Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-05-04
Journal Wants Work Quick
THE SHOE TRUST.
United Shoe Machinery Co. Has Shoe
Firms at its Mercy.


Washington. MAY The declaration
that a trust" grips the entire shoe
manufacturing Industry Of the United
States vas made today Before the Sen
ate committee on tnance. which be-
gar hearings Of the Canadian rec
praeity hin. manufacturers from the
Middle West told tie committee they
were practically Al tie mercy of the
United Shoe Machinery Co. of Boston.
II was Suggested that 4 report of the
hearings would b. transmitted to the
attorney general
The principal spof esmGm for the
shoe manufacturers was w p. D.
Oench of st. Louis. With him were
manufacturers from st Louis. Chicago
and Grand Rapids. Mich. An Incl
dental reference Ia a failur. TO reduce
the duty ON brass wire used in the
manufacture of shoes led Mr. D'Oeneh
to refer to the shoe machine trust =
The trust made il impossible" he
said. to buy brass Wire abroad,
why don't you buy all Your ma
chlnery ABROAD them asked Senator
Simmons Of North Carolina
In reply the shoe manufacturer re-
ferred 10 the IS ner cent. duty which
stood in the way.
Would the removal Of that duty
MAKE shoes cheaper asked Senator
Simmons.
1T would, bur | cannot say how
much.
In reply to Senator Smoot the Wit
ness said tine royalty charged by the
shoe machinery trust" In less tllRn
a year would be sufficient to buy the
English machinery outright.
The senator contended that under
these circumstances the duty should
not prevent the American manufac-
turer buying European machines.
Mr.. D0ench declared, however
that the shoe manufacturers could
not get all of their machinery abroad
and to get part OF il from the Arnari-
can concern they We're required To
buy ALL
Senator Bailey declared that if the
report of the hearing were trans
mitted to the attorney general If
ought Ito make trouble for the shoe
machinery trust"
Senator Gallinger said he tho1eht
patents on machinery would nrotec,
the machinery manufacturing con,
pany from the charge of being n
trust"
Senator PaiIev asserted thex, would
not.
Mr.. D'Oencb said tho Tinted sho.
Machinery 60 sold some of SC mo
chimes in England ana tba+ Il ala not
bind the English mannfactnrers IN,
any such contracts as those in ~
Milton E,1arsbai,, ~ c,,;o.,., -,
the committee thar tho h,5a,io,,
man3,fact,,,ars ia -, M
sign n 17-years contract ord Tho. ~
other shoe r,a,.li,,ar,, ,,,a,,,roa.,,,;i ~
conopanv wouId enter tho Cola ha..,,s.7
IL oc,,Ia nc, Gu, .s,,.,,z..N 10y
While the shoe manufacturers ,,,o,o
complaining to the Senate comnoittao so,,
finance of the shoe machinery ..tr,,st >,
Representative Weeks of Nassacbnsetto
was declaring in the House tbat .shano-
fetal monopolv' nv one cornorat;on of
such machinery enabled If m Lease the
machines at a very low rate n American
manufacturers Mr. Weeks offarad his
statement IN opposition IN the free 1iet
hill
Mr.. Weeks used an array of shoes bro-
gans, boots, sippers and sandals to H.
lustrate his argument against the Demo-
cratic measure. The lecture an shoes
drew the largest audience of members
that has listened to tariff talk in davs
There were English as well as Ameri
can samples and Mr.. Weeks undertake
to show that Engiish-made shoes already
are obtaining a standing in the United
States and the removal of duty would
give q large part of the American mar
ket to the English shoemakers
"There is no combina ton in the shoe
the leather or tanning industry. There is