Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-12-28
HE RUTLAND HERALD.
WEDNESDAY,. DECEMBER 81. 1871.
'rhe National WooI-GrOWers AssO-
citation.

citation.
The recent convention of the National
wool-prowers Association which met at
Syracuse, N. Y, on Wednesday OF last
week, to take into consideration the in
terests of the wool-growers of the coun-
icy, and to decide upon what steps should
be taken to prevent any modification OF
she existing tariff upon wool and woolens
70 as to act injouriously to the business
that has sprung up under its fostering
care, and which is now promising to be-
come an industry, profitable alike to those
who are engaged in it and to the country
at large, was a gathering Of no ordinary
importance. Six years ago, for the frat
time in the history of the country, joint
meeting of those engaged In wool-grow-
ing and wooden manufacture, met in con-
ference at the same place, and after free
each represented, fonnd their true rela-
tions were not sntagouistic as they had
each ed ucated themselves to believe. 1t
was found that by fair compromise
upon many incidental matters, they could
work in harmony to the mutual ad7an-
tage of both parties. a basis OF union
of interests was formed by conference
committee, who recommended the present
tariff regulations upon wool and woolens,
and their action was adopted without any
essential amendment or modification by
Congress. Under this tariff the faots
show that manufactures, especially in
the West, have been stimulated, and the
productive industry of the country in
creased. The depression of the WOOL
growing interest after full survey of the
situation. have been fsuud to be the re-
suit Of other causes than the tariff. and
the present Improvement in their favor
indicates fully that the present protection
Ia essentially ia their interests.
Daring the war there were many rea.
cons which concurred in exciting increas-
ed profitableness in the raising of wool.
A multitude of people rushed into the
business, aud the profits were made on
sale OF sheep and not on that of WOO.
The union of interests between the manu-
faoturers and growers and the appeal to
Congress which resulted in the passage of
the present tariff, did not produce its af-
fects until three years afterwards, owing
to large amount OF foreign wool thrown
upon the market, just prior to the pas.
sage of the tariff act, also owing to the
immense amount of clothing thrown into
the market after the close of the war.
The restoration Of the cotton supply caus-
ed a cessation of the exceptional de-
mand for wool. Some foreign grades de-
clned a large per cent.,-in fact the
prices continued to fall until that of an
average sheep in South America had de-
clined from two dollars to fifty cents,
which in accordance with the laws of
trade, footed sheep husoandry and wool
10 the United States. The wool-growiDg
interest is now recovering from the de-
preston which was the outgrowth of
thi, condition of things, axd prices are
becoming more remuneratiye and the out
look bri4hter.
Just at this time when the wool pro.
ducing industry of the country is stimu-
lated and realizing the benefits growing
out of the present tariff, the free traders
under the more dangerous name of rever-
ne reformers. are demanding repeal or
modification of the present tariff, which
is operating 80 healthfully for the promo
ton of two of the great leading indus
tries of the country-manufsctures and
wool growing. Therefore these two inter-
ests jointly ask to be let alone, and that
the present conditions of things be made
the permanent policy of the country on
the wool question, and it is a duty they
owe Themselves, to operate together to se-
1--WE must fight it out on this line of uni
ty." So must the wool growers say. The
measures advocated are vital and the peo-
pie must be educated to understand them
and insist upon their maintenance. The
revenue reformers are active and the
wool growers and the manufacturers must
defend their ideas with corresponding &C.
tivity. The free trader is more danger
Gus to the hocks than any natural enemy
they have to contend with. Therefore a
arm adherence must be advocated by the
American farmer to the protection act of
1867, which experience shows was good
one, and has both Increased the produc-
ton really chespened the product and up
held great industry.
While it ia asserted by the revenue re-
formers that there is sentiment in the
West, favoring their views, it is crafty
ing to find that the manufacturers and
wool growers of the Northwest are a unit
on the tariff of 1867, and for leaving it
where it now stanSs, aud no section of
the country will greet The action of the
Syracuse convention with more hearty sp-
proval than the West. The people of the
West are in better condition than they
ever were in free trade times. In the
pastoral regions of the far West eight to
ten millions of sheep are now proftably
kept, and under the reciprocal relations
of the present taIiff. manufactures have
been vastly increased, and the cost of fab
RIGS materially lessened, and no portion of
the country bss been made more prosper
Qua, under the operations of the tariff,
and with this state of things so demon
strated by actual facts and figures, and
the West cannot and will not hesitate n
avow frankly that they will favor protss-
tive rather than free trade.
This is bat foreshadowing of tAs re-.
suits of the present tariff upon enc pro.
duotive industry of the country, and the
necessity of maintaining It's integrity.
We give below extracts fran the observs-
lions of tbst high toned and able paper.
the Utica Morning Usrdld, upon the late