Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 May 1909 — A GREAT PROTEST [ARTICLE]

A GREAT PROTEST

The Women Attack Increased Glove Duties - 1 ALDRICH SEEMS TO YIELD But the Fight Is Not Won Until the Conference Committee Has Acted— Payne’s Attempt to Add to Littauer’s Millions Littauer’s Glove Scandal, His Work For Cannon and Its Reward. Women are patient and will suffer long in silence, but they have been aroused all over the country by the outrageous increases in the Payne tariff bill on Important necessities of women's and children’s wearing apparel, such as gloves and hosiery. A mass meeting of women under the leadership of the Federation of Women’s Clubs has been held in New York city to protest against these increased burdens, and important meetings of protest have been held in other cities, while petitions from Indignant women have been pouring in upon congressmen and senators from all sections of the country. The Astute Aldrich. Apparently impressed by the great outburst from indignant women all over the country, Aldrich in the senate now reports the tariff bill with the rates on women’s gloves and hosiery put back to the same figures as in the Dingley tariff. But these rates will be finally fixed by the conference conimittee, which will adjust the differences between the house and senate after the bill has passed the senate. It is a common trick to make an apparent concession in rates and have the conference committee quietly put them up again. Typical Tariff Extortion. There is not the shadow of an excuse for the imposition of these higher duties. It is a flagrant case—and there are many others like it in the Payne bill—of robbing the public of millions more in order to still further enrich a tariff fattened and already rich private interest, composed of a very few manufacturers in a very few localities. The chief of the beneficiaries of the proposed enormous increases on women's and children’s gloves is L. N. Littauer, the most prominent manufacturer of gloves In the United States, who has become many times a millionaire through this industry and was for a number of years a member of congress from New York state. Littauer’s Government Contracts.

This is the same Littauer who came into national prominence in 1903, while he was a member of congress, by the exposure of what was called the “glove scandal.” It came to light that Littauer’s firm was interested in a contract to supply gloves to the United States army and to the marine corps. This was declared to be a violation of the federal statute, but Littauer escaped prosecution through the statute of limitations under an opinion by the then Attorney General Knox. After that he was frequently nicknamed “Limitations Littauer” in congress. His partner in the government contracts testified that the profits to the Llttauers in these transactions were about $90,000. Littauer Helps Cannon. It is the direct influence of this same Littauer, and nothing else, which brought into the Payne tariff bill the surprising Increases in the glove schedule. It is openly charged and generally believed that the action of Chairman Payne and the committee on ways and means was part of a bargain under which Mr. Littauer agreed to use his influence with the independent Republicans who were opposing Speaker Cannon’s re-election in return for higher protection to his industry. This charge w l as made by Representative Pou of North Carolina in a speech in the bouse on March 26; also by F. W. Larom, a member of the well known firm of Mills & Gibb of New York, in an Interview in the Journal of Commerce of New York on March 20. and it has not been denied. His Political Reward.

If the rates fixed in the house can be carried through the conference committee, Littauer’s reward for serving Cannon and his man Payne will be very great. His wealth will be increased by millions. He will not need any more government contracts. The official statistics show that tlie average rate of duty collected on the classes of gloves chiefly Imported during the ten years from 1898 to 1907 was 52.65 per cent. Under the rates provided for in the Payne tariff bill the duty on the same classes of gloves, based ou the average value of the importations for a jieriod of four years, would be 92 per cent. On the cheapest gloves worn by the masses the rate would be from 117 to 133 per ceht. The Revenue Will Be Much Less. The revenue to the United States treasury will be lessened by the increased duties. They will not and are not intended to add to the income which tlie government so sorely needs. They will prevent importations, of course, just as the increased duties on men’s gloves granted by the Dingley tariff for Llttauer have done. That is what they are for. They will all make Llttnuer richer and more powerful. The losses to the people and the government count for nothing. It pays Littauer best to serve Cannon and his man Pavne.

FOR SALE—FARMS AND PASTUIRE LAND. 40 acres on main road near staion with stores, school and churches No improvements. Will trade clear for live stock or town property or ell on easy payments. 80 acres, on main road, free mail, near church, 40 acres cultivated, 40 acres timber and pasture, six room house, large barn, good well and mall orchard. This farm has chool fund loan on it of SBOO. Will sell on terms of S3OO down or trade for live stock or other property. Price S3O. 280 acres, well located, gravel 'road, near school, mostly black lev-

1 land that I will offer for a short ime at $22.50 per acre. Terms SI,OOO down. This place is fine for general farming and all good soil. 14 acres, on main road, near station, that I will trade clear for tock, vacant lots or other property. G. F. MEYERS. A new supply oi abstract, legal or complaint backs, linen finish and in different, colors, just received at The Democrat office. They will ba sold in any quantity desired.