The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-01-06
A Good Word for Wool Growers.


he issue of the Register at the time
rood speeches were made touching the
needs and wishes of the several inter- |
,sts, but nothing more timely and terse-
" than by Hon. W. s. Shsllenberger,
Of Pennsylvania, who was, without
Ii me for preparation, requested to re-
spond for the Wool Growers. The
fact that Mr.. Shallenberger represents
the Congressional district which amu.
ally turns out two and half million
pounds of "Washington county wools,"
entities him to speak advisedly as to
the sentiments of wool growers gener-
ally.
When, in the call of the list of indus
tries represented, the Wool Growers
was reached, Mr.. Shallenberger rose
and said
1fr. President and Gentlemen of the
Convention.:
BY request of the National Wool
Growers Association, l rise to speak
few words in their behalf. No indus
trial orga nization embraced within the
call of this great convention better de-
serves a hearing, or more justly claims
recognition for distinguished services
in the cause of protection, than the one
for which l now esteem it an honor to
speak. Its intelligent officers are here
with you. Its President, Mr.. Garland,
of Illinois, and its Secretary, Mr.. Mark.
ham, of New York, have made them.
selves felt in national legislation.
incline to think that no two organiza
tons 10 this country cin C lain 80 much
credit for defeating the Wood Woo
Tariff Bill in the last Congress, as The
National Wool Growers Association
championed at Washington by the dis
ting uished gentlemen named, and tht
National Association of Wool Manufac
turers, ably represented by John l.
Hayes, Esq, of Boston, whose name
has been tower of strength in tariff
literature these many years.
/ met these gentlemen at Washington
and have personal knowledge of theil
untiring and effective efforts TO secure
the votes which constituted the slight
majority by which the enactipg clause
of that bill, so destructive as It would
have been to the wool industry, was
stricken out and the danger averted.
Reflect for a moment, and You will
see the immense power and importance
of this industry in maintaining tariff
legislation and in planting tariff princi
pies where they never thrived before
1t numbers about 100000 growers Of
wool, intelligent farmers, who read the
papers and note market reports, and
correspond with members of Congress
and educate public sentiment at county
and state fairs, and have come to realize
that without protective tariff their in
dustry must die. This magnificent
army of protectionists Is not confined
to any one state or section of country
Growers of wool plant their interests
in every state and county of the land
from Maine to California, and from the
Gulf of Mexico to the Great Lakes
Not an foot of soil in our vast domain
exhausted by cultivation, but that may
be enriched by the sheep herd; not {
Congressional district but that may
have its farmers appeal for protection
to lucrative wool clip. Other indus
tries al largely local-this is grandly
growing to be universal under the pro.
tective principle. The district have
the honor to represent would be fol
protection, if all her iron and steel and
glass interests which are large
eliminated. One county alone, that Of
Washington, perhaps the largest sheer
county In the Union, produces from
two and half to three million pounds
of wool in single year, worth in casf
q million dollars for the clip alone, te
say nothing of large sales of fine sheer
for breeding purposes, and young
lambs for near markets.
The National Association appears
here today, not to ask q change in tn,
tariff on wool, nor to discuss colIatera
questions embraced in the call for thil
convention, and which could but dis
tract its membership. 1t comes to EN-
phasize its belief in protection. 1t pro
poses to stand by every industry tina
stands by others in the same grea
cause, and to guard against futur,
danger, by demanding that tariff lee is
lation be made consistent and INTEL
gent by invoking the aid of an exper
commission.
The forty-one million sheep that SUD
ply ms with cheap animal food, tina
contribute two hundred and fifty mil
lion pounds of wool per annum t,
clothe our people, that find their sus
lance upon our lands, and leave the sol
richer than when they came-thes
forty-one million sheep are doing NOR
for protection among the farmers thai
we are wont to believe. hope tn
next census will show hundred mil
lion sheep where we have twenty mil
lion now. We need no foreign WOO
for clothing, nor foreign cloths. Gu
staple clothing now is marvel O
cheapness, under protective tart fl
1 am told that the Qnartermaster Gen
eral OF our army recently said that
when quality was considered, the arm,
of the United States was clothed NOR,
cheaply than any army in the world
a most intelligent gentleman, Wit
sits upon this floor, tells me that b,
travelled around the world in a suit o
clothes, American wool and American
manufacture, costing but twelve dol
lars-coat, pants and vest-that wa
everywhere in foreign lands praised
for its neatness and its cheapness.
Gentlemen of the convention, con
graduate you upon the variety of in
dustries heard from today, and upon th,
unity of purpose that binds all together
in demanding a careful revision of the
tariff, so as to remove its incongrnities
and completely protec. American labor
and American capital. AS one of Tn,
representatives in Congress, / shall
earnestly support the proposed bill fol
tariff commission, and trust that Ill
work, IL appointed, may result in rec
ommeDding protective system tina
will include every industry possible I,
America, and las. for generation t.
come. Our motto should be, The great
est possible Improvement with the leas
possible change in our present law
and all duties clearly protective.