Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 June 1909 — THE CLOVE GRAFT [ARTICLE]

THE CLOVE GRAFT

How Selfish Interests Plotted to Increase the Tariff on Women’s Gloves LITTAUER PLANS TO WIN The Man of the Glove Bcandal Look* to the Conference Committtee to Restore the Outrageous Increases on Women’s Gloves Stricken Out of the Tariff Bill After the Women’s Great Protest—Will the Women Get Tired of Looking Out For Their Interests?— The Tariff Seekers Make False Statements About Wages. I The attempt of the domestic glove manufacturers, headed by ex-Repre-sentatlve Littauer, to secure the adoption of prohibitory tariff rates on women’s gloves, is another glaring example of the methods by which our tariff laws are manipulated so ns to enrich a few Individuals at the expense of the 87,000,000 consumers of the country. That the House of Representatives should have listened to Mr. Littauer and In compliance with his wishes adopted a tariff schedule greatly Increasing the duties on women’s gloves, Is additional evidence that the Belfish Interests of a small number of manufacturers have more Influence with our national legislators than the welfare of the people In general. The Selfish Effort Not Relaxed. While the universal protest by the women of the country against the Payne bill glove duties, forced the Senate Committee on Finance to amend that bill by restoring the present glove schedules, the advocates of higher duties are actively at work to secure the substitution of the obnoxious Payne tariff rates when the amended bill goes Into the Conference Committee of the House and Senate. In view of these facts It should be of Interest to the people who buy gloves and pay the tariff tax on them, to know something of the methods by which It was sought to secure the adoption of the oppressive duties pro vlded for In the I’ayne bill. Likad High Tariff and Wanted Mora. There was, of course, no public demand for higher glove duties. The Dlngley law rates on women’s gloves, averaging 52.5 per cent, are more than enough to compensate our manufacturers for the higher cost of labor and of the leather from which gloves are made. But Mr. Littauer had succeeded in getting practically prohibitory duties on men’s gloves inserted in the Dlngley law, and the enormous profits realized by himself and associates under the shelter of these duties only whetted their appetites for toon. 80 they planned to secure •dually high duties on women's gloves, and began their work of Influencing the Representatives In Congress by deliberate misrepresentations of the conditions in the glove Industry of this and foreign countries. Their claims and assertions would, however, lure had no result, were it not, as openly charged on the floor of the House, and not denied, that a deal was entered Into with Mr. Littauer, by which. In return for his efforts to Induce "Insurgent” Republican Representatives to vote for the re-election of Mr. Cannon as Speaker, he wa4 to receive as a reward the exorbitant duties on women’s gloves provided for to the Payne bill. The bargain was earned oat In so far as the House was concerned, and a schedule of glove duties adopted which would In some to£r, •* ji''' ‘ ‘

stances' amount to 130 pef cent, and which would result in greatly Increasing the cost of gloves to the consumer, particularly of the cheaper kinds of gloves worn by women of moderate nyiiTMi The Women’s Effective Protest. When the facts In regard to the proposed Increased duties on women’s gloves were made public, a storm of protest from the women of the conntry was directed against congress. of thousands of women wrote or petitioned their Senators and Representatives, protesting against higher glove duties, and this protest has been so far effective as to force the Senate to abandon the Payne bill glove schedule. Lrttauer Still Persistent. But Mr. Llttauer Is not discouraged. He knows that the people soon get tired of protecting their Interests, so he hopes that they will grow Indifferent and- that he will have a chance to get the high glove duties put back again by the Conference Committee. The only Influence that can prevent such action Is the public sentiment which Is opposed to paying higher prices for necessary articles of general consumption. If the people do not want higher prices for gloves, they can check Mr. Llttaner’s game by making It plain to their Senators and Representatives that they are opposed to any Increases In these duties and wilt vote against any one who favors them. Figures of Wages Officially Disproved. The grounds on which the Commutes on Ways and Means recommended the increased rates of duty on women’s gloves were, as stated by Chairman Payne of the Committee, the claim of the glove manufacturers that the proposed higher duties would result In the establishment of an industry In this country employing 50,000 workers. In the memorial submitted by the Glove Manufacturers* Association the statement Is made that the men employed In the glove factories In this country ore paid from $2.50 to $4.00 per day, and that the women workers receive from $2.00 to $3,50 per day. Official statistics relating to the domestic glove Industry, which were Included In a compilation of “Notes on Ariff Revision,” prepared for the Committee on Ways and Means (p. 605) show that in 1906 there were 339 establishments In this country engaged In the manufacture of gloves and mittens. Employment was furnished to 10,645 wage earners, who were paid a total of $3,840;253. These figures show that with a monopoly of the manufacture of men’s gloves, and a very large share of the production of women’s gloves, the total number of workers employed Is only about one-fifth of the number of workers which It Is claimed would be employed in making certain classes of women’s gloves. They also show that Instead of workers being paid sls to $24 per week, as claimed by the Glove Manufacturers’ Association, the average rate of wages Is less than $7 per week. This marked discrepancy between the statements made by and his associates and the actual facts, shows clearly that his plea for higher duties is absolutely without merit, and is a striking illus tration of the misrepresentations on which our tariff laws are based

When it tomes to paying the price the general opinion of mankind is apt to be that it isn’t worth it. If some clever man who doesn’t believe in woman suffrage would just suggest to the women—and get them to adopt the suggestion—that they settle the tariff question among themselves before demanding the suffrage, the men might feel secure from the suffragettes for the next hundred years.

Parted. I once had a friend Who was dear to my heart We swore by our whiskers We never would part. T loaned him a dollar. Thank fate 'twas not ten. For since then I never Have seen him again. He came to my office And said: “By the bye, Just slip me a dollar. 1 find I am shy. I’ll pay you tomorrow/’ He carelessly said. And often I wonder , How long he’s been dead. Had 1 but refused It And made an excuse I’d still have the friendship That naught could jar loose. For he would be living In hopes that some day He'd manage to touch me And wander away. ’Tls that way with friendships Too often, I fear. They're bound by the dollar, No matter how near. The test Is the money. Pathetic, but true. To lose them Just loan them A dollar or two. Not to Be Disappointed. “Going to move this spring?” “Yea, If we can find a worse place than we have for more money.” * “That Is a funny notion.” “Might as well look for what we will be sure to find.” Wanted Results. “I am going to, advertise with signs bnng on the sides of every male team in town.” “What Is the idea?” “They have such wonderful nulling qualities.” Emancipated. “Does your wife want to vote?” “She doesn’t know.” “Why doesn’t she know?" “I haven’t told her yet.” Looking Around. “The doctor says be mnst quit amoktag.” “What Is be going to do about Itl" “Get another doctor.”