The San Francisco call., 1909-04-10

at least not higher than those now
prevailing under the DfngIey bill"
Supported by the leading tobbing
houses of the city, the movement started
in San Francisco protesting against
the increased tariff on gloves and ho-
siery viii be spread up and down the
coast, steps having been taken yes
terday to have the big department
stores in the other cities on the Pacific
seaboard follow the examples set by
the Emporium and Hale Brothers.
Every hose and glove salesman leav-
ing San Francisco will take copies of
the petition, leaving them at the va
rious stores along his route. Copies
will be sent to every village, town
and hamlet in the Pacific states, and,
from now on, there will follow an ag-
gressive and concerted action in the
hope of bringing congress to a proper
realization of the widespread sentf-
ment against the proposed measure.
In this matter, it is generally under
stood that the voice of the west will
be harkened TO with greater atten-
ton than the protests of the east.
Throughout the contest over the Payne
bill the congressional trend of thought
has been that the objections from the
eastern cities were emanating from
the importing business concerns and
that the country at large, particularly
the far west, was without sentiment
on the question. The concerted move
ment started from San Francisco yes
terday is TO prove the contrary.
MANY SIGNATURES
What San Francisco thought of the
/ increased tax on gloves and hose was
emphatically shown by the signatures
on the petition protesting against it
over $500 names having been signed
on the two petitions at Hale Brothers
and the Emporium. At times there
were long lines of customers waiting
their turn to sign the petition and II
finally became necessary to have severa'
copies placed in different parts OF the
store in order to facilitate matters.
The petition in the stores is the
crowniug stroke of campaign started
by the jobbing houses recently, the
local houses combining and working
under the leadership of w. G. Nc
Carthy of Levi Strauss & Co.
change in the Dingley schedule or
hosiery" they telegraphed Nelson A
Aldrich. chairman of the senate finance
committee. Senator F. P. Flint, Senator
George c. Perkins and Congressman
James c. Needham on the committee
on ways and means. The industry is
amply protected, as foreign importa-
tions have been practically stationary
since 1900, while the domestic out
put has increased enormously. Any
| advance in the tariff will cut off gov.
ernment revenue by a prohibition oi
| imported goods. Any advance viii
| kill healthy stimulant and will en-
able home manufacturers of fashioned
hosiery to arbitrarily control prices
It is a gross injustice to. consumer,
and TO merchants" This was signed
by Murphy, Grant & Co.; Moore Wat
son dry goods company, Levi Strauss 6
Co, L. Dinkelspiel company, Neustad
ter Brothers, Bauer Bros. & Co.
Greenebaurn, Well & Michaels; L. Elkul
company, Waterman & Levy and Eagle
son & Hawkins company. The tele
| gram was followed by a letter IL
which figures were given, showing th'
manufacturers TO be in q healthy ant
prosperous condition.
INDUSTRY FLoURIsHING
From our relations with the manu-
| facturers of domestic hosiery" the let
ter read, I'VE know the industry TO b,
in a most fiourishing condition. 1t i
and has been for some years almos
impossible to obtain deliveries within
a reasonable time from any hosier,
factory and. in many cases, deliveries
are made months later than the tim,
agreed upon. On the other hand, new
mills are being started upon all side
and old ones are adding to plant
already established. An industry tina
can make such q showing is surel,
beyond the infant industry.
is an iniquitous and intolerable meas
ure and not deserving of any supper
whatsoever"
Congressman Needham. in replying
| to the letter and telegram. stated 'sta
tistics would indicate that the rat,
on hosiery, which has been slight,
| increased in the bill. would requir,
greater protection on account of tn.
enormous importations under tha
| schedule"
statistics do not show anything O
the kind" said Marshall Hale of Hal,
Brothers; they show to the contrary
REPLY TO NEEDHAM
In answer to Needham's letter tn,
! jobbers wrote back last Wednesday
once more calling Needhams attention
to the last census returns. I'VE prefe
to buy" they declared. "and do bu,
and sell $40 worth of domestic good
to 81 worth of foreign goods, TIL,
domestic manufacturers are in goo.
shape. We know of instances wher'
dividends have been declared to th'
amount of so per cent per annum OF
capital invested by domestic manu-
facturers. We can not but feel tha
your committee has been imposed upol
and that there should be no advanc,
over the present tariff, an advance w,
honestly believe that is not in the in
terest of the public good