THE OREGON SUNDAY JOURNAL, PORTLAND, SUNDAY MORNING, 1 MARCH 14, . 1915
'it -
W TRADE CUSTOMS
NOf TARIFF SAID TO BE
RESPONSIBLE FOR ILLS
I 'I " j ports of cotton hosiery have decreased
j steadily sines 1908 until 1914. "And
- ' ! l . iu ' the imports during the last named
bovernment Investigates tne;year," says the report, exceed by
n I r- r l i ronly 440,801, which certainly la not
HeaSOnS TOT UOmplamt Otrlarge enough to cause, the falling off
x Pennsylvania Makers,
i ;
PROVE STATEMENT FALSE
Vafflbtr
of Dependent Persona In
Community la xnalgulf leant Cost. ;
pared! to Number of Inhabitants.
Washington, March 13. That in
jurious (trade customs and unintelli
gent competition in certain lines are
responsible for any ills manufacturers
' of Montgomery county, Pennsylvania,
.may have suffered In recent months,
and not the presont tariff law, is-the
sum of an investigation of manufac
turing conditions in that county re
cently made by the department -of
commerce. '..
On December 14 of last year the
Manufacturers' association of Mont
gomery' bounty addressed a letter to
PresidPnjt "Wilson alleging a deplorable
state ofi affairs; in that county as a
result of the tariff. Among other
things i was stated that "women sit
helpless in cold, dismal, little rooms
and their children face starvation"
because of the tariff.
Secretary Redfield assigned D. M.
Barclay.j special agent of the bureau
o.f foreign and domestic commerce to
make aji impartial investigation of
the situation and the results of his
report hWve Just been made public.
Barclay I made a thorough Investiga
tion of general business conditions in
' the county and separate investigations
of 30. factories turning out a variety
of products.
Tartff Et Ho Effect.
Twelve of the concerns insisted
that ther business could be hurt by
.foreign competition and 15 admitted
that the! tariff did not directly affect
them. Included In the list 'of 12 were
manufacturers Of low-price seamless
hosiery, inedrum and low price woolen
cloth, cottona.de and cotton worsteds
: and wool and worsted carpet yarns
and knitting yarns.
Inasmuch ' as three of the 30 con
cerns refused j information statutes
are given but ; for 27 plants. A year
ago these concerns employed 5390
operatives to 4629 on their payrolls
'tn January of the present year.v
These j comparative figures show a
falling off in number of employes of
718, and' the Investigator deems it
significant that 481 of these were
dropped in three plants manufacturing nity between J..uou ana ju.uuu m
seamless hosiery I habitants, the greater part of whom
Decreases in "other factories were j depend entirely upon the factories of
reported; for a plant turning out I Montgomery county for a living," as
structural and ornamental iron work j serts the investigator. ' Further,
and notiaffected by the tariff; a fac- j when, as is intimated in the letter to
tory making fiber products which j the president, the majority of the
ascribed its loss of business to-loss of ' thousands of employes of the differ
export tirade caused by the war; two ent -industries in Montgomery county
nlarits Mroducinu- mnst boilers, stacks are now without work, it is indeed
and heaivy machinery, industries not
dirertlv laffected bv the tariff, an of-;
flclal of one plant stating that bus
ness had not been good for several
years; a factory turning out rubber
tires,, officials of which said their
business was as good as usual, but
theirs being a seasonal line the num
ber of ejmployes was less in winter,
i " "Business Abuses Responsible.
As relating to the textile business,
however Mr. Barclay's report shows
most conclusively how certain abuses
and evi s in the business itself have
affected the textile industry as no
tariff possibly could.
"'The greatest of these evils," the
report istates, "are 'cancellation' and
'protection.' The first puts it at the
option of the buyer whether he will
take go&ds which he has ordered and
v contracted for in good faith. The sec
ond enables the buyer to get his
goods alt market price at time of de
livery . in case the market has fallen
off, whtin the period -between the time
the contjract was made and date of de
livery j may extend over several
months.
j "A manufacturer may make a con
tract to! deliver on a certain date,
probabljf several months ahead, a
: number j of cases of hosiery or pieces
of cloth). He will make up tfte mer-
8 eharidis with the full expectation of
the buyfr accepting the order, only "to
have al) or the greater part of the
- finished)-goods thrown back, on his
hands through a cancellation. This
'practices entails a great hardship on
the producer, as left over goods near
ly always have to be sacrificed at a
" considerable loss. It . was said that
many bjuyers would order more than
they, actually needed, knowing they
could 4lwji's protect themselves
through) cancellation.
"The .hardships entailed by the
second vll can readily be seen, for in
a market where there are constant
fluctuates due to speculation,- a
exists irt the cotton and wool markets,
which make the price pf raw material
used by textile manufacturers,, the
practice! of allowing the buyer to get
his goois for less than he bargained
for - in lease the market price has
.fallen between the time -of purchase
and delivery, often causes a heavy
-loss." i . -
Fear pf .losing customers was given
as the jreason for continuing . these
. practices, according to Mr. Barclay.
He -quotes a manufacturer in another
' line, as saying, "If any other line of
business had been run in the Ineffi
cient slipshod manner in which
hosiery and textile manufacturers
have conducted their affairs, that
business would not have long sur
vived and would have long ago, gone
to the wall."
- Unwise Competition Blamed,
i And iet there is one concern In
Montgomery county that never accepts
a cancelation and by keeping its
product I always up to standard, has
kept a Chain of steady customers, .Mr.
Barclay points out.
j. Fierce! domestic competition rather
than, foreign competition is What 1
hurting the hosiery business, was the
information gleaned by the inves
tigator.
f Because of the small outlay of cap
ital ..r necessary many have gone into
the business, persons with a thorough
mechanical and manufacturing knowl
edge of) the game, but absolutely
Ignorant) of the buying or selling end
t Before the field was crowded manu
facturers could make money despite
Persons suffer more from Inexperienced
truss fitting than from hernia. Why
not buy your trusses from experts? Try
Laue-Davis Drug Co.. at 3d and Yam
hill, who are experts and know how.
Ruptured
j poor business methods, cancellation And
me ue. -At tne present time," reaa
the report, "when profits- have been
reduced du ta competition on ac
count of the tremendous expansion of
business, there is absolute need of
putting: manufacturing establishments
on an economical find efficient basis.
Formerly a badly located, poorly man
aged, inefficient plant could make a
profit. Now all is chanted."
Government reports show that im-
in ousiness claimed Dy me; nosiery
manufacturers of Montgomery coun
ty." Basing comparisons on the cen
sus of manufacturers for 1909 and'
imports for 1914, hosiery Imports
amount to but 5 per cent of the total
hosiery produced in this country.
Increase In Production Voted.
. Quoting the Textile Blue book, Bar
clay shows 'the number of hosiery
plants was increased by 94 in 1914,
saying, "The production of these new
mills is far in excess of the total
importation of hosiery; therefore, any
seeming depression in the textile trade
may be due to the "fact that the out
put of these new mills has depressed
the trade. It should be particularly
noted that of the 94 new mills which
went into operation in 1914, 42 were
erected In Pennsylvania."
Mr. Barclay also quotes the Dry
Goods Kconomist as stating that with
cotton 30 cents a pound in GermanyJ
German competition in hosiery is neg
lible since the war began and prior
to the war formed but a small per
centage of the total hosiery produc
tiom .
The investigator also quotes a
hosiery buyer at length who asserts
j that due to the 'demand for "shiny
hosiery which has sprung up in Amer
! lea foreign manufacturers are unable
I seriously to compete with American
'manufacturers. It is manufacturers
I who "have not been progressive enough
j to change the character of their pro
jduct' in response to popular demand
j who are suffering, according to this
buyer.
Montgomery county manufacturers,
states the investigator, are still turn
ing out a variety of hosiery which
was popular several years ago.
In refutation of the statement made
by the Montgomery manufacturers
that conditions are poor In the county
the report contains a table showing
the dividends declared by banks of
the county for 1914. Only one was as
low as 6 per cent.
But tittle Destitution Pound.
Valuation for improvements in 1914
is shown to be $659,511, whereas an
average for the previous eight years
was $442,590.
Investigating the statement of the
manufacturers that "woman sit help
less in cold,- dismal little rooms and
their children face starvation," .Mr.
Barclay found that the Associated
Charities of NorrlstoWn extended ail
to 20 persons in January, 1914. and to
73 in January, 1915.
This indeed Is an insignificant num-
er or oepenaeni persons u. a commu-
eworthy of note that during January,
the worst month of the winter only
73 persons, not all of whom are mil
workers, had to appeal to charity."
The demand for our products has increased enor
mously. Along with it has come the demand,
equally as insistent, for greater convenience in
securing them. ;
As a result of this, we have bought the National
TRADE COMMISSIONERS TO
CONVENE IN WASHINGTON
Members of New Federal Or
ganization to Meet in
Capital Monday,
(WASHINGTON BCREAU OF THH ' '
JOCBNAU)
Washington, March 13.- On Monday
five reputable American businessmen,
having corns from far corners of the
country, will meet in. Washington,
shake hands with President Wilson
and with one another, have their pho
tographs taken In group by numerous
news photographers, and prepare to
withstand the scrutiny of the Ameri
can public. ' The men will be Messrs.
Davies, Harris, Hurley, Parry and Rub
lee and the photograph will be labeled
the United States TraJe Commission.
This organization, regarded toy many
as the most Important product of the
present 'administration to date, ap
parently .la President Wllaon's answer
to the cry of L.et business alone:"
Evidently It is not Intended to let
business alone.
Vet, on the other hand, it can be
assumed that it is' not intended to
harrass business that, indeed, it is
hoped to help business. Probably the
best that any administration can do
for any element of society lahor, cap
ital, commerce, industry, agriculture
and so on is to base its relations
toward that element on definite un
derstanding of conditions and needs.
It has been preached for many years
-and there is none to deny the sa
gacity of the suggestion that the only
right way to frame or revise a tariff
law is through a commission of tariff
experts. So. it follows that the one
right method Of dealing with the busi
ness interests of . the country is
through an expert business coin mis
sion. The administration's relations with
business promise to be carried on
through an expert commission. An
expert commission will take the place
of politicians and lobbyiata In keeping
the administration Informed of what1
la doing and what la to be done with
regard to business.
The cry has been raised that none
of the men named is a business expert
of recognized national importance." The
answer offered is that the men who
organize Monday are not expected to
sit down and tell business of the coun
try what It can and must do; they are
expected rather to "approach the situ
ation with open minds and to absorb
to the limit of their capacity all in
formation possible on this most vexa
tious of problems. They are expected
to be learning more than to be preacn
ing. As a result it ,1s hoped that the
course of legislation and administra
tion with relation to business in the
future will be dictated by definite
knowledge, not by academic theories
on the one hand or iby political pres
sure on the other.
International Problems Vexatious.
Being president of the United States
these days is a man's job. Just now
it requires that the : title holder be
about the ablest executive among the
leaders of the nations of the world.
This surely is true if you accept the
premise that it requires more ability
and character to keep out of trou'ole
than it does to get Into trouble. The
premise will hold In view of the fact
You'll see one of our Supply Stations
ready to serve you with Zerolene and
Red Crown,
z
E R
The
RED
J v- 1 "
A '
V vr
DAVIES ,
COWARD JF? ' .
NASH ,yW '
HURLEY.
wnxiAM J?;
HA-RFtlS - - '-vjjjl I
William sv
Members of the federal trade com
mission, who will meet Monday.
that every day offers plentiful oppor
tunity for getting into trouble. .Any
OLEN
Standard Oil for Motor
AND
The Gasoline of Quality
are
pany
a II XV hV V W XI ' I 1
U am mm W m. al
serious misstep. Amr weakening ot
purpose, by the United Statesergo,
jthe j president thereof would plunge
this nation into; the thick of the
world's most horrible spectacle. Im
patience on his part for a moment can
mean that millions, now engaged -in
peaceful industry, shall be taken from
their useful tasks and led to the
Slaughter that serves no good. .
The president seems to- know this.
Since congress adjourned he has de
Voted practically all of his time to
international problems. Because this
is his feeling he has postponed his
trip to the Pacific coast toward which
he Undoubtedly looked with pleasure.
If many private expressions may b
believed.
Incidentally,, though soundly acoldid
In many unfriendly journals for as
suming still to be the leader of hia
party as well as president, Mr. Wilson
called off the coast trip in the face
pf urging by many leaders that he
should make it for the good of the,
party.
Chamberlain Scents Danger.
Now that the country generally is
taking up the issue presented by the
proposal of Colonel Roosevelt and
pthers to form the "American Legion,'
it is -interesting to note that the first
person publicly to declare the menace
that .lies in such an organization was
the chairman of the military affairs
committee of the - senate. Senator
Chanrberlain of Oregon was the first
ito soent the danger that might Tefall
if such an organization Were in the
hands of a "popular and ambitious
leader." While others still were puz
zling over the possibilities of the pro
ject, he voiced an objection that has
(been many times echoed sinco. And
the idea of an "American Legion" is
not as popular as it was the first few
days of its paper' existence.
Demands on a Statesman.
Students of other things than soci
ety pan find interest in the society
coiuijnns of Washington newspapers.
Reading these columns daily one
comes to wonder of what material
statesmen are made. If the secretary
of state, or the vice president, ortho
secretary of interior, or any. of the
rest of them, is not giving a dinner
if hia wife is not, that is to say
then he is a guest of honor at a din
ner given by some other statesman's
wife; of course, there always is the
possibility that ha is making an after
dinner speech at some sort of ban
quet or other, otherwise the original
statement .holds.
It requires a strong system to be a
statesman.
Coast Guard Service Strengthened.
At the offices, in the treasury de
partment, of the United States coast
guard service, by which name the com
bined revenue cutter and life Baving
services are now known, it is related
that the recent act of congress that
effected the combination has resulted
in a great strengthening of the work.
Recruits are plentiful and of the best
class of men, it is said, one reason
being the provisions now naue for re
tirement on part' pay when -disabled
or superannuated.
The coast guards service is now a
eemi-naval Institution. In case of war
its vessels would serve -is watch dogs
on the two coasts, picking up the scent
of danger as they now pick up news
of wrecks or other marine disasters.
Georgia Politicians Restive.
Politicians and persons wno dabble
in politics in Georgia have reason to
be fretful. One of the last things
congress did was to create a new fed
eral judicial district in that state, pro
viding for a "jude, district r.ttorney J
and marshal. A few days ago the at
torney general's office gave an opinion
Supply Stations. We have put
lubricants land Red Crown gasoli
the motoring public can get them
quickly, conveniently. We, have
Standard products with Standard
U7 xmm mm r
Cars
the best motor oil and motor
can make the result of.
cessful experience. Zerolene lengthens the life of your car
and cuts down repair bills by giving efficient lubrication, j Red
Crown is PURE gasoline a straight-run refinery product, not
a mixture. That's why there's power in every drop. It's the
cheapest fuel per mile. I
Out stations are conveniently located. They are all on streets
you use every day. You need not go a foot out of your way
to get Zerolene and Red Crown. !
Standard Oil
(California),
on the new law and the'opinum is that
not only must . all ' the indorsements
received by the president for the ben
fit of the successful - candidate be
made public, but all the Indorsements
received ror all the otner applicants.
Those free handed indorsers in Geor
gia who note this opinion are igoing
to be exceedingly careful, while
those
who fail to note it; are likely
exceedingly regretful.
to he
Raw Silk Imports
Show Big Increase
' " -:.:'!
AJI J?reviona xueorda Broke la 1 1914,
According to the United States !
partment of. Commerce. , . . ,
Washington. March 13.: Importa
tions of raw silk during 1 the fiscal
year 1914, totaling 34,600,000 pounds,
broke all previous records, according
to the department of commerce. This
waa an increase of 2,500,000 pounds
over the imports during 1913, and 21.
500,000 pounds more , than in !1800.
Japan supplied almost three-fourths of
the amount imported. i !
Silk manufactures imported during
1914 were valued at $35,600,000. In
addition more than $4,000,000 worth of
artificial silks were Imported.
During the 35 years since 1880 silk
manufacturers of the United States
have consumed, approximately 459,000,
000 pounds of raw material and the
value of their output has Increased
from 341,000,000 to upward of 1200,
000,000. I i '
Next Summer May j
See Crisis in War
' l
i i
Washington Officials Ar Getting
Many Intimations to That Effect
President Wilson Will Be Beady, j
Washington, March 13. Repeated
intimations are reaching Washington
that the European war may reach: a
crisis next summer. Up to thisi (fme,
because of the session of congress, the
president has not been able to give
continuous concentrated attention to
the subject. His close advisers have
urged upon him the Importance of the
position of the United States as an
Intermediary should a crisis be reached.
The belief Is growing here that the
president desires to bend his energies
Portland Grocers
Who Sell ! i
20TH
CENTURY
BREAD
Sell the Best!
Twentieth Century Bread la rec-
ognlzed as the BEST bread. It is
sweet, crusty, and baked- to such
a degree of perfection that It la
easily digestible. For your
health's sake eat 20th Century
Bread. Buy it at your; grocer.
fuel the Standard Oil Com
more than forty years'
Company
,
TwentietH Century Bakery. I I --!. VUU'y AIJu I
Zerolene j 11
ne where ' 3i5E 1 1 I '
in this direct ron in the interest of hu
manity, and that, if he is able to leave
Washington for a brief trip to the Pa
cific coast, he wiU take. the people ot
the country into hia confidence to th
extent of outlining fully a broad Amer
ican policy applicable alike to the do
mestic and international situations re
sulting from the European conflict.
AMERICANS ARE PRAISED
Washington, . March, 13. Marvelous
operations which have saved limbs'.of
many wounded French soldiers have'
been performed by American Red Cross
Physician at Pau, France, according
The Skill of the Long Trained
Pianist Minus the Drudgery.
makes no demands for practice, yet brings
to you the technique of the expert. 1 -.
The pleasure of playing, for the expert, is in making ,
mrisic the expression of himself: and that i easilv at
tainable by anyone on The Autopiano.
The reproduction of the notes is faultless the ex
pression control complete. Gaining these results, in
the old way, constitutes the drudgery of hand playing.
. The Autopiano has a place in every home. Let it
uc it pan 01 yours.
It has no rival at its price;
' : 11 .
any pnee, vaii jet
i ! HI at any price. Call Let us shQW you.- 7 illlP I
J ii . -- - - -j-A tmoj
fJr Eiler Bldg.
Servipe Stations
Now Open at
East 8th and Belmont.
I I
Union Ave.
sue- II
21 st and Washington Stsi
10th, Oak and Burnside Sts. -East
10th and Hawthorne 'Ave.
East 11th St. and Broadway.
East 3d and Oregon Sts.
East 18th and Burnside Sts.
..... i
We maintain service stations also,
at Spokane, San Francisco,! Oak
land,. Berkeley, Los Angeles,
Pasadena, San Diego, Fresno,
San Jose and Stockton. ,
I
to a letter which hae Juat reached Red
Crosa headquarters here from the
mayor of Pau. through ths French am
bassador. The mayor praises the work
of the Red Cross surgeons and nurses,
whose Ptfessional ability, skill, etc.,
he says, are the admiration of French .
surgeons and the' military and civil
authorities. . i
Coal for March
Guaranteed coa. ' Expert furnar
advice. . Independent Coal & Ice Co.
Main 780. (Adv.)
Cough Stop Is a fen stopper. Plum,
mer Drug company. Third and Madi
son, i (Adv.)
j
none better
and Clackamas St.