foreign countries?
Ma ssaCh usetts is first in rank in every
item relating to shoe manufacture. In
1900 1t produced almost half the total
output of boots and shoes for this en-
tire country. In 1895 the amount of capt.
tai employed in that industry was al
most 10000 600. The number Of its wage
carriers was more than 5000. the amount
or wages paid more than $33 ZOO, 0ro and
the value of their products sI4i 100000. To
surrender the Is per cent. duty on GER
tain raw material in consideration Of the
surrender of a large duty on the finished
product, means to throw thousands of
American wage earnerS out of employ
ment. 1t means to shut down hundreds
OF factories all over the country. 1t
means decreasing market for the pro-
ducts of the farms; it means impaired
confidence; 1t means a vital blow at two
interests-the one agricultural. and the
other manufacturing
What l have said OF this raw material
can be proven of any other raw material
If you will! just take time to stop and
study 1t out" In conclusion NJ Ran
non said: Let us know no South. nor
North. nor East. nor West, but let Ms
reialize the truth of that maxim United
We stand. divided We fall"