Palatka daily news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1919-1994, 1922-10-12
THE BACKLASH OF THE
HOLD-UP TARIFF

HOLD-UP TARIFF
In attempting the impossible task of
convincing the farmers that the Ford
ney-McC umber law will enhance the
price Of their products and at the
same time persuading the public that
there will be no corresponding rise in
the cost of living, Republican speake-
rs and publications are charging i'm
porters and retail merchants with re-,
sponsibility for the increases already
noted in clothing and other merchan-
disc.
The Republican propag a n d a
against the department stores and
other dealers practically accuses them
of cheating their customers. One
Republican organ, published by the
American Protective Tariff League,
declares: "That there is a we'll organ
lied plan to discredit the new tariff"
Then, after alleging that clothiers
are a party to this movement, the
organ says this is "a dangerous
game"
The situation is a dilemma for the
defenders of the Fordney-McCum
profiteers' tariff. To beguile the
farmer, they declare that the new
law will increase the price of his
grain and wool and livestock. But to
comfort the other consumers who
have heard of the rise in the prices
of various commodities they contend
that the measure has actually lower
ed tariff duties.
Thus the organ of the American
Protective Tariff League says:
"Clothiers in different parts Of the
country are threatening to put up the
price of clothes because of the alleg.
ed increase in the tariff duty or
secured wool. AS a matter of fact
there is a decrease in the duty or
secured wool"
But the American Wooden Compa,
unknown as the Wool Trust-has
advanced the prices of its products
wooden frabrics, from 10 to45 cents q
yard. The explanation of this in,
crease is the new tariff on wool. The
American Wooden Company, through
it's lobbyists and other influences
practically dictated the rate of duty
On wool, and is generally regarded
as having pretty god idea of what
the new law gives its products in the
form of protection"
Whether the tariff on wool has
been decreased, as the Republican
apologists say, or whether it has been
increased, as the wooden manufact-
urers contend in giving notice of adj
vances in their prices, the fact re-
mains that the cost of clothing is ris-
ing and will go still higher with the
coming of cold weather If the Re-
publicans are correct in their state
ment that the tariff has been lower.
ed, it would appear that they deceiv-
ed the agricultural producers when
the Fordney-McCum bill was writ,
ten. If the wolen manufacturers are
right in their calm that the tariff or
wool has been raised, then the Repub
licans are now trying to mislead both
the producers and the consumers Of
wool.
One fact becomes clear in this con
tradiction of statements. That is thai
the wool grower cannot get more
money for their clip by the simple de
vice of sending out notice of an ad
vance in prices as the Wooden Trus
has succeeded in doing. Neither car
the consumer escape paying more fol
clothing which the Wool Trust man
ufactures and sells on the basis o.
tariff increases of from 60 to $50 pei
cent.
The price tags on women's garm
->ents and mems suits and overcoat;
within the next two months will b.
more truthful and more eloquent
about the new tariff rates on woo
than any propaganda the Republicans
are disseminating.
This business of attempting to hooC
wink the producers and the consum
/ ers at one and the same time and az
10 the same enthusiastically wher
/ :. ne who produces also consumes
~ It the Republicans into bac
- 5s,i now endeavoring tt
: sSfcA. healing merchants