Cleveland daily leader. [volume] ([Cleveland, Ohio]) 1865-1873, 1866-04-30

The Convention of the Wool Growers
of Western Pennsylvania, Eastern Ohio
and West Virginia assembled in kilgore
Hall, in the city Of St~eubenville Wed
nesday afternoon, at one o'clock, The
attendance WAS very large three hundred
delegates, representing three States, being
present.
The Convention was called TO order by
Jonathan Berry, Esq, Chairman of the
Committee of Arrangements, who read
the call for the meeting, and nominated
Thomas Sweeney, of West Virginia, as
Chairman of the Convention. Mr..
Sweeney was elected by acclamati on, and
upon taking the chair returned his thanks
in a few appropriate remarks. The fol-
lowing gentlemen were elected Vice Pres
idents Messrs. James b. Jamison, of
Harrison county, Ohio Lewis Apologize,
of Brooke county, West Virginia, and
William Berry, of Pennsylvania. Messrs.
George Y. Mckee, of Pennst ~lvania, and
c. NJ. Hogg, of Cadiz, Ohio, we're chosen
Secretaries.
On motion of J. C. Freeman, ESQ, Col.
S. D. Harris, of Ohio, Major Mcfarland,
of Pennsylvania, Major VIM. Lee, of
Pennsylvania, General VIM. L. Crawford,
of West Virginia, and J.. n. E=tep, of
Ohio, were appointed a Committee on
Resolutions.
Col. Harris, from the committee APP
pointed to prepare topics for discussion,
reported the following:
First-The tariff duties on imported
wool.
Second-The best manner of putting up
and selling wool.
Third-WOol growers associations
their management and uses.
The first topic was then taken up, when
Major Mcfarland read the following
The committee appointed to prepare
business for this Convention beg leave TO
report as follows:
WHEREAS, it is & well settled principle
in the science Of political economy
that the consumption of a cnuntrv should
be the production of that country; and,
whereas, it has been the general policy of
our Federal Government ever since its
organization, for the purpose of securing
national wealth US well as national indie
pendence, TO extend its fostering care and
encouragement TO all branches of Ameri-
can industry employed in developing the
resources Of the country, by levying a suf-
icient tariff OF foreign importations 10
protect domestic labor against low-priced
foreign labor; and, whereas, under this
policy a vast woyl-growing interest, ex-
tending over a very large proportion Of
the United States, having grown up, and
not only become part of the national
wealth, but in some states, and in many
districts Of other states, wool is already
the staple commodity; and, whereas, from
the fact that wool, for several wears past,
has been lower in price and since the war
has been closed, reduced in value more
than any other agricultural product, it is
z b%undantly manifest that the tariff on i'm
ported wool is inadequate to produce the
desired result of securing the production,
in oar country, of a sufficient amount
of wool to supply its consumption; but,
on the contrary, unless the tariff be very
materially increased, this great branch of
American industry must and will languish
and soon be abandoned, which would nee
essarially produce an incalcalable calam-
ity, not only upon those engaged in this
branch Of business, but also upon all class
es of the community and the country gen.
orally and, whereas, further, although
the true interests of wool growers and
the manufacturers Of wool are reciprocal,
yet from a mistaken, sh~ort-sighted policy
in order TO secure present gain, manufac-
turers being comparatively few in num-
Der, have, by united effort, succeeded in
having the tariff on wool so shaped as
practically to be merely nominal; there
fore,
kesolred That while we do not object
TO any amount of tariff manufacturers
may demand, and Congress may think
proper 10 grant, for their encouragement
and protection, the Convention respectful
ly request Congress 10 extend to the wool
growing interest of the country such pro-
lection as will not only encourage wool
growers 10 continue their business, but
will also secure, at an early period, the
| production in our own country ofa sufi-
oreut amount of wool to supply all its
demands, and thus aid in securing nation
al wealth as well as national indepen-
dence, which is so essential at all times,
and especially of such vast Importance in
time of war.
Resolved, That on all imported wool,
unwashed, coming in competition with
the wool produced in this country a duty
Of twelve cents per pound be levied on
ha1AIA hOO4 NIADlD Nudk hAhNuubf anu Oh
secured wool three times that amount,
AM ten per cent. dd UaLorenl.
ResOLUed That the Senators and Rep
resentatives in Congress from Pennsyl-
vania, Ohio and West Virginia, states
represented in the Convention, be re-
specially but earnestly requested 10 use
their influence to secure the object cor.
templated in the former resolution.
Colonel Harris, of Cleveland, stated that
the basis of agreement between the Joint
committees of National Wool Growers
Association and the Manufacture Asso-
citation had been satisfactorily arranged,
and that a bill providing for a higher
tariff on imported woods would soon be
submitted to Congress through the Com
mittee on Ways and Means. He did not
feel at liberty to state the provisions of
the bill, but could say that they would
undoubtedly prove satisfactory to the
wool growers of the country.
Major Ewing, of Washington county,
thought it was important that the Con-
vention should know what decision the
joint committee had arrived at.
Colonel Harris said that it had been de- |
cided not to divulge the proceedings of
the joint committee at the present time.
Mr.. Joseph Sharon, of Harrison coun-
ty, said that the agreement arrived at by
the joint committee was not altogether
satisfactory to many Congressman, as he
had ascertsinea by corresponding with
them. We may secure ten per cent.
and ten per cent. al uaLorem, but
tho matter was not settled.
DR.. LIE Moyne, of Washington county,
had been in receipt of recent information
il regard to the subject, and understood
that unwashed wool should pay a duty of
ten per cent. I'D raLorem and ten cents
1t was not known what dodge
importers would resort to in order to over
come the proposed tariff, but measures
be taken to keep them to the
mark. If we can get what is proposed
we will be doing very well. Why will
not manufacturers give us a fair, honest
price for our wool. The price has fallen
.en cents per pound within the past week,
md no grower can give any good reason
or the decline. The manufacturers have
secured the upper hand of the growers,
md they appear determined to keep it.
Further debate ensued, after which the
'eport Of the committee was adopted.
The next question-"The best manner
# putting up and selling WOOL was taken
and discussed at some length. ;
Mr.. james Archer, Of West Virginia,
moved that Thomas Sweeny, of West Vir- ,
inia II NJ Moutromarr Of Mobon;r-