Evening star., 1909-06-22
Charges Leather and Shoe In
terests With Ingratitude.
PLEADS FOR HIDES DUTY
Says Farmer Has Helped to Build
Up Manufactures.
NOW WANTS SOME RECIPROCITY
Speaks in Favor Of Retaining the
Dingley Rate in the Interests of
the Stockmen of His State.

II we were to search for some great
example to portray the limit of human in
gratitude we could scarcely find a more
apt one than this attempt of the manu-
facturers of leather and leather goods to
deprive the stockman and farmer of the
little remnant of protection which has
been left to him on hides"
With these words Senator McCumber of
ing added his voice to those which have
been lifted against the New England
leather manufacturers in the last few
days for their attempts to remove the 15
per cent duty on hides.
Wants the Dingley Rate.
Mr.. McCumber is member of the
finance committee. For that reason he Is
standing by the committees proposal to
strike hides from the free list. where the
House placed them, and restore the Ding
ley duty. He is doing this also because he
comes from state where cattle are
raised for their hides.
ITO an ordinary individual" continued
Mr.. McCumber, with a fair sense of
| justice it would seem that this break
ing down of the protection wall affect
ing such large percentage of the Ameri-
can-produced hides. together with the
drawback provision, which exempts i'm
ported hides from paying any duty where
the articles manufactured therefrom are
exported again, ought TO satisfy the greed
of any class Of men. 1t seems, however,
that il does not do SO.
The gross injustice of this demand for
free hides becomes more startling when
We remember that our protective system
has built up these leather manufacturing
industries until 1t has enabled them to
not only dominate the whole American
market. but also to enter into every
other market OF the world.
Having secured these advantages and
defrauded the American farmer of duty
on calf hides, they have had their appe-
tites whetted for further advantages, and
now, with lobby amazing in its power
and influence, they seek to destroy the
last vestige of protection.
Declares Leather Men Selfish.
II want to show the eternal selfish
ness OF the manufacturers of leather in
demanding this reduction. The farmer.
by his support OF a protective tariff for
the manufacturer. has virtually said to
him. I will not buy a single leather arti-
Gle, boot. shoe or harness. from abroad.
but will purchase every one of them from
you at protected prices Thank you.
Mr.. Farmer. much obligel.' But. Mr..
Shoeman, l want you to purchase every
pound of hides you use for your manu-
factured articles from me at protected
rates. No, we can't do that: we not
only want to compel you to buy our goods
at q protected price, SO high that it
amounts to a prohibition of imports and
consequent foreign competition. but we
want to take away all your protection SO
that we can manufacture at less cost and
thereby sell to the foreigner cheap enough
to capture his markets.
II have heard that the strife for gain
hardens or destroys mems consciences,
but 1 can hardly conceive of a man who
could make that proposition without a
blush And yet 1t is made in this Con-
gress with an aggressiveness that will
swerve many from the straight path of
equal protection to ALL