The Arvada enterprise., 1912-10-03
STORY OF COTTON
is 4 THRILLER
A Narrative That Concerns the
Welfare Of Millions.
SHOWS EVILS OF PROTECTION

Robert Kenneth MacLea, Consulting
Expert of the Tariff Board, Shows
That tho American People Arc
Muoted of sss. 100000 a Year.
New York. Aug. Did you ever
hear the story of cotton?
It Is as thrilling as narrative of
adventure. 1t Is as interesting as
nnvrl-interesting particularly because
II concerns the welfare of millions of
.ruplr who wear cotton goods. 1t is
interesting because It is the dress of
the poor. the universal substitute for
wool and silk. 1t Is interesting, fur.
thcrmore, because 1t Is true.
The story OF cotton is the story of n
protective tariff for the benefit of rich
manufacturers at the expense of the
whole people who wear cotton goods
It has been reasonably calculated
that because tho cotton tariff is fixed
by the Payne Aldrioh law tho Ameri-
can people arc paying $s8ooo,ooo moro
every year than they should pay for
their cotton goods and that a saving
Of this amount could be accomplished
by a reasonable reduction in tho prea
ont duties.
The story Of cotton Is told by an ex-
pert Robert Kenneth acI.ea, consult
ing expert of the tariff board, in a Sc
ries of articles published in the New
York World Mr.. MacLea's views are
the views Of n lifelong Republican, n
friend Of the protective policy of the
Republican party. but at the same time
nm opponent Of tariff graft and favor
itism. To this work Mr. MacLea hns
brought varied experience, covering
more than twenty years. in the man
ufncturc and marketing of textiles.
He first distinguished himself as an
advocate of honest tariff legislation by
finding the 'jokers'' of the Payne-Al-
drich act. when the agents Of few
New England mills were permitted to
write their own rates to suit them
selves. He was chairman of the tar
In committee of the New York Dry
Goods Merchants association and in
that capacity conducted campaign
which attracted the attention of the
newly created tariff board TO accept
the position OF consulting expert to the
board he gave up the management of
the domestic business OF the New York
firms of r. b. MacLea & Co. and Con
verse a. Co.
The story of cotton is a companion
piece to the story OF Schedule K-thc
woolen schedule-declared by Presi
dent Taft to be Infamous and indefen-
siblc.
The findings OF the tariff brrrd with
regard to the wooden schedule lSere an
alyzed by Chairman Underwood Of the
ways md means committee and con
demned Ms inaccurate, incomplete and
worthless as an aid to legislation.
When the tariff boards findings on
the cotton schedule were made public
the World decided to make It's own
investigation concerning It, and Mr.
MncLcn was selected for that purpose.
The World had the findings of the
bonrd on mo nufncturcrs of cotton dis.
sected from ,he practical point of view
Of business, nnalyzcd IN their relation
to the interest Of the consumer and
the facts translated into the language
Of the everyday man and woman.
One hundred cloth samples purchased
In representative domestic markets
were made the basis OF the tariff
boards findings on the cost Of cotton
cloth produced In this country. Mr..
MncIen used the same cloth samples
MS concrete illustrations Of the work.
ings Of the tariff and from these OK
posed the very generally pcpctrntcd
fraud OF selling American made goods
ms Imported" nnd showed why the
excessive tariff permits and fosters
this imposition.
Recognizing that the tariff would be
n vital Issue OF tho campaign and that
controversy would center about PrcsI
dent Tnfts "nonpnrtlsan" tariff board
md It's work, the World undertook the
Investigation Of cotton and sought an-
swcrs to the following questions:
Has tho work Of tho tariff board JUS
tifsd tho delay in reducing tho tariff
and giving relief from tho high cost
Of livingY
What have tho people gained In tho
three years under tho Payne kIdrioh
tariff IN RETURN FOR MORE THAN
5000, 900 900 TAXED OUT OF THEIR
POCKETS AND INTO THE POCK-
ETS OF PROTECTED PRIVILEGED
How honestly, inpartially and thor
ouohIy. did tho "nonpartisan" tariff
board undertake it's tssk7
Several months before the cotton re
port was completed Mr.. MncLca de-
clhres that he discovered sinister IN,
fuences In the tarln boards working
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