Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1911-08-15
COTTON MILLS AND TARIFF.
Charleston Paper Argues That Re-
duction of Duties Will Not Hurt.

CuCtlon OF DutioS WIZ Not rluft'
Representative of southern cotton
mill interests appeared yesterday be-
fore the senate finance committee and
filed an emphatic protest against the
drastic revision proposed in the Un-
derwood bill" They stated that they
could no more than make such pro-
test, as the time permitted them to
present their case was insufficient fol
a preparation of it. Mr.. Stewart Cra-
mer, of Charlotte, representing the
tariff committee OF the American
Manufacturers association on being
asked as to the effect of the high tar
if on machinery in the cotton indus
try, blocked further inquiry as to the
relief to be afforded the industry by
reduction of the machinery schedules
by declaring that II he were given a
cotton mill he could not, under pres
ent conditions, operate 1t at profit
Which, we take it, means that the
cotton manufacturers not only are
opposed to reduction of the tariff but
desire an increase of duties on cotton
goods. In the face Of the fact that
new cotton mills are being construct
ed-two million dollar plants are be-
Ing built now at Greenville-it would
seem that all hope Of the industry
has not been abandoned by the men
engaged In It, And the way the
moneyed men of New England put
their substance into the recent mer-
ger of mills in this state would indi-
cate that there is some prospect OF
ultimate health and wealth in cotton
manufacturing, though the period OF
depression has been unduly extended
Certainly Mr.. Cramer must have lost
his sense of proportion temporarily
when he put the entire blame for the
present unsatisfactory state Of the
cotton manufacturing industry on the
proposed revision Of the tariff. Actu-
ally the tariff has not been revised
and there is very little prospect that
it will be very soon. The Democrats
are going to pass a bill reducing the
cotton schedules, and 1t may get
through the senate by coalition vote
but President Taft will almost GER
tainly veto it, and all other tariff re-
vision measures, and 1t Is improbable
that any of them will be enacted over
his veto. If 1t is the tariff that Is
bothering the cotton spinners, they
may rest easy enough for a year OF
two more, for no general reduction oil
tariff schedules Is likely until the
Democrats come into complete con-
troll Of the government, which Will be
about March 4, 1913.
When the Democrats do get con-
troll Of the government, however. 1t Is
reasonably certain that they will re-
duce the tariff on cotton products and
all other commodities as they have
pledged themselves to do. The cotton
manufacturers Of the south must face
that situation squarely. That Is the
Democratic doctrine and 1t cannot
with any regard for good faith, be de-
parted from. Most of the southern
spinners are Democrats themselves
who subscribe nominally, at least, to
the party platforms, demanding tarin
reduction. If they don't believe In It.
they ought to make their fight within
their own party to change the doc
trine, and, If they can't change the
policy Of the party, they ought to join
with a party that expresses their po-
litical views.
We refuse to believe, however, that
the cotton manufacturers of the south
who have developed in a few years
such a great industry, are prepared To
confess their inability to compete In
the markets Of the world on equal
terms with other cotton manufacture
ers. They have a tremendous advan-
tage over their European rivals, In
their proximity to the raw product
and the natural preference or the
American people to purchase nome
products, If they are as good in quail
ity as the imported article. They
have, moreover, the great markets OF
the western continent at their doors,
while the foreign manufacturers must
cross the seas to reach them. The
American cotton manufacturers have
scarcely attempted to sell their goods
in South and Central America Ger
rainly the American spinners and, es-
pecially the southern Spinners, can
make as good cotton products and
make them as cheaply as the Engllsh
or the Germans, who have to import
every pound Of their cotton. When II
comes to selling them, it may be an
other matter, but that Is their fault
not their misfortune. Perhaps II the
American Manufacturers association
would give more attention to the SUD-
ject Of freeing the southern mills
from the grip Of the commission men
and less to the tariff question, they
might find conditions improved In
their industry. They must accommo-
date themselves to a reduction in the
tariff schedules, because the Ameri-
can people have determined that the
tariff is a burden. They are not bound
to submit to the executions Of the
selling agents, nor need they neglect
cultivation Of the rich markets which
they have not yet explored-Charles-
ton Evening Post.