The San Francisco call., 1909-04-07
Ranks Are
Increased by Fight
Over Tariff

The proposed additional duty on
hosiery and gloves has peen converted
into an argument in. favor OF equal
suffrage by the suffragettes of the city.
the claim being that it has brought
women directly into contact with poll
tics and awakened their interest in
things political.
The claim was put forward yesterday
that hundreds of women who hitherto
have maintained woeful lack of en-
thusiasm regarding the equal suffrage
movement dropped their apathy when
they discovered that from the domain
Of politics was dictated the price of
their wearing apparel. Mrs. Nelly L.
Scoville, corresponding secretary for the
California equal suffrage association, is
preparing a petition to be signed by
women in general protesting against
the tariff on hosiery and gloves.
The one good feature of the pro-
posed BILL" said Miss Francesca PREM
recording secretary of the association
lis that it has aroused an interest in
politics among women which nothing
else could have done.
PLAN AROUSEs WOMEN
Hitherto the tariff question, as all
political questions, were subjects on
which the average woman had no views
or opinions; but no sooner did they
discover that an attempt was being
made to force them to pay an eXorbi-
tant price for gloves and hosiery-two
articles eminently feminine-than they
were aroused and began an investiga-
ton. The result is that they came 70
see that they were as much affected by
no ,,<S
that is one of the strongest claims OF
the equal suffrage movement"
Though the day was without official
action of any character, the feeling of
protest had by no means subsided. Tai :
iff reform was as important a subject
over tea tables and in feminine circles
as it was in the palmiest days of the
Bryan boom. The knowledge that il
the bill was passed it would mean an
Increase of a third over the present
expenditures on stockings and gloves
started womankind figuring out what
II would mean to them. In this. the
girl possessed of an allowance from a
generous father was just as much in
terested as the girl working for a small
weekly wage, and from both came Wig
orous protests
Mrs. Charles J. Deering. president of
the womans auxiliary of the Society
VI california Pioneers. declared that
her organization would discuss the sub
ject at meeting of the board of direc-
tors tomorrow afternoon
OPPOSED TO TARIFF
MY personal views are against such
a duty said she, "and I am sure that
the organization of which I am presi-
dent viii give ii that attention and
thought which it evidently deserves
There is no doubt that legislation which
affects women to such an extent should
be studied by women. OF course, l can
fully understand the Indifference of a
large number of women whose expendi-
lures are met by their husbands: but [
certainly think some thought should
be given to the effect such a taxation
will have on those women and girls
who have to struggle along for them
selves.
With conditions as they are the girl
who has to earn her own living is
hedged around with enough difficulties
already. The aim of the governing
bodies should be toward tightening. not
adding to their burdens. Tt seems
strange that this country, the wealth
lest among the nations. should en-
deavor to pay its debts by taxing
women. That, certainly, is not the SEN
timent of the country
The probabilities are that as soon as
Mrs. Scoville completes her petition it
will be circulated among the big de-
partment stores of the city.