davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
BY ROBERT KENNETH MAcLEA.

BY ROBERT KENNETH MAcLEA.
Formerly consulting expert Of the tariff
board.
New York, Aug.-On not a single
one of the ninety-five all cotton SAM
pies of fabric taken as the basis of the
tariff boards investigations of the cot
ton schedule was there an actual re-
duction of the tariff by the Payne
Aldrich law.
The samples were selected with
great care by the combined judgment
Of the boards experts, Endorsed by the
leading jobbers Of the United States
as being representative of all classes
Of fabric in use in this country, each
sample being chosen because it was
typical of the most used material Of
Its particular weave or class. Ninety
five all cotton and five silk and cotton
samples comprise the 100 that appear
IL the tariff boards cotton report
Forty-seven Of the ninety-fve in the
all cotton class pay 1850 per cent
higher duties under the Payne-Al-
drich than they did under the Dingley
tariff.
Payne-AIdrich "Jokers-"
OF these forty-seven classe Of ma
terial on which the tariff was increas-
ed nine are the fancy weaves made in
three or four New England mills COM
monty grouped as the "Lippitt-
McColl interests" This is the clique
of New England manufacturer-politi
clans who were permitted by Senator
Nelson W. Aldrich to write the cotton
schedule to suit themselves.
OF the nine Lippitt-McColl fabrics
the Payne-Aldrich law lacked up the
average duty from 1857 to 60.33 per
cent. In other words, the promised
revision downward" on these goods
was really a revision upward amount
ing to 64.97 per cent of the Dingley
rates.
The remaining thirty-eight classes of
all cotton fabrics on which the duty
was increased were not generally the
product of the favored New England
ring. Under the Dingley law these
thirty-eight fabrics were assessed an
average duty of 1886 per cent. Under
the Payne-Aldrich law they pay 44.58
per cent.-a revision upward equal to
26.07 per cent of the former rate as
compared with 64.97 per cent. increase
on the manufactures of the favored
few.
On just three among the 100 samples
was there decrease in duty. These
were the silk and cotton fabrics (silk
mills) that pay more than 100 per cent.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

huty. On these three samples the re.
duction averaged 5.66 per cent on the
former duty-a reduction from 1870
per cent under the Dingley law to
110.44 per cent under the Payne-Al-
drich law. On one of the silk and cot
ton samples there was an increase
amounting to 21.9S per cent. The fifth
unchanged.
On the forty-five Of the ninety-dve
all cotton samples there was no change
In duty.
On the three remaining samples
completing the total of 1909 no COM
parison is made because of apparent
lack of authentic foreign prices.
Mr.. Taft Was Mistaken.
And still President Taft said in his
speech at Boston, April rs last:
cit (the Payne-Aldrich bilD was a
vastly better bill than the Dingley
bill. If I had refused to sign the
Payne bill it would have maintained
the Dingley bill with higher rates than
the Payne bill"
When Mr.. Taft made this statement
he must have known that it was un-
true. AS for the wool schedule, he
knew that the rates were not higher
in the Dingley law than in the Payne
Aldrich law, for right after signing
the latter bill did he not denounce Its
wool rates as "indefensible? And,
oc fpy he ~ no Dow
bill. he knew they were just as Elm
defensible" as the wool rates, for at
the time he made this-statement in
Boston he had the tariff boards report
on cotton before him..
It is true that the cotton report of
the tariff board did not make this in
formation available at a glance to Mr..
Taft or to congress or to the public.
The tariff board carefully avoided Civ.
ing this information in a getatable.
understandable form.
Suppressed the Answer.
''Was the tariff raised or lowered?"
has been an insistent question ever
since the Payne-Aldrich law was en-
acted three years ago. The tariff
board avoided answering it.
In making my official report to the
board submitted a table that did
answer this question in respect to each
one, excepting three, of the 100 cloth
samples around which our months Of
investigation centered. After much
sidestepping and discussion this table
was expurgated and published in its
emasculated form The boards excuse
was that it was not its duty to answer
the question; congress could make its
own computations
Benefit Only to Privilege.
From every point of view of the
tariff CRATER it is no doubt highly de-
sirable that such facts, staggering az
| they are to the dishonest pretensions
that the cotton tariff was really lower
ed, should be buried as deeply as pos.
sible in mass of unexplained Stats
tics. But it is to the advantage of
every honest manufacturer and mer.
chant who is seeking stability in bust.
ness and fair opportunity to make a
reasonable profit that the truth should
be made known. Just such policies of
official evasion and suppression have
made possible in the past the juggling
of tariff legislation by and in behalf OF
the privileged few.-New York World.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
REAL IRISH DIMITY,
Is cts.


We procured samples of all Of them.
There was not one piece Of imported
goods in the lot. Investigation proved
that the store buyer had purchased
these Irish" dimities from a Boston
jobber at 10 cents yard and that they
were made in a New England mill.
Here was supposed bargain" in
a supposedly imported" fabric, on
which the retailer was taking a profit
of 80 per cent!
This happens to be a fabric repre-
senting the highest efficiency in Amer
lean manufacturing It is class Of
goods in which we can compete ad-
vantageously with any country in the
world. The tariff boards investiga-
ions discovered on sample No. Sc an
American cost Of production of 1-3
cents a yard. In all the mills inves-
tigated the boards representatives
found that the low and high costs of
manufacture of this fabric did not
vary half cent yard.
Who Gets the Profit?
The manufacturer of this American
Unity. that is sold as imported" and
'Irish," does not get the excessive
profit. In some instances the manu-
,acturer does, but here he sells to the
iobber at cents, taking only q NOM
nal manufacturing profit of two-thirds
cent a yard. The jobber sells to the
retailer at 10 cents, 25 per cent mar
gin for the jobber
In Canada, with 25 per cent tariff, q
cotton fabric costing 10 cents a yard
would be sold to the consumer at 12h
Dr. sometimes at Is cents if the pat.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
BY ROBERT KENNETH MAcLEA,

BY ROBERT KENNETH MAcLEA,
Formerly consulting expert of the tariff
board
New York, August.-The prohibitive
tariff, revised upward by the Payne
Aldrich law, permits and fosters
wholesale frauds upon the American
consumer Of cotton goods.
Less than 2 per cent of the cotton
fabrics consumed in the United States
comes from abroad, because the pro-
tective duties have been made so high
that importation is improbable.
Yet fully one-third Of the cotton
piece goods going over retail counters
is sold as IMPORTED" or under
names implying a foreign origin.
This deception is generally perpe-
trated upon the consumer for the pur-
pose of obtaining exorbitant prices for
domestic goods.
The consumer believing the goods
are imported and knowing that the
tariff adds excessively to their cost,
pays 50 to 100 per cent more than a
fair price and does not suspect that
ne is being cheated.
Drains the Pocketbook.
Let US go straight to a specific ex.
ample OF the operation Of this fraud
Take the tariff boards cloth sample
No. Sc. described as a printed dim
ity." This is medium priced cotton
fabric known to almost every Ameri-
can housewife. What woman or girl
hasn't possessed dimity dress within
the last few years? And if she went
to the Gotten goods counter and
bought the material by the yard she
no doubt saw such signs as:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
PRESENT TARIFF
FOSTERS FRAUDS
Domestic Cotton Fabrics Sok
Americans as Imported"
CHEATING THE CONSUMER

Less Than 2 Per Cent Comes From
Abroad, but Americans Pay Ex
orbitant Price Fer Home Goods Be.
cause of Deception and Prohihitive
Tariff.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
4JOKERS" HID
REVISION UP
Actual Raising of Duties Effected
by Payne Bill
COTTON AND WOOL SCHEDULE

Both lndefensible, and President Taft
Knew It-Suppression of Facts by
the Tariff Board-Statistics Employ
ed to MisIead the Public.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
FACTS SUPPRESSED AND ISSUES
EVADED BY TAFT TARIFF BOARD
By ROBERT KENNETH MACLEA,

Formerly Consulting Expert of the Tariff Board
fight
compelled the following indictment:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
IRISH DIVINITY,
DC
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.

The Worlds tariff editor visited
with me department store in a New
England city Of 100000 inhabitants
and found recently a counter piled
with these goods, placarded:
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

That the tariff board
in its report on manu-
SUPPRESS features Of cotton
| SION pressed findings Of vital
Importance to the cot
ton industry, to the pub
lie and to the government. but inimical
to the special privileges Of a few New
England manufacturers who were per-
mitted by Senator Aldrich to write the
cotton schedule to suit themselves.
IL
That the tariff board
has perverted o t h e r
i PERVER. / facts, thereby avoiding
o,o,, exposure of tariff injus-
DUN tees that have benefit
ed the few at the ex-
pense Of the many man
ufacturers.
III
That the tariff board has not, as stated
by President Taft to congress, drawn any
conclusions that would ''be valuable in
advising the congress and the people
Of the changes that ought to be made to
make m or equitable
their (the wool and cot
ton schedules) effects"
EVASION The board did not at
tempt to draw conclu-
sions, scientific" or
otherwise, from its
scientifically" collected data. but side
stepped that responsibility by arguing
that such deductions as its data justified
were not called for under the specif1ca-
tons Of its employment.
".
That the tariff boards report was ar
ranged so as TO be incomprehensible to
either legislators or laymen; that tables
were deliberately disas-
IEMAscU- lss, not Suppressed SI and
| LATION would require the serv-
ices of statistician
and a clerk six months
to make head or tail of the tumble of
data presented as q basis for intelligent
tariff revision.
v.
That the tariff board
FAvoRIT- sssaisst,n slt0ssshss IN,
JcM phases Of tariff graft
tSW hidden in 'jokers" Of
k the Payne-Aldrich law.
vi.
That the tariff board falsely reported
that It was impossible to obtain abroad
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

cost data on weaving necessary to enable
1t to make an intelli-
gent comparison with
4 ,r,,.~. i costs at home; that the
| INExACl board was offered OPP
portunities for obtain
ing such data, but did
not use them; that such
foreign data as were obtained were In
some cases suppressed and in others were
inadequate for honest comparison. al
though 30 utilized.
VII.
/ That the tariff board betrayed the con.
f1dence Of American manufacturers by
publishing data that
should have been held
for confidential informa-
UNFAIR ton Of legislators: that
competitors were given
thereby valuable trade
secrets, while the for
eign manufacturers divulged nothing Of
similar character or Importance.
VIII.
That the tariff boards
DIsINGEN. sasss'ons y {. sss ssss:
,,o,,o ing the relation of the
UUUS tariff to the prices ex.
acted from consumers
was disingenuous and
misleading.
TX.
That the tariff board has proved not to
be the "nonpartisan' and scientific In
strument promised by President Taft:
that its members displayed inexperienco
in business, incompetence and extrava-
gance. have been forced reluctantly
after a years intimate association to ac-
cept the opinion that the tariff board has
been nothing more than
an effective cog in q
"standpat" political ma
chine: that some OF the
men who clamored most
loudly for tariff board
and some Of the men
appointed thereto worked all the time
complacently in the knowledge that the
creation of the board was a scheme -
prevent genuine tariff reform as long a.
possible by cumming the cards and de-
laying the game" a charge frequently
made, but which for long time dis
credited. i
x.
That such facts as the tariff board ha1
reported sustain the charge, as to boen
the wool and the cotton
schedules. that the com
CONVICT. sa@ sumo has. h.: been e sos Sc.
ING sequence of excessive
duties and that the
profits have not gono
into the pockets Of the laborer to ''maine
tain an American standard Of living"
From New York Worle
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

That the tariff board,
in its report on manu-
features Of cotton
(Schedule y has sup
pressed findings Of vital
Importance to the cot
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
PERvER-
SION
ufacturers.

That the tariff board has not, as stated
by President Taft to congress, drawn any
conclusions that would ''be valuable in
advising the congress and the people
Of the changes that ought to be made to
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

That the tariff
ranged so as TO
either legislators
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
FAv0RIT-
ISM

That the tariff board falsely reported
that It was impossible to obtain abroad
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

That the tariff board
avoided altogether in
vestigating Ger t al n
phases of tariff graft
hidden in "jokers" Of
the Payne-Aldrich law.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
EMASCU-
LATI0N

to make head or tail of the tumble of
data presented as basis for intelligent
tariff revision.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

make m o r e eQultaDIe
their (the wool and cot
ton schedules) effects"
The board did not at
tempt to draw conclu-
sions, scientific" or
ofboru;so from Gre
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
SUPPRESS
SION

lie and to the government. but inimical
to the special privileges of a few New
England manufacturers who were per-
mitted by Senator Aldrich to write the
cotton schedule to suit themselves.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

been nothing more than
an effective cog In q
"standpat" political ma
chine: that some OF the
men who clamored most
loudly for a tariff board
- - khA r~A>
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
INExAcT
UNFAIR

eign manufacture
similar character
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

cost data on weaving necessary to enabl.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
EVASION

scientifically" collected data. but side
stepped that responsibility by arguing
that such deductions as its data justified
were not called for under the specifica'
tons Of its employment.
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05

That the tariff board
has perverted OF h e r
facts, thereby avoiding
exposure Of tariff injus-
tees that have benefit
ed the few at the ex-
pense Of the many man
The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1912-09-05
| DISlNGEN.|
UOUS
misleading.

That the tariff board has prove
be the ''nonpartisan" and scien
strument promised by Presider
that its members displayed mex
in business. incompetence and
gance. I have been forced rel
after a years intimate associatio
cept the opinion that the tariff bt
Evening star., 1912-01-15
MR., BACoN's SUCCESSOR.
Report That Huntington Wilson
Nav Get French Mission.

All sorts OF rumors are current re-
garding the probable successor of MIR.
Robert Bacon as United States ambas-
sador to France, but it Is difficult to
get . any accurate information on the
subject beyond the repeated declaration
at the State Department that no. ac-
ton has been taken in the matter.
One report is that Huntington Wilson,
assistant secretary Of state. Is to be
transferred to the Paris mission. and that
Thomas C. Dawson, resident diplomatic
officer, will be made assistant secretary
Of state. Neither gentleman named would
discuss the matter today in any phase.
1t is admitted that Mr.. Wilson may be
selected for the diplomatic vacancy. but
general doubt is expressed In regard to
the transfer of Mr.. Dawson.
One reason for that doubt Is that the
Office Of resident diplomatic agent pays
81, 500 year, while the salary of the
assistant secretary is but 5000. The
promotion Of Third Assistant Secretary
Chandler Hale to the office OF first as
sistant secretary Is regarded as much
more likely In the event OF Mr.. Wilson's
transfer to Paris.
Larz Anderson United States minister
to Belgium, continues to be mentioned as
a possible successor to Ambassador Ba-
con- and there are many other names In
the large field of possibilities. 1t is ex-
pected that the President will settle the
matter in short tirne.
Evening star., 1912-01-15
FIFTY PERSONS HURT
WHEN TRAIN IS D|TCHED
Cold Makes Rails Spread on
Big Four Near Carey,
Ohio.

-.KENTON, Ohio, January 15.-About fif-
ty persons were injured yesterday when
Big Four passenger train No. l, from
Detroit, was wrecked near Carey, Ohio.
a short distance from this city. None of
the injured was fatally hurt, 1t is believed.
Spreading rails. due to the intense cold.
caused two OF the coaches to leave the
track and go into the ditch. The train
was late and was speeding at a rate of
about forty miles an hour when the acci-
dent occurred.
Many of the passengers suffering from
cuts and bruises were unable to emerge
from the. overturned coaches before as
sistance arrived.
Women and Children Rescued.
| Passengers who first were taken out of
the overturned cars assisted in extricat-
ing the. women and children. Ladders
were procured, and 1t was with difficulty
that the rescuers were able to reach the
inside of the coaches, as many of the
windows were locked down.
The buffet ear took fire. and for few
minutes there was a panic among the
passengers III it. All. however, were ex-
tficated, and none of the coaches was de-
IIOuSucu HC Od6606C SoI "dS thioNh
sidewise across the track. and the engine
was also derailed.
1 Physicians from Carey were rushed to
the scene, and they. supertntended the
work OF hurrying the more seriously in
jured to-a hospital in this city. Others less
seriously hurt are being cared for at
Carey.
william Haskins and wife of Detroit
probably were the most seriously hurt.
Mr.. Haskins did not recover conscious
ness until shortly after o'clock last
night.
Farmhouses' in the vicinity of the
wreck were thrown. open for the recep-
tion of the injured, and many were cared
for there until they were removed to other
places.
Evening star., 1912-01-15
FIVE KILLED IN WRECK.
Baltimore and Ohio Passenger Trail
Crashes Into Freight.

NEWCASTLE, Pa. January ia Bal
timore and Ohio passenger train crashed
into Pittsburgh and Lake Erie train In
the railroad yards here today and five
persons are reported killed, among then
being Engineer James Cannon OF Pitts.
burgh and Fireman Cunningham OF Ma.
honington. Pa.
Baggagemaster j. L. Craft OF Pitts
burgh. Railway Mail Clerk Carnahan OF
Oil City, Pa. and Conductor J. NJ. Ellis
OF Chicago JUNCTION, Ohio. have beer
taken to the Shenango Valley Hospital
here badly hurt. An open switch caused
the accident
Craft died soon after being received at
the hospital. and Engineer Robert M.
Clark of the Lake Erie train died while
being taken from the ruins Of his engine
Fireman James Smith Of Newcastle was
also added to the list Of dead after reach
ing the hospital The Baltimore and Ohio
train was q through train for the east.
Passenger suffered no serious injury.
Evening star., 1912-01-15
WANTS FARE RETURNED.
Charles Ream Claims He Was En-.
titled to TRANSPORTATION.

On the plea that he was caretaker Of
twelve chickens on a transcontinental trip
from Richmond, Va. to Los Angeles. Cal.
Charles Ream Is endeavoring through the
interstate commerce commission to recov-
er from the railroad companies passenger
fare he was compelled to pay.
Ream shipped q carload Of emigrant
movables from Richmond to Los Angeles.
The property included dozen chickens.
with a released value of IS head. Ream
claims that he had to accompany the
chickens as caretaker, and under the
railroads regulations he was entitled to
free transportation for himself. On ar
forced to pay is fare aggregating $83. His
claim Is directed against the Southern
Pacific and other lines
Evening star., 1912-01-15
FIREMEN NEAR COLLAPSE.
Blazes in New Haven Make Big Loss
in Forty Eight Hours.

NEW HAVEN. Conn.,. January IA
four-story brick building on Grand ave-
nue., owned by Gov. Simeon E. Baldwin.
was destroyed by fire early today with q
loss Of $75, 600. The fire started in a res
,aurant. and spread rapidly to the apart
ments above Many OF the tenants were
taken down ladders in an exhausted or
unconscious condition.
The fire loss In this city in the past
forty-eight hours Is placed at quarter Of
q million dollars. Most OF the fires are
believed to have been Of incendiary origin.
Several of the firemen are on the verge
Of collapse as the. result Of their con-
tinuous hard work and exposure in below
zero weather. and efforts are being made
to enroll an emergency corps OF recruits.
The fire chief is in hospital suffering
from an attack Of appendicitis brought on
by exposure at fire Saturday night. He
was operated upon yesterday, but is not
yet out Of danger.
Evening star., 1912-01-15
OVERSHADOWS EVEN TARIFF.
Bryan Says Wall Street Should Not
Name Democratic Candidate.

COLUMBIA, 8. c.. January 15.-.'The
tariff question Is the one that Is the most
talked about. and have no doubt it will
occupy q prominent PLACE In the cam
paign. but the democratic. party cannot
ignore the fact that back Of the tariff,
back of the trusts and back Of the rail-
roads stands the Wan street oligarchy.
despotic as the csar or the sultan ever
were. And that is why 4 am not willing
that J.. Pierpont Morgan pick out the
democratic candidate.
This was, william Jennings Bryan's re.
piy when asked tonight what he regard
ed assthe principal issues IN the approach
ing presidential campaign.
Mr.. Bryan declared that while the out
look for the democrattc party was bright,
stili the democrats should not be overcon.
fidesit, and great deal depended on the
action. OF democrats during the present
seseioH of CQuGrees.