Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-06-25
SAYS LEATHER MEN
ARE UNGRATEFUL.
MCUMBER SAYS THEY HAVE PROS
PERED BY PROTECTION AND
NOW WANT SCALPS.
HAVE A POWERFUL LOBBY
North Dakota Senator Charges Leather
Manufacturers with Having Amaz-
ing Influence.
HAVE A POWERFUL LOBBY.
PAGE ADVOCATES FREE HIDES

WASHINGTON, d. c., June o.
mo more striking illustration of ingrati-
tude could be imagined than that which
has been shown by the manufacturers Of
leather and leather goods who seek to
drive the stockman and farmer of the
little remnant of protection left to him
on hides" said Senator McCumber of
North Dakota, defending in the Senate
today the proposed duty of 10 per cent
ad valorem on hides.
Consideration of the hide schedule was
resumed as soon as the Senate met and
Mr.. McCumber was the first speaker
The fact, he said, that the United States
does not produce all the hides it uses;
was an argument in favor of protecting,
the hide industry to promote its develop,
ment to the stage when the United
States will be able to supply the home
demand.
Senator McCumber's speech was a
plea for the farmer as against the
manufacturer.
THE gross injustice of this demand
for free hides becomes more startling"
he declared, when we remember that
our protective system has built up these
leather manufacturing industries and
enabled them to dominate not only the
American market but to enter every
other market of the world. Having Sc
cured these advantages and defrauded
hides, the manufacturers have had their
appetites whetted for further advant-
ages, and with a lobby amazing in pow
er and influence they seek to destroy
the last vestige of protection"
Mr.. McCumber stated frankly that he
wanted a tariff of % per cent. upon
hides. A little Boosting of the relative
amount of devotion to Republican poll
cies on the part of North Dakota and
Vermont ushered in a colloquy between
Senator McCumber and Page. The,
Vermont senator thought his state was
a little more simon-pure Republican than
was North Dakota and twitted Mr.. Nc
Cumber with the suggestion that North
Dakota had a Democratic governor two
years ago.
'Oh, yes responded Mr.. McCumber,
with evident reference to the distribu--
ton Of protective duties, ''the state of
Vermont has a little more to encourage
her devotion to the Republican cause"
Senator Clark of Wyoming, interrupt
ing, declared that Mr.. Page in advocat-
ing free hides wanted the government
to go into partnership with the leather
trust to beat the beer trust and all at
the expense of the farmers"
When Mr.. McCumber closed his re-
marks, Senator McLaurin renewed eff
forts in behalf of a duty on small hides.
Senator McLaurin contended that, with
out reference to the rate of duty the
Sllldl ulueS should De pldc6u Oh the same
footing as the large. Pointing out that
there had been an arbitrary ruling put
ting on the free list hides weighing less
than % pounds, he declared that from
1898 to 1907 inclusive, the government
had lost more than $16,OO0,O0O by fail
ure to collect duty on the smaller
hides.
IF could have my way" he said. Il
would put hides, leather and shoes upon
the free list. But if you put a tariff
upon shoes, you must put the tariff on
leather and hides"
The boot and shoe industry, Senator
Gamble said, had prospered under the
twelve years exports of boots and shoes
had grown from $1,436,OO0 to 11,469,-
600. Hence, he contended that this great
industry was not suffering.
Senator Hepburn also favored a duty
on hides. He called attention to the fact
that the first tariff bill passed by the
first Congress had placed a duty of D
per cent. upon the article, and he com
mended the precedent as worthy of imi-
tatiOn,