The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1921-01-08
BUYERS STRIKE
CAUSED SLUMP
rlOSed Mills Laid to Action
Of Consumers.
MAKES PLEA FOR WOOL
Philadelphia Manufacturer SAYS the
Governments Anti Proftee rinq
Methods Caused Industrial Crisis.

Washington, Jan S.-CloSed mills
and consequent unemployment in PIii-
Atelphia and other manufacturing cell
iers is directly due 10 a Consumers
strike against high prices foStered
by "ovtr-zealous' state and Iucni
''prire-fXing' comHH> SionS
\ general hue ami cry raised against
profiteertng, and L wholesale campaign
against prOhtCcrS conducted by the
depat uHent ot justice. TO the great
tiScreuit ri business, communities gen
orally" has also been responsible for
the industrial crisis" confronting the
country.
John +. Wood. Of Philadelphia. as
Spokesman for the .Eutional -NSSocia-
ton Of Wool Manufacturers, 50 de
clared before the senate finance COM
mtteC when it resumed consideration
Of the emergency tariff bill passed by
the house recently.
Mr.. Wood described the textile in
dustry AT Ihiladelp!lia and other cities
as lin Il desperate .;itlation." His own
firm Of wooden manufacturers, he said.
had been forced to suspend operations
after sustaining Il net loss of $4,000
during the past yea. on Il capifaliza-
lion Of 100000, %401.UOO of which
was paid in.
For six months or Il year. his firm
had received no orders, Mr.. Wood add
ed. He cited the "DTcdicament" of his
firm as an example of the dire
straits in which the wool manufac.
turin Industry is generally.
Mr.. \pOd explained he spoke ais,
for the American Association of Wool
en- and Worsted Manufacturers, and
the National Association of Worsted
SpinnerS.
The emergency tariff measure under
consideration, Mr.. Wood stated, did
rot afford protection to the wool manu-
facturer who is IN 'naced by as seri-
Gus foreign competition as any of
the industries covepd by the bill"
But we understand" Mr. Wood
continued, that it will be impossible
to quickly pass Il more general tariff
bill, and if that is Il fact are unwill-
ing TO oppose or delay immediate re-
lief for those industries which are
covered by the pending bill, provided
it is So amended THAI 10 additional dis
advantage to those now existing is i'm
posed upon the various branches Of
wool manufacture. and with the I'M
derstanding upon our part that at the
earliest possible opportunity further
emergency legislation will be enacted
to safeguard other domestic industries.
during the period j,;it will necessarily
be occupied in making { general tariff
revision.
AS the bill stands, the duty on the
wool contained in imported manu-
features does not .'ear the proper ra-
tics to the duties on manufactured
wool The effect of this would be just
g - y van y =
facturer as an inadequate duty on raw
wool, because if it Is raade more profit
able to import wool III y manufactured
state than in its raw condition, it
will come in in the form of manufac-
tured, with just as much detriment to
the wool grower as if it were imported
in the raw condition, ard with equally
great detriment Ia the manufacturing
industry.
1T is also respectfully submitted
that pensatory wool duties be fixed at
the same ratios that have been in eff
feet with every dool dtuy since 1857,
and that the other provisions with re
spect to raw wool, which have been
developed by long experience, as neces-
sary for the mutual protection of the
growing and the manufacturing indus
tries be re-incorporatel in the bill"
Mr.. Wood, attacking Ill government
al activities to force down living costs
was met with counter charges by men,
bers of the committee who said the
whole country had been aroused over
the astonishing price Increases under
guise of wartime III cessity.