The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1916-03-15
DEMOCRATS HEDGING ON DYE.
STUFFS TARIFF.

sTUFFS TARIFF.
Washington, March 14-(Special Cor
respOndence) although American de.
pendence upon Germany for dyestuffs
has been demonstrated, and the ur-
gent need for permanent establish
ment of dye industry in this cOun-
try is universally recognized, the dem
ocrats in congress show little evidence
of willingness to legislate for Amer
lea First"
American manufacturers wishing to
make dyestuffs will not undertake that
industry without assurance of prOtec.
ton from the syndicated competition
of Germany after the war. Repre-.
sentative Il. J. Hill, republican mem
Der of the ways and means committee,
has introduced bill carrying rates
of duty on dyestuffs which meet the
approval of the American Chemical
society of the United States, made up
of democrats and republicans alike
Indications are that the democrats in
congress will not stand behind the bill.
Congressman Hill declares: IF ev'
cry penny of the specific duty which
| it is now proposed to add to the rev
enue rates OF the present law should
be added to the price to the cOnsum'
er, 1t would take one hundred years
of that burden to equal the losses that
the existing famine has brought upon
the country in the last twelve months
The chief of the bureau of foreign
and domestic commerce, in public ad
dress to the Chemical club in New
York. four months ago, declared that
"the total loss, direct and indirect
now being borne by American users
of dyestuffs and dyed wares amounts
to not less than $1,0OO,OOO day."
The scarcity of dyes affects the
whole country. Seventy per cent OF
the cotton consumed in this country
| in making cloth, passes through the
ldycrs' hands before it reaches the con
sumer. If steps are not Immediately
taken to encourage the making OF
dives in this country, by means OF
protective tariff, the price of cotton
will fall as a consequence. 1t costs
to color wool five times the cost OF
colorinp cotton. Nearly all the wool
used by us is colored. Silk, leather
naDer and fur require dyes in their
manufacture, utilizing the labor Oh
manufacture, and the representatives
of these industries utilized the labor Oh
hundreds Of thousands OF men ana
women. all declare that the supplies
of German dyestuffs are nearly used
up. Without the dyes the industries
must suffer and so must the laborers.
Another interesting phase OF the
dyestuff situation was brought out Ill
the recent hearings before the ways
and means committee of congress; Dr.
Bernard Hesse. chairman OF the cheHl-
lical and dyestuffs committee OF ne"
York. stated: "If we did have COM
plete self contained coal tar aye IN
dustry in this country we would nave
an equipment which could, with com.
paratiyely little delay, be converted
into a device to manufacture explos'
ives and we would ha,N the nucleus
If a trained body OF men-Workmen
If YOU please-sEore,nen and ssuperin
ltendents. who could, with very little
ladded time. learn how to make these
explosives properly, and they then be
gin to act as nucleus for an accre'
tion or growth of the men necessary
to do tho work. -, 49,,
ANY reasonable man would think
that the democrats would seize on this
as an excuse for establishing protec'
tive rates OF duty on dyestuffs made IN
America. 1t is the matter OF prepar'
edness, also. But they continue TO
back and fill and sidestep the issue,
and meanwhile. the loss to users OF
dives continues to be 100000 daily
to accept the figures of democratic
officeholder.
Advocates of America FIRST" should
get after their democratic representa-
ltiyes in congress and urge them TO
vote for protective tariff ON dye
1stuffs. The condition which faces us
| is a dyestuff famine. The theory IS
the discredited democratic tariff pol
| lev. It's time to wake up!