Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-07-30

Extreme depression in the hosiery in
dustry of the United states, according
to prominent Philadelphia hosiery manu-
facturers, will follow the conclusion of
peace in Europe, unless a sane and ade-
quate protective tariff law is enacted by
Congress. Leading hosiery manufacturers
urged today that high protective tariff
law should be enacted to check the flood
of manufactured goods that will sweep
from Germany and other European ma
tions toward this country. Exports OF
millions OF dollars worth of hosiery and
other goods from Germany, Belgium
France. Austria and other countries is
looked for by the hosiery men soon after
the end of the war. Continued pros
perity in the United States, the hosiery
men contend depends almost wholly upon
whether or not sane tariff law is pro-
vided by the next Congress Manufac-
turers said today that tariff sufficiently
high to enable the American manufac-
turer to compete with foreign manufac-
turers Is required
We need measure that will guaran-
tee us the protection against the products
OF Europes cheap labor and this Is es-
sential to continued prosperity after the
conflict in Europe comes TO an end" said
Hosiery Mills, at Jasper and Orleans
streets, today.
the war In Europe. In the opinion of
hosiery manufacturers who employ thou
sands OF workers, is having the effect,
while 1t lasts, of protective tariff. Man
ufacturers pointed out today that before
hostilities began European goods were
being shipped to the United States in
enormous quantities.
With Oiir hipher OF nd ~ tI,,tnr,
was impossible the manufacturers say.
to compete with any great degree of sue
cess with the cheap labor in Europe, and
the general result was a nationwide de-
preston in the hosiery industry Mills
were working on half time, while other
manufacturing plants were closed.
But the war, in the opinion of the hos
iery men, has done what the tariff
couldn't accomplish. 1t has resulted in
barring cheap products from this coun-
try. Now they are in European store
houses.
I'VE must have a sane and sufficient
protective tariff law" said Mr. Johnson.
"It is true this war has been instru-
mental in creating wave of prosperity
In this country, but we must remember
that the conflict won't prevail for ages.
The war must come to an end some
time. The war may last another year
or longer, Nobody really knows just
how long it will last. But 1t is certain
that the war will end some time. There
fore, we must plan for the future. Ger
many, no doubt. will get busy with what
capital she has left and will begin to
manufacture many things. Her factories
will again become busy and goods will
be manufactured and sent here.
TT is true that German factories will
be kept busy in supplying the demands
of the German nation, but even now in
some of the storehouses of that country
there are loads of goods which Germany
could easily send here to be sold with
out missing them, were 1t not for Eng
lands blockade.
"Creating a high protective tariff is
an important thing. We must have 1t.
AS 1 said before. we have had some
prosperity as result of this war, but
we mustn't forget the future-I mean
the time when this war will be at an
end. Germany and the other nations
win begin to export things to this coun-
try, and then, probably. we will again
have some more Underwood Holidays.
Those days are we'll remembered by
working people of this country They
suffered a great deal through the clos
ing Of mills. shops and factories when
the Underwood tariff measure became
Jaw"