The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1909-04-09
CREATING A STOCKING
TRUST BY CONGRESS-
WOMEN PROTEST AGAINST
PAYNE BILL ON COTTON
HOSIERY,

/ NEW YORK, April THAT the
rise in the cost Of cotton stockings 10
the majority Of Americans. which Is
threatened in the Payne bill, is rous'
/ ing to protest the people of every
state, county and town in this coun.
4 try was reported in this city to-day
/ Careful canvas OF the customers o..
store keepers and salesmcn in touch
with the people OF every section of
the land has been made from the head
quarters OF the National Wholesale
Dry Goods Association here for sey.
eral weeks and the results show that
few persons OF moderate means do
not resent the present plan at Wash.
ington to shut out the cheaper grades
Of hosiery and le, local trust make
It's own price. Instead of paying
quarter for pair of cotton stockings,
IL has been calculated, most American
families must be charged thirty-hye
and fifty cents Tor an inferior grade
OF goods il the proposed schedule is
adopted
Facts and figures showing that
every man. woman and child who
wears cotton stockings will be taxed
for the benefit OF the little group Of
men who make them here are to-day
being sent to Washington by consu.
mcrs in every part OF the country,
From the official statistics the dry
goods men have compiled for their
inquiring customers the records OF the
manufacturers who are seeking pro
lection and profit at the expense OF
the people In the last eight years |
it is recorded that the production OF
the American hosiery mills has been |
doubled while there has been no In
crease in the importation of the stock
ings which they would shut out al.
together by prohibitory tariff rate.
Only Is per cent of all the stockings
sold in this country are imported. 1t
is shown, and with this slight element
OF stimulating competition removed
by the Payne bill, a control would We
created which would put all Ameri.
cans at the mercy OF arbitrary trust
prices. 4
That the wealthy few will pay more
for their silk hosiery, which is left
on the schedule, while the
families Of moderate means must be
heavily taxed for their cotton stock
ngs is reported to be the chief cause
'f complaint from, the great majority
If men, women and children through
1ut the country. 1t is declared by the
'etail merchants that the people OF
heir communities are charging this
eature OF the tariff bill with being
most unfair class legislation. The
over the present price Of cotton
tockings, the higher will the price
'e raised as the result of the proposed
chcdule, it has been clearly shown,
nd among the working men and wo.
nen Of the land the general resent
nent is reported as being most em-
expressed.
While the business men who handle
otton stockings would be able to
1eet this situation, officers of the drv
oods association said today it would
e the poorer people Of the whole 4
md who would bear the burden OF
ne proposed increase in tariff. Only
lferior goods could be bought at :
realty advanced prices by men and
omen of moderate means, they as.
erted, If the extreme protection de-
landed by the manufacturers here
as allowed to become law and create Il
cotton stocking trust.