The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-05-29
Another Hun 7entacle
In america Is Severed

Washington, May 2S.-Another
tentacle of German control IN
American industry has been severed
by A. Mitchell Palmer, the alien
property custodian.
Under arrangements now being
completed between the custodian
and the Fur Merchants Credit AS
sociation of New York City, the in
terests of the German fur barons OF
Leipzig will be purchased by Amer
lean merchants and the money paid
turned into the United States treas
ury to be held until the end OF the
war for the Germans involved.
In announcing today the forced
retirement OF German interests IN
the industry, Mr.. Palmer said esti-
mates of the enemy holdings can
not be made until all the fur dealers
have reported balances due the Ger
mans.
1T may be stated, however said
the custodian, that the negotia-
tions just completed will root out
forever the last German dollar in
vested in the fur business in this
country, turn loose the American
furrier from the control Of the
Leipzig cabal and establish a great
new industry here in America.
Some of the larger firms which
have already readjusted their hold
ings under the agreement OF the
government are the Theoder, Thor
er Company, Gaudig & Blum, and
NJ. s. Elias .Jr., Inc, among the best
known fur houses on this side OF
the Atlantic. Many others are in
process OF readjustment, including
Otto Erler Company, Fuchs 4 Co.,
Inc, and Eisenbach Bros.
Before the war the trade OF
American furriers was practically
nothing but collecting and ship
ping agency for the Germans. Al
most every pelt taken by American
trappers had to go TO Leipzig before
it could be sold. Leipzig dressers
and dyers were the best i'll the
world. None could compete with
them. Although London was the
worlds market. by reason OF the
pioneer work of the old Hudson Bay
Company and far-sighted English
commission houses. three quarters
OF the fur shipped to London from
America, Russia and even China
went, after the auctions, direct to
Leipzig for dressing and dyeing.
AT Leipzig each year after the
fur was prepared and the German
had fixed the price for
that year. Americans were allowed
to purchase as much as three -ifthS
Of the entire fur produced for man
ufacture into garments, although in
so doing they were forced to pay the
cost, plus the expense OF
dressing and dyeing, plus a hand
some profit Tor the Germans, plus
30 per cent duty. before they got
them back home. They were con
stantly either indebted to the Ger
mans or completely under their
MIR. Palmer SAID American iur
dyein, houses now are operating in
New York and that in St. Louis the
attempt has been made successfully
to dye seal skins, which previously
had never been done outside OF
Leipzig and London. Fur auctions
also have been undertaken success
fully both in St. Louis and New
York.
when the ~ is over" Mr.. Pal
mer concluded, Germany will again
buy American furs, but these goods
will be bought in the American
market this time, from American
firms, and they will be American
dressed and dyed, and prepared for
European consumption. The un-
natural trade conditions which
forced Americans TO ship certain
;urs abroad, to buy them back and
10 re-ship them TO America will have
disappeared, and Germany will be
the loser