Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-04-20
A Scare without Foundation

A Scare Without Foundation
The hosiery manufacturers of Georgia
were needlessly alarmed over an impress
sion that hosiery was to be placed on the
free list by the senate. Instead of in
vestigating the report more carefully, the
mill men bombarded Washington with
kilograms and letters to their senators
and representatives; indeed, some of the
mills went so far as to send Geographic
petitions signed by numerous operatives
pleading that their wages be protected.
All of which demonstrates two things
very plainly namely:
l. That ones first impression of q
matter is usually the strongest.
e. That headlines in newspapers are
frequently read. and accepted to the ex-
clusion of the body of the story-the sub
stance upon which the head is supposed
to be built.
The senate has never contemplated plac-
ing hosiery on the free list. What the
senate committee did-and what the SEN
ate will most likely ratify-was to cut
the duty of the Payne bill on hosiery to
the present duty-the Dingley duty. 1t Is
true that from the standpoint of the man.
ufacturer the cut is considerable, but
from that of the consumer it doesn't
hosiery, be it understood furnishes a de-
gree of protection to the manufacturer,
for which the consumer pays and the
hosiery mills have managed to rock along
somehow or other on the Dingley duty.
But before discussing further the effect
of the duty on hosiery, 1t is well enough
to explain how the mill men were misled
into believing that hosiery had been
placed on the free list. The Associated
Fress carried early in the week an analy-
sis of the senate bill, mentioning, among
other things, the reduction in the duty on
hosiery.
The headline artist of one of the pa
pers, hurriedly, no doubt, wrote a couple
of headlines saying hosiery had been
placed on the free list. The manufacture
ers saw the headlines and read no more.
They were too much upset by the inform
alton, which, had they read the story,
they would have learned was unfounded.
The Hosiery Schedule
Speaking of the hosiery schedule re-
calls a little incident following the great
howl that went up over the Increased
duty the Payne bill provided on hose and
half-hose. Out in Chicago the women
particularly made a lot of fuss about
the schedule, and to allay the fears
of these good women some kindly gen.
tleman here in Washington, name I'M
known, wired at his own expense to all
the Chicago newspapers a column or
more explaining that the increased duty
on hosiery would not increase the cost
of stockings, socks, etc. OF course he
paid for the publication of this assur-
ance at regular advertising rates, and,
in addition, inserted in numerous papers
throughout the country display adver-
tisements stating that German manufac-
turers were behind the report that the
cost of stockings, socks, etc, would be
increased as a result of the Payne hos
iery schedule.
OF course if the duty on socks or any
other commodity is increased beyond a
certain point the price of that commod-
ity is going to be- increased, otherwise
there would be no sense in increasing the
duty.
A Hopeless Division
In one sense of the word it is fortunate
that the Democratic party doesn't con-
troll the house of representatives and the
senate at this critical juncture. This as
sertion is based on the statement of a
well-known Democratic senator, who,
discussing the tariff question, said the
Democrats of the senate couldn't frame
they had a majority of the votes-an
overwhelming majority, at that.
1.-The Democrats OF the senate are
hopelessly divided on the tariff" he said.
There are many schedules about which
they cannot agree, and never will agree.
If we had a clear majority of the sem
ate, and no opposition, we couldn't frame
a tariff bill in eighteen months"
Then he enumerated some of the sched-
ules about which the Democrats differ,
but these differences are now so we'll
known to the public that it would be SUI
perfluous to discuss them in detail. Lum-
Der, hides, sugar, iron and half dozen
others are among the number.
Bryan May Go After Clark
The action of the Florida legislature in
calling upon Representative Frank Clark
to explain his recent speech in the house,
denouncing Bryan and Organism, and Of
fering to vote for the Republican tariff
bill If he was given what he wanted, has
caused considerable comment among
Democrats in Washington. They are
wondering Just what defense Mr.. Clark
will offer, in the event he accepts the
challenge of the legislature: also they
are wondering II he hasn't strewn his
own political path with many stones.
1t is stated mere, IN lnIs connection,
that William Jennings Bryan may take
II upon himself to invade Mr. Clarks dis
trict long about the time he is seeking re-
nomination, not to oppose Mr. Clark, but
to defend himself from Mr.. Clark's as
sault in the house Of representatives.
Time was when Bryan was mighty strong
in Florida. and there are those who be-
live that he is Just as strong today as
ever.
There is one other interesting observa-
ton in this connection, and that is the
political aspirations OF Ex-Governor
Broward, of Florida. 1t is said that he
desires to come to congress, and being a
citizen of the Second district his only
means of gratifying his ambition is to
put Mr.. Clark out of the way the Second
also being Mr.. Clark's district.
With Broward and Bryan after him.
Mr. Clark would probably have a merry
time.