Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1867-09-26

Ior their rights. lie urged the impor-
lance Of getting the press interested in
behalf Of the wool. growers, and of hav-
Ing able and practical agents employed
to watch Congress and see that the wool
growing interest gets Its rights. He
said that the reason why the wooden
mills are not running more generally Ia
not on account Of the excessive importa.
tion of goods, but because there are
more mills than are wanted to manu-
facture the cloth needed for use In the
country.
Edwin Hammond of Middlebury made
some remarks in regard to the agree
ment made between the manufactures
and wool-growers. A great many OF
the manufacturers were always opposed
to any union with the growers, and q
great many OF the manufacturers in
Massachusetts, and elsewhere never be-
came parties to that agreement. He be-
lieved that those of them who made an
agreement TO act in concert with the
wool-growers upon the tariff question
remained faithful to their agreement,
and it was to be remembered that the
present tariff upon wool, which was four
cents per pound more than under the
preceding duty, was obtained through
the assistance of the manufacturers. He
believed that the prices of wool would
improve when the country became
cleared of the present accumulations Of
wool and cloth. And even at present
prices he could see no reason for any
encouragement for the business of WOOL
growing in Vermont was more profit
able now than it was thirty years ago,
Then the product was not more than
three pounds OF wool per sheep, and now
it is nearly five pounds per head.
Victor Wright of Middlebury rose to
protest against provoking fight with
the manufacturers. The present tariff
could not have been obtained withor1
the aid of the manufacturers, and
did not believeit could be retained wi
out their aid. He thought the Wool
growers would gain more by being
friendly to the manufactur ers than they
would by fighting against them.
Henry Clark Of Rutland defended the
manufacturers from the accusations that
had been made against them of acting in
bad faith with the wool-growers. The
present tariff could never have been OBJ
tanned without the aid of the manufac-
turers. -.r
Mr.. Hammond Of Middlebury said that
when the question of fixing the rate Of
duty was before the wool-growers' land
manufacturers committee, at New York,
the wool growers did not dare suggest
higher rate Of duty than the one now
in force. The rates of twelve and fifteen
cents per pound were suggested and dis
cussed at this meeting, but it was finally
concluded that if they made an effort to
get more than ten cents per pound and
ten per cent. ad valorem, they would get
nothing at all.
Judge Colburn of Springfield believed
that the wool growers might have got.
ten more favorable tariff without the
manufacturers than with them. They
certainly could if they had gone to work
in the right way.
George Campbell of Westminster said
that he had lately been told by Buenos
Ayres wool growers, that our present
tariff was running their trade. He be-
lieved therefore, that the present tariff
was benefit to the wool growers; that
it was obtained through the assistance
of the manufacturers, and that the wool
growers should cultivate congenial
feeling with the manufacturers.
In answer to questions by Mr.. Clark
of Rutland, Mr.. Merriam of Boston said
that he had no doubt that if the wool
growers had made a direct issue with
the manufacturers upon the tariff ques-
ton the wool growers would have
triumphed. He also said that he had
never known Massachusetts United
States Senator to vote in favor of an
agricultural measure. They always had
favored the manufacturers, and he sup
posed they always would.
A. D, Smith of Dandy said that the
wool growers were better off than cheese
makers. Last year he sold his cheese for
twenty-one cents per pound, and few
days ago he was offered only ten cents
per pound for the same dairy Of cheese.
He was in favor Of supporting the wool
growers, aud urged all farmers to join
with the wool growers in keeping up the
present rate of duty upon wool and
cloth. People could better afford to pay
high prices for the cloth they use than
to have the wool growing business aban-
doned by those farmers who are now en-
gagged in it.
The discussion was quite spirited, and
was well attended and listened to. 1t
WAS by far the most spirited meeting Of