Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-09-08
MUSTN'T BLAME TARIFF.

Go on Just the Same.
The clique of New England cotton
manufacturers who have been instru-
mental in getting the cotton tariff
raised for their own benefit are, ac-
cording to the New York World,
threatening to make it hot for those
merchants who are publicly denounc-
ing the tariff.
The Wholesale Dry Goods associa-
ton, which is said to be affiliated with
$4,000 merchants throughout the coun-
try, has taken a pronounced stand
against the Payne-Aldrich bill, and
the associations chairman. Frederick
B. Shirley. has been telling some I'M
pleasant truths about that measure.
1t would appear that Mr.. Shipley and
his friends have incurred the anger Of
the cotton lords and that such out
spoken criticism by subordinates of
the acts Of their superiors, is not go
ing to be permitted.
Il received a warning myself" said
Mr.. Shipley. Ito stop agitating against
the new tariff A friend of mine came
to see me and told me he had some
thing of very great interest to COM
municate. Just forget 1t after I am
through and don't ask me who sent
me- he said. Then he told me it would
be a good thing for my business IL
should find it convenient to 60 to Eu
rope for four or five months-I spend
about half of my time there-and
make my absence an excuse for drop
ping out of the committee which was
making the fight on the cotton tar
if. had a pretty good idea as to
who sent the warning message, and
sent back a rather superheated reply.
"Others l know have been approach
ed in the same manner. The argu-
ment used is that the banks will not
advance money when needed and that
the domestic manufacturers who are
reaping the benefit Of the tariff in
crease will not find it convenient to
I'LL orders for merchants who are
working against their interests"
In an interview published in the
World Of June 30 last Mr.. Shipley de-
clared that the present tarifr. the pas
sage Of which was vainly combated
by the committee of the association in
Washington. places the control Of the
cotton textiles OF the entire country in
the hands Of the manufacturers. who
are able to fix arbitrarily prices not
only for the wholesalers and retailers
Of the United States. but also for the
importers.
"It means that Americans have to
pay at least one-third more for their
cotton goods than is paid in Europe"
said Mr.. Shipley. when I tell you
that in this country cotton goods to
the amount OF $1,EOOOOOO 900 are used
annually you can see what this excess
price means and how rapidly the man.
ufacturers are growing rich at the ex-
pense OF the American public-at the
expense Of the poor man. who has to
pay more for his cotton sheets under
this tariff
"Of the entire amount used less than
ed. l do not think 1t will exceed $685.
100000. While the great bulk Of the
cotton used is grown, spun. woven and
made up in the United States, the
American at home is paying more for
his cotton goods than he could buy the
same goods abroad.
"Why, the wages paid for the manu-
facture Of cotton do not exceed 8 per
cent of the entire cost, and by rea-
son OF machinery we can manufacture
cotton goods cheaper than is possible
abroad. Yet by reason Of the tariff
the shopgirl is made to pay more for
her cotton shirt waist than she could
buy the same shirt waist for in Lon
don.
Both President Taft and Senator
Aldrich have been quoted as saying
that the new tariff was in general a
decrease in rates and that 1t was bene-
fetal in this way. Our committee has
examined every item, and in more than
200 cases Of cotton goods alone l can
show that the tariff has been raised
all the way from II $40 per cent to
96 $40 per cent 1t is upon cotton
sheeting that the increase last men
toned is observable.
1T is because Of this condition that
the Wholesale Dry Goods association
purposes to oppose the reelection Of
the congressman who were instru-
mental in bringing into existence a
tariff the effect of which they were
fully informed Of before its passage.
1--WE shall not pay so much attention
to the senators this fall, because there
are few to be reelected, but we will
send literature and men into the dis
trict of every representative who help
ed to pass this textile tariff. telling ex-
actly what he did and the effect Of
what he did and asking the people if
they want to re-elect man who votes
for a measure to take away part Of