The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-29

 WOMEN DER|DED
Congressman McGavin Attacks
 Snobbery In America
TAX PROPOSED ON DoWRIES
MT. McGavin Holds Up To Ridicue Both the. Girl and the SoiIed and Prayed Foreigner Who
 Weeds for Convenience.

Washington, January 2S-Interna- tional marriages of American heiresses to titled foreigners were denounced on the floor of the House of Representa- tives today by MT. McGavin of Illinois who spoke on the bill of his col league, MT Sabath, to tax all dowries and titled husbands.
 MT. McGavin's remarks were made under the license of general debate. At times they provoked laughter and ap- plause on both sides of the chamber
 The House he said, was in commit tee of the whole on the state of the Union, but he wanted to know what the state of the Union was and what it was coming to fin view of these in- ternational unions between American heiresses and alleged noblemen from abroad" He wondered what the early pioneers would think and say if from their graves they could look back and see so many of the women of this coun- try sacrificing their souls and honor upon the altar of snobbery and vice." He expressly stated that he had no reference to any particular American girl nor had he prejudice against all titled men, but he referred "only to those who have a monocle on their eyes and an idiotic look upon their faces those who have not the disposition to do good nor the ability to do harm"
 MT. McGavin said his curiosity had been aroused to know the right com mittee- to which the bill should have gone, but he had found that it had properly gone to the committee on ways and means. He then said he was curi- ous to know whether the present tariff schedule included dukes, earls, lords and counts. Finding that these things were nowhere mentioned. thought it might be proper for the customs of- ficials to classify them like frogs legs as poultry. for it is the general opin- ion among Americans that they are species of geese"
 MT. McGavin said the United States triumphantly had referred to the fact that as between it and other nations the balance of trade was in it's favor but" he said nowhere in the sum- mary can be found a reference to such trade as that in which soied and frayed nobility is exchanged for a few mil lion American dollars, awrung from the lambs of Wall street with a woman thrown in to boot
 Every day" he declared, seemed to he bargain day in New York city whether it be for yard of ribbon or a pound of flesh; whether it be upon the retail counter of Broadway or the auction block of Fifth avenue"
 In these adys he said wealthy Amer ican girls travelling abroad, when they see some remnant of royalty enthusi- asticlly exclaim, "Oh, Mamma, buy that" an interpreter is then secured, a bargain is made, the money Is pro- duced and "the girl is gone to soon re- turn a sadder but a wiser one."
 In conclusion MT McGavin said:
 "While I have engaged in some crit icism of those particular ones who have made a mockery of the most sacred things of life-of those not sat isfied with any other name but 'Coun- tess Spagh etti' or Countess Maccaroni' I want to say one word in tribute 10 those true American women who have spurned the wiles of earls. lords and counts for the love of his majesty-an attention citizen.