The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-05-13
.SADDLERS OPPOSE:
TARIFF REF ORM
Representatives OF Three Organ
izations Devoted to Harness
Business Convene To-Day.
TO HANDLE BIG PROGRAM
All OF the Delegates and Their
Guests Will Go Down James
River o-Morrow.
TO HANDLE BIG PROGRAM

Words that would burn the cars Of
President Wilson and the Democratic
leaders in the House and Senate are to
be heard in the lobby and galleries of
the Jefferson Hotel. where 500 men.
decorated with little horse collar
badges and smiles of good fellowship.
are gathered as the representatives of
three large organizations devoted to
the harness and saddlery business The
event is largely a social one. and the
delegates have goodwill in their hearts
and friendly feeling for everything,
except automobiles and the Democrats
free list.
The latter was the subject OF some
discussion in the lobby yesterday and
the placing of harness aud saddlery on
the free list was termed by some of the
delegates as a crime" and spoken OF
even more harshly by others. The har-
nessmakers claim that it will throw
the United States open TO competition
from Canada. while they are excluded
from that country by a high ad valo-
rem duty, and the price of hides is
climbing every day. Henry Othmer
secretary OF the Wholesale Saddlerv
Association. stated that the convention
would probably take some action ex-
pressive Of its attitude on the tariff
question.
The other two organizations repre-
sented in this mass Getting OF harness
makers are the National Saddlery Man
ufacturers' Association and the Asso-
ciated Manufacturers of Saddlery Ac-
cessories. In addition TO about five
hundred delegates from these associa-
tons, there is a large assortment, Of
tanners hide dealers. bucklemakers,
threadmakers and makers of harness
machinery. In fact. every step in tie
making OF every detail Of everything
that horse car wear is represented,
lar nd in a6 ~,
or fifteen editors of trade journals de-
voted to the saddlery business.
Joint Session To-day.
The three organizations will go into
a joint session at $40 o'clock this morn
ing, which will be open to the pub
lie. Addresses of welcome will be made
by Mayor gorge Ainslie and President
Il. NJ. Darlington. of the Chamber of
Commerce. The responses will be made
by John NJ. Gray, Jr. of Nashville
Tenn. and Elmer e. Fisher. president
of the Wholesale Saddlery Association
The different organizations will hold
their executive meetings separately
That of the Associated Manufacturers
OF Saddlery Accessories will be held
this afternoon at o'clock; the Whole
sale Saddlery Association will meet
Thursday morning, and the National
Saddlery Manufacturers Association.
Thursday afternoon and Friday morn
the routine business OF the associa-
lions and to the technical side of the
saddlery business.
An especially attractive feature OF
the convention is the presence of many
women. who do not attend every an
nual gathering OF these associations.
but who have como to Richmond sew
eral hundred strong. In their honor
an especially elaborate program of en-
tertainment has been arranged by the
committee on convention arrangements.
of which j. Il. Palmatary is chairman.
and the women's entertainment com
mittee. under the leadership of Mrs.
Christian Clarke.
The women of the local entertain
ment committee will receive the visit
ing women at the Jefferson Immediate
ly after the adjournment of the OMEN
ing session this morning This eve
ming at 1880 o'clock the Wholesale Sad
dlery Association Will entertain the
members and guests OF the other two
associations In the auditorium of the
Jefferson Hotter at an informal recep
ton. a buffet supper will be served,
and will be followed, by dancing.
The feature OF the entertainment
program will be a trip down the James