Martinsburg statesman-democrat. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1906-1921, 1909-10-01
Twelve Million Women nurden-Bear-
ers Of the Tari

AHS Niitcf. III tnat extraordinary
able department ain the Interpreters
House, which appears regularly in
the American Msgszine, points out
something quite new In the October
issue of that periodical, In relation to
the Aidrich Payne Bill and those per
sons nnon whom its unfair provisions
aud schedules will affect with the
greatest injustice. He says:
Tine way the whole matter of the
tariff bill was done. shows that neith-
e. congress as body nor the presi-
dent himself had-a real understanding
or feeling about what was at stake.
1--WE didn't ask or expect perfect
bit What we did ask and felt we
h n right TO expect was that they
should give us sign that they COM
pretended and were stirred by certain
Ing iniustIces, -as it stood. and that
thy were willing to fight to revise
them.
But did you see any Sign that ia
the past yesr the Congress of this coun-
try was stirredfto its depths by the
fact that the-price of living has SO adj
vanced that four-fifths of the people OF
this rich country nd not been able to
live as well as they had once lived?
Did you seesanyFev,dcnce Of pain over
the fact that the burdens Of taxation
were heaping upon the 1900, 900 fam
lies Of the country who must live on
an average wage Of $500 year. whilea
few hundred had so many millions
year that they did not know how to
dispose Of them did not. What in
terest did Congress show in that per-
son, who after all is about the most
important in the country the woman,
who, as head of these 100000 fami-
lies on small income, must feed and
clothe ard train the boys and girls who
are in a few years to do the worlds
work? Had she spokesman lin Con-
eress? Did that body say: You shall
not make it harder for her, you must
mske II easier2 We are her champion
and her chIldren's, and the necessities
OF her life must be cheap and plenty
and good in quality, and any manipu-
lating of duties which presents that
must be stopped2 She is our ward?
From all that Congress as body
did, or said, vou would not have
known that these 10000, 900 women,
caring for families on these pitifuIIy
small incomes, existed Congress
thought Of but one person -manufac-
tnrer, who employed the woman's
husband. / am not denying that she is
TANGLED up with this manufacturer,
but the whole burden of disinterested
and candid proof offered showed thar
all that a lowering Of duties would do
IN the cases of many articles necessary
] TO this woman, would be 10 lower their
/ prices to her: that it would not--couId
| not-prevent tie manufacturer max
Ing a reasonable profit, or paying the
market price OF labor to her husband.
"There was great human cause
easing the burden Of our vast laboring
eiass-knocking at the door Of Con-
gress and 1t was not needed IF indeed
it was heard True, there was talk Of
an ultimate consu era kind OF eco
homie manikin introduced forconyen-
fence in demonstration. But that was
not the flesh and blood person bopcd
to see introduced | wanted to see
there the American working-woma
from whom high duties have stripped
wooden garments and replaced them
| with cold and clammy imitation
| whose bed no longer can afford a wool
en- blanket, or even one of honest
shoddy; whore, cotton goods have
grown nearer and dearer, as have her
shoes and dress goods and hose and
cloaks. | wanted Congress to look
this woman in the face, examine her
budget ,see how she worked and sSifnp.
ed, feel that she got ont of life, what
her husband got, what chances her
children had, realize her Importance to
I the country, and then rise 10 her aid.
| felt as if the time had come for Con-
gress TO say, For fifty years have
been fayofing your employer aud yonr
I husband. Il is time TO take care OF
YOU But, so far as arn able 10
judge, Congress did not know she ex-
issed, or fit did, il took great care not
to adnlit her to its bar. The bloodlesa
ultimate consumer was much less dis
turbing1