The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-05-13

plying and manipulating the raw material
of our wooden mills, had been gaining
strength for fifty years, and had assumed
the phase of sectional animosity between
the cast and west. On the one hand, the
west representing the wool growing interest
exaggerated the profits of the eastern man
ufacturcrs claimed that it bore without
compensation the burden of the duties
which promoted their profits ignored the
fact that the specific duties on foreign
goods competing with our own were but
the equivalent for duties on the raw ma
teria which the wool growers rcceived,and
demanded the mis-caled equality so obnoX-
ious to the manufacturing interest, under
the horizontal tariff of 1S4G The manu-
facturcrs, on the other hand, representing
growing sentiment at the east, were be-
coming more and more disposed 10 look
abroad for their chef supply of raw ma
terial They were not unwilling to avail
themselves of such commercial practices as
would diminish the duties intended to bc
| given for the protection OF the Amer
lean wool grower and were inclined to adj
vOcale the British policy of free trade in
raw material, including wool, rs the wisest
system of protection Ia manufacturers.
They overlooked the fact, which they have
| since acknowledged, with returning mag
|
of all nations that the domestic supply of
raw material has been the first and always
chief dependence of its manufacturers.
They failed, ALSO to consider that while
| aiming at the largest and cheapest supply
| of foreign wool, they would render Amer
lean sheep husbandry Improbable and in
cvitably destroy domestic production, thus
reducing themselves to sole dependence
upon sources liable to he cut of by foreign
wars or political revolutions. The inev-
liable result of such divergng views must
have been perpetual strife and legislative
action, which, favoring each interest eX-
clusiycly, as its influences might prepon-
dcrate, must alternately ruin both. From
| this explanation of the old differences
which formerly distracted the wooden in
dustry, it can hardly he doubted that the
disaffection toward the prevailing policy
exhibited by a limited number of the older
wool growers. is but the expression of the
traditional hostility in which they were nur-
tured. The convention of 1865 is chiefly
memorable for its influence in reconciling
this disastrous fcud. This influence was
the result of the simplest means, nothing
more than bring. for the first time face Ia
face, the interests which had been preju-
diced and hostile only because they mis-
under stood each other. A conference OF
but day between the rival interests was
sufficient to establish basis of adjustment.
This basis was the recognition of mutual
ity' of interest and n right to equality OF
protection. The principles upon which
harmony might be established was ex-
pressed in the resolutions unanimously
adopted by the convention. which have an
historical value as the first joint expression
of the two branches of the wool industry
of the country. They are as follows:
"Resolved, That the mutually of the
interests of the wool producer and WOO
manufacturers Of the United States is cs
tablished by the closest commercial bond.
that of demand and supply it having
been demonstrated that the American
grower supplies more than 20 per cent. o
all the wool consumed by American mills
and with equal encouragement would soor
supply all which is properly adapted Il
production here and, further, il is con
tirmed by the experience of half century
that the periods of prosperity and depres
sion in the two branches of wooden indus
try have been identical in time, and induce,
by the same general causes.
''Resolyed, That as the two branches o
agricultural industry represented by tn
wooden interest involves largely the labo
of the country, whose productveness is thu
| basis of national prosperity, sound polio,
, requires such legislative action rs shall
place them on an equal encouragement AM
protection in competing with the accumu
lated capital and low wages of other conn
tries"
Thus this iraditonary antagonists unite,
on the basis of ''mutuaity" of interests, an
: together they went before congress for
t revision of the tariff to suitably protect til
: wooden industries of America.
: unfortunately" says Bigelow, the.
did not succeed in getting it, in the sessio
OF 1866, and IN anticipation Of its pass
ing the next session, seventy million pound
of wool and woolens-almost eQualng tn
entire imports Of the four preceding year
were imported under existing low duties
Such an importation, together with the nc
= ton of the government in throwing mi
lions of soldiers wooden clothing upon til
;, market at prices less than the cost of til
material, terribly oppressed but did not quit
l. annihiate our wooden industrythe TART
n was secure and 2 general prostration aver
q cd"
Had the large surpusses of wool and G
wooden fabrics produced to take the plac
Of cotton, been thrown upon our markt
C after the close of the war under the pre-
+ visions Of the previous tariff, these ndu!
>, tries, WOO! and woolen-these sources G
national wealth-wOuld have received
c shock from which recovery would have
J. been reached, if at all, only through lon
=, period of distress and embarrassment.
The increase from 1861 to 1857 has n
c parallel; In Australia, "a, 000. 900 pound.
Il or 1906 per cent. in Cape Good Hope, 10
600, 900 pounds, or 25S per cent. In |.
i Plata, As, 900 pounds OF 25S per cent
u With the close of the war and return {
e the cotton supply, wool declined, Mestiz
y at least 40 per cent. and sheep in Sout
~ America from 50 to $3.50 per head. |
=, 1866, under the low duties on wool, 30, 7(
II bales were imported into the United Stat,
&c from Buenos Ayres and Cape Good Hol
he alone. In 1867, under the Joint tariff
,s the wool growers and manufacturers, 30
- l76 bales less What commentary upo
70 its efficiency! Yet caviliers say, ''Wh
g good did your alliance do? or your wo
is growers association, either?' This com
ia now, even, from the lips of startled poi
ticians or their satellites, as an argume
u against any association whatever, for tdrr
he erS Well enough for q few aspirants f
lie office TO secretly band themselves togeth
IN in a "close communion conclaye' to fe
=, one anothers pulse or "scratch one a
~ others back" as the case may be, but f
" farmers all ! no, they had better attend
ut their farming But didn't it do good?
stayed the tide of import, rs we see, al
49, reduced the price of wool so low that
Ut would not pay the cost of shearing Al
~ carting to the sea coast of Australia al
I'd South America "Millions of sheep we
,e slaughtered for their pelts," a condition
u things so improbable that it had not be,
i'll provided for in the tariff OF '87, and und
GO provision designed to admit Angora go
Ill Skina for mann factura into MATS thew we
as imported into this country with three yea
A growth of wool on, at the specific duty
at three cents per pound, thereby creating,
q | N uara q pau ,roJa nna that 1noLal Il