The Hattiesburg news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1908-1917, 1909-07-12
THE HATTIEsBURG NEWS


solid votes with Aldrich throughout
the 59th and Goth session. From moth
ing, La Toilette now has following
OF ten with the country fully con-
vinced of his own courage and sinceri-
ty and many states awaiting the con-
ference report to decide whether or |
not to break into open revolt against
IShe Republican party, or, rather its
present leadership. The La Toilette
plan is alluring. as it contemplates
only the substitution of one Republi-
can for another and not transfer OF
the states to the Democracy. The dis
tinction may not be important in tariff
matters, but is of great weight in ques-
lions involving support of the Repub-
lican administration. OF the ten SEN
ators who voted against the tariff
bill, four, La Toilette, Beverage, Cum
Minis and Dolliyer, are reckoned as
out and out presidential candidates,
and it is no secret here that they hope
to base their leadership on Republican
divisions over the tariff.
La Toilette played a characteristic
card when he read to the senate the
protest against the wooden schedule
of the National Association of Cloth
iers, of which e. R. Smith of Boston,
is one ofg the legislative committee,
representing leading manufacturers
and alleging that the high tariff rates
have resulted in reducing the quality
and raising the price of wooden
| clothes; that the situation has been
aggravated by the failure of the wool
supply of this country to keep pace
with the growth of population; that
| the worsted manufacturers and spin
ners who fix the market have advanced
their prices for clothes for the spring
of 1910 up to So per cent and that
these advanced prices on worsteds,
already announced for 1910, following
the steady deterioration of fabrics in
weight and quality as result of the
Dingley law will add $12O,O0O,0OO a
year to the cost of mems and boys
suits to the American people. The
statement declares that the result will
be an addition of about $3.50 on a
$40 suit of clothes; SO on a SIS suit;
s. on a $40 suit, or from 20 to % per
cent added to the cost of clothing"
The statement continues: STANDARD
winter worsteds which ranged twelve
years ago from % to % ounces in
weight per yard have gradually been
decreased in weight so they now range
from ii to 16 ounces per yard; stand
ard spring worsteds which ranged
from IA to IS ounces in weight per
yard have gradually been decreased so
| that they now range from 8 to -
ounces per yard. In consequence, a
deterioration of fully 33 1-3 per cent
J in weight has taken place, in addition
to the establishment of a much higher
range in prices for the same qualities
of goods. The clothing manufacturers
therefore, through the inability of the
cloth to stand ordinary wear is depriv
ed of the opportunity to produce gar
ments upon which a good reputation
can be based.
"The situation has been further 80.
grayated by the failure of the wool
supply in this country to keep pace
with the growth of population, and by
the further fact that, coincident with
the limitation of supplies, competition
has been to a great extent eliminated
| by large and powerful combinations
of wooden and worsted manufacturers
and spinners, who practically fix their
own prices and dominate the market
This has been evidenced recently
| by the fact that when the so-called
combination advanced it's prices for
cloths for the spring of 1910 the mills
not in the combination, which had pre-
viously quoted prices considerably
lower, Immediately advanced them to
a parity with the higher range an
nounced by the combination. That
these advances in the United States
ranging up to 35 per cent are not due
entirely to the increase in the price
of the raw material, wool, is shown
by the fact that in England the ad-
vances for the same season on similar
cloths ranged only from 10 to ~ per
cent.
"These advanced prices on worst
eds which have been announced, foi-
lowing the steady deterioration of fab
RIGS in weight and quality resulting
from the operations of the Dingley
bill, will add to the retail price APP
proximately $3.50 on a so suit of
clothes. SO on SIS suit and S. on
500 suit, or from 20 per cent to 20 per
cent on the cost of the clothing to
the wearer thereof The aggregate |
burden of the increased cost of mems |
A 81