The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-04-21
GLOVES AND THE TARIFF

Ewing Herbert and Major Beck of
Holton, are discussing the tariff on
gloves. Several other papers have
Joined in the debate. In a recent is
sue of his Hiawatha World Mr.. Her
bert had another say on his side of
the question in which he took occa-
sion to lay down some Republican
doctrine in forceful fashion. Said
Mr.. Herbert:
Speaking of the cost of gloves Edt-
tor Seek OF Holton, asserts that the
price of imported gloves in this coun-
try is doubled by the tariff, We con-
tend that it isn't SO. The tariff on a
pair OF imported gloves might be from
10c to COO according to yaIle That
would scarcely double the price. Saws
Editor Beck: LAS the better grade of
gloves sold in this country are all i'm
ported, what can it be but the tariff,
with transportation added that is re-
sponsible for the price being more
than double in American" Well, Edi-
tor Beck, perhaps your home mer-
chant is greedy and charges you more
than he should. The writer bought
a pair of the better grade glove,'' you
say is imported, paying $3.50 there
for He bought homemade gloves at
the same time for 50 and $3.50. In
his judgment, the homemade gloves
were best. One reason Mr.. Beck
should pay double for 1.-The best grade'
foreign-m made gloves he prefers is that
if he got them for the cost of the home
make he would be robbing American
glove workers, makers and merchants
of just about the difference he saved
by going to Europe and buying the
product of the cheap labor there. The
pay of labor there is about half what
1T is in America and then the money
and employment is there instead of
here. We wonder how it is that those
who find things SO cheap abroad can
bear to live in America? 1t is lucky
that things are not made that cheap
here or many who admire cheapness
wouldn't be wearing gloves-they'd be
doing without on account of scant
earnings. Never till wages are the
same all over the world should any
American citizen talk about taking off
into America in competition with
home made goods. Mr. Beck should
wear gloves made in America. If a
foreign glove costs double what the
American glove does-why, don't wear
it. Buy the American gloves. Stand
by your own countrymen and their
products. That's the way to make
and continue prosperity. We know
as much about gloves as Editor Beck
does. We wear the American make
at half the price of the foreign make
and like the home glove the best.
American gloves cost less in this coun-
try than the foreign gloves and the
money paid for them remains at home
and goes towards increasing the
wealth of the American people and the
glory of the American nation. A mill
lion workmen are starving all the year
around in Paris and London where Mr..
Beck buys his gloves SO cheap. Amer
lean importers are said to own some
of these cheap labor factories. They
make all kinds of profit in charging
those who prefer the foreign make
fancy prices, explaining that the tar
iff makes the difference. Under low
duty they would push the American
product aside, If possible, to increase
their profits. The foreign-made
gloves Editor Beck is SO pleased with
were made at starvation wages and
in them the life blood of faded, un-
der paid, half-fed girls and women
and men may have been wasted to
make cheap gloves for Mr.. Beck. who
made his money at fair pay. well-fed
and under favorable circumstances in
America. 1t Is fortupate for the well