The state herald., 1910-11-18
IMPOSES ON POOR
WOOL SCHEDULE WORST IN.
FANNY OF TARIFF SYSTEM.
Unjust Tax Collected at the Cost of
Health and Comfort of the
Observation-Disclosures Only
Are Benefited.


Are Benefited.
Ever since fabrics were first woven
to cover man. wool has been the most
important article In such fabrics as
are worn In cool or cold climates. In
climates where wool Is needed for
comfort, the condition of the people
may be pretty fairly judged by the
amount of wool used in clothing them.
II they cannot afford to buy wooden
clothing they are either impover-
lshed or the cost of woolens is ar
bitrarily placed beyond their reach.
The wool product of the world is suf-
fictent, If properly distributed, to keep
warm those who need its comforts,
and the production is sufficiently pro-
life and the cost OF manufacture suf-
hclently low to make woolen clothing,
woolen blankets and other articles of
woolen manufacture comparatively
cheap under competitive system
Yet the use of wool per capita in
this country has been on the decline
Tor about twenty years. It is even
lower now than 1t was fifty years ago.
1t has been replaced with cotton and
combinations of wool and cotton. In
many instances even the wool in these
combinations is the cheapest, least
durable and least protective quality.
1t Is often made of shoddy-worked
over material taken from old carpets,
old garments and waste rags-and in
many instances the working over
process has brought the same mate
rial into use many times in the course
of years.
Or all classes, the poor need wool
most. Those who are comfortably
housed, who can afford plenty OF
clothing, who are little exposed to
the cold in open-air employments or
ill-heated houses. may get along with
comparatively little wool, If they
choose. But the poor-and in the
sense here meant the great majority
OF the people are poor-need wooden
clothing in winter. Those depending
on medium or small salaries or on day
wages can no longer afford all.wool
clothing. They may think they are
wearing such clothing. and they may
be puzzled by its lack of warmth, its
lack of durability or its failure to
keep its shape; but they may still
think they are wearing all-wool gar
ments. But they are not. They are
wearing combinations of shoddy and
cotton, sold to them, in most in.
stances, on all-wool specifications.
Scientists have said that II the poor
were properly clothed the spread of
tuberculosis would be reduced by
half; that warm clothing is more i'm
portant even than higher sanitation.
fresh air and special food. II this Is
true OF this one devastating disease.
II must be true In only lesser degree
Of many other prevalent ailments.
The high price of wool and It's prac-
tical prohibition among the poor con.
stitute national crime. legalized by
the congress OF the United States. or
all the infamies OF the tariff system
that wool schedule Is the most in.
famous 1t imposes merciless cruel
~ on the poor and fragrant imposi-
tlon even on the wellto.do. 1t can.
not be defended. even on the ground
that II is an eNpedient TO make Amer
lea produce It's own wool for after
years OF high tariff on wool the coun.
try imports about 60 per cent, OF the
wool used. Nor does the large rev,
enue accruing from this 60 per cent
importation Justify the tnrin. since It
IS collected at the cost Of health and
comfort and common rights among
the poor. Nor Is this tarid justified
by the protective doctrine Of develop
ing the industries. for the carded wool
industry, representing vast capital
and an army of cmployes-the manu-.
facturcrs who make cloth for the
cheaper grades Of clothlng-implored
congress and the president to make
such changes In the tarlfi as would
enable them to compete with the
comb wool importers. who make the
higher grades Of cloth. But their
pleas were In vain, because congress
did the bidding Of the wooden trust,
to which the cardcd wool manufac.
turcrs do not belong, These manu-.
faoturors. protesting against their IN.
ability TO Import cheaper woods at n
rate that would enable them to make
cheap clothing without using cotton
or shoddy, were frankly told by Sen.
ator Pcnroso OF the senate finance
committee to 30 into other buHlness
And that represented the attitude Of
the majority OF tho Republicans In