Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-04-07
TO MARCH ON CAPITOL
Women Hosiery Mill Workers
Will Storm Congress.
10000 PROBABLY IN LINE
Pennsylvania Owners to Pay Ex-
pense of Demonstration.
DEMAND FOR PROTECTION
Shut Down Threatens if Tariff Bill
Does Not Afford Relief-No :
Men to Be in Parade.
AND FOR PROTECTION

PHILADELPHIA April 7.-What may
prove to be the most noteworthy parade
of women since the French revolution is
to march through the streets of Wash
ington as demonstration to impress
upon Congress the necessity of small
increa sed duty on imported cotton hosiery.
Women employees of the hosiery mills
in Reading. Easton and Philadelphia
first suggested the proposed demonstra-
ton
Owing to ruinous foreign competition
built up under the low duty fixed by the
Dingley tariff bill many hosiery mills
are shut down or running on half time
with only small working force. Unless
Congress grants relief the prospect is
for further shut-doWns.
From the viewpoint of the employees the
situation is critical, and this it is that
has led the women to organize the great
parade. 1t is proposed to have in line be-
tween $4,000 and 10000 women and girls.
Mill Owners to Pay Bill.
Mill owners fall in heartily with the
idea of the giant parade of working wom-
en-. They are just as anxious to run their
mills as their women employees are de-
sirous of continued employment
Moreover. the mill owners are spurred
up by the fight that has been made
against the slight increase in the duty
on hose recommended by the ways and
means committee So the manufacturers
of hosiery will pay the expense of carry
ing the women and girls from the mills
in Pennsylvania to Washington and re-
turn.
1t IL a large task to provide for the
transportation of the women threatened
Of If the n O
on imported hosiery is not granted.
While the arrangements are of necessity
tentative yet. the mill owners figure
that twenty excursion trains OF twenty
cars each may be needed.
These trains are to be run through the
various valleys in which the hosiery mills
are located. Stops will be made at all
Philadelphia stations adjacent to the big
hosiery mills.
It will take many days to make ade-
uuate preparations to move the army of
women Even the date for the parade
cannot be fixed at present. as this Will
depend upon the time settled upon for
the consideration of the tariff bill in the
Senate.
Program in Washington.
1t is the intention of the women to
march and countermarch along Pennsyl-
vania avenue. and then later to form in
ranks at the Capitol.
Among banners carried will be the fol
lowing:
1--WE are 10000. but there are 100000
more of US at home
I'VE ask for 23 cents more duty on
each pair of foreign-made hose: but the
iobber and importer will pay it-not you.
"Our mills must run-500OOO men. wom-
en- and children are supported by them.
1.-The new duty will add not one penny
to the price of the poor mans Socks
1t will be a unique parade. No men will
be in line except those in the brass bands
leading the different divisions of mill en-
ployes.
Members of the National Association
of Hosiery and Underwear Manufacturers
met yesterday Mn the Drexel building to
form a preliminary organization to con-
duct the giant mill girls parade While
In conference the mill owners adopted
resolutions headed THE straight truth
about American stockings"