The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-08-28
From the Albany Argus.
THE MANUFACTURERS AND THE
WOOL GROWERS.

4
WOOL GROWERS.
We refer the American Farmer, and all
honest politicians, to the articl from the pen
Of Judge Buel, published below. 1t as
serts upon authority that we venture to cay
will not be controverted, the combination Of
the large manufacturers in 1891 to reduce the
price of wool and fully confirms $50 far as
any thing from source so respectable could
need confrmation) the statements upon this
subject by Doct. Beekman.
Those statements are from sources not on
ly of unqueslionable veracity, but from per.
sons familiar with the subject. Judge Buel
and DR.. Beekman are too well known in this
community, not only as highly respectable
and estimable citizens, but as practical far.
mers and wool growers--as the friends Of
protcction--of equal, honest and fair protec-
ton protection which while it oppresses no
particular section Of our diversified country,
serves TO encourage our agriculture and
such protection as the
monopolising and selfish manufacturers of
the East would entail upon US, regardless Of
all other sections and all other interests but
their own.
We ask the honest men of the country to
look at this subject, and We ask them to say
if they do not approve of the efforts Of our
patriotic President, and Of the democracy in
Congress, 70 adjust and compromise this
great question, upon basis favorable 10 the
general interests, and above oil, favorable to
The tranquility Of the country and the in.
tegrty of the Union--snd if they can ap-
prove Of the ultra political tariff partizans
(Cay, Webster. g. CO. on the one hand
and of the nuifiers calhoun e. co. on the
other, TO defeat great measure ofpatriotism
which is hailed with gladness and enthusi.
asm by all true friends of The Country?
TO The editor Of the Argus.
NMr. Croswell-ln a late communication
published in your paper, written by d..
Beekman, il was stated, among other things,
that some of the woollen manufacturers had
combined to reduce the price Of American
wool, in the spring of 1881, by sending a.
gents to Europe to purchase foreign stock
for the supply Of their establishments. In
the N. Y. Advocate and Journal Of June 90,
the Doctors statement is fatty denied, and
his motives, as well as his veracity rather
discourteousy called in question.--As I may,
in a measure, have been the inadvertent
cause Of bringing down the wrath of the Ad-
voca!e OF the Doctor, ask leave to state in
your paper the participation had in giving
currency to the report, and Of furnishing the
editor OF the Journal, data to enable him to
ascertain, If he is disposed 10 enter upon the
Investigation, the truth in relation to the
statement.
Soon after the meeting of the manufacture
ers in New York in the spring OF 1881, the
report became current, that some sort of a.
greement, at least implied or confidential,
had been entered into between several Of the
woollen manufacturers, TO abstain as far as
possible, for the season, from purchasing
from the American wool merchant and in
the mean time, to procure foreign wool for
their establishments, for the purchase Of
which two or more agents had already gone
to Europe and the names OF Messrs Searle
and Lawrence, Of Boston, were mentioned
as gentlemen who were employed for that
purpose. The ostensible object was stated
| to be to put down the wool speculator, and
to suffer no medium Of interchange between
the grower and manufacturer of wool Il but
she inevitable effect upon the farmer, ofthus
increasing the stock of wool beyond The de
mands OF the country, by extensive foreign
importations, none could fail 10 foresee. The
deprecated state of the wool market, which
subsequently took place, was confidently
predicted, and considerable excitement was
produced among the wool growers. These
facts were spoken offreely by myself, as well
as by others in my presence and do not
recoIlect Of hearing them denied, though
they were sometimes evaded, till ] saw them
contradicted in the Journal. On the contra
ry, it was moro than tacitly admitted BY
principal manufacturer, to whom obser rcd
in aluson to the report--"So you intend to
put down ihe woollen speculator." "Yes,"
was The reply, "apd we will succeed too." |
saw what purported TO be abstracts ofletters
from Europe, as we'll as from our CONNER
cial towns, stating the quantity that was
| likely to be purchased in Great Britain and
Germany, as I understood on the manufac
turers account, and the names Of Campbel II
and Shaw Of Lanesborough, Brown of Bos.
ton, l.. Pomeroy of Pitlsfield, Joshua Clapp
OF Boston, Walcott of Fall River for Great
Falls) and others (including large manufac
turing establishments at Lowell, Ac.) were
given as manufacturers who had received
and were expecting wool thus purchased a
broad.
In tho convention in November, at New
York, was called to circle of gentlemen
IN the sessions room, among whom were
Doctor Beekman, Major Kirby Of Watertown,
and others TO me unknown, and interrogatcd
as to what had said on the subject.-T de.
tniled to them, in substance, the facts above
stated, omitting names and at the same time
seeing Mr.. Pomeroy, a woollen manufactu.
rer near me, called to him, and begged he
would further satisfy the inquiries Of the
gentlemen, which think he offered to do at
some other convenient opportunity. ,e
lrepeat, heard nothing from competent
authority to discredt these facts. And be.
lievng them to be we'll founded, / did not
fail to ascribe to their influence the enormous
importations Of wool and woollens which
took place during the last year, the conss.
quent depression Of prices, and the embss.
rassments Of the grower, vendcr and manu-
facturer Of wool which marked the close or
the last and the commencement Of the pref.
ent year Ill
1t appears from official documents, publish
ed in the Advocate and Journal, that there
we're imported, Of wool,