The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1882-06-08
REPORT AND RESOLUTIONS ON THE
TARIFF,
Adopted by the Woolgrowers' Convention.


SAN ANTONIO, Tex, June 8, 1882. !
o. S Newell, President:
SIR-Your committee to whom was referred
the resolution of this convention in reference
to the continuance of the tariff on wool and
our duty in the premises, beg leave to submit
the following report:
In matters of material development no less
than in personal protection, we hold the law
of self-preservation to be paramount to all
other considerations, for it is indeed general
law of universal application. Hence we feel
that we would compromise our own selt-res-
pect did we pause for one instant to apologize
or explain our demand for a continuance of
the tariff on wool, as we would be lacking in
manliness did we not insist upon it as mat
ter of right. Without qualification therefore,
your committee appropriate this opportunity
of respectfully submitting to this convention
and urging upon its adoption such action as
will advertise to the world as our position,
that as matter of right we demand tariff
and tariff too for protection.
A brief resume of the magnitude which this
interest has reached in comparatively few
years can but command for it that hearty
and cordial protection to which it is entitled.
As we stand here to-day within the precincts
of this historic city as patriots, gloryng in its
name and as Texans facilitating ourselves
upon its growth and remember but few years
ago, it was but little more than frontier
town, surprise gives way to expectation, when
the facts are dicovered, that this very traffic
finds here its western mart and that from a
few thousand pounds received and sold in
a single season, a short while since. has
increased to seven millions for this springs
clip, while in the state it has reached the
enormous aggregate of about thirty millions.
These figures accurately estimated, though
apparently large are not realized until we con-
slider the further fact this branch of industry
for single years clip brings to the producers
thereof, the amount of seven millions five
hundred thousand dollars, and when we re-
fleet that there are now about seven millions
Of sheep in the state, that liberal estimate of
their increase would be three millions per an
mum and their valuation placed at two dollars
per capita, it can be readily seen how import
ant to the people and the state, that the sheep
interest should be protected, to say nothing of
the additional sum realized from the sale of
meat and other receipts incidental to its growth
and development.
Having now by facts and figures shown
the immense importance this interest
has directly assumed in its bearing up
IN the state and country in the in
hancement of taxable values, there is
another feature incidental thereto, to which we
merely make allusion, and that is, the bearing
it has had and still being had in the develop
nent of certain portions of our state hitherto
almost unknown. We hazard nothing in say
,ng that this interest has been the inspiration
of the rapid growth which has characterized
our western country, thereby inviting capital
md enterprise to section of in which rail
roads have been heretofore unknown, settlers
to lands unoccupied and untitled, and people
to cultivate our soil. to swell our population
and increase our strength. Believing, that in
addition to our personal and individual intel-
est our obligation as citizens and patriots
alike justify them. We, Your committee
hereby respectfully report the followil & res
lutions, and recommend their adoption:
Resolved, That We, the wool growers f
Texas in convention here assembled, do SOL
elmnly pledge ourselves to one another and to
the people of the United States not to support
any man for office in the national Legislature,
who does not emphatically and in good faith
advocate the protection of the wool growing
interest against foreign importation.
Resolved, That this convention recommend
all subordinate associations, and all sheep
and wool men in all counties where no organ
izations exist, to watch their own interests and
see that the proper persons represent them in
the very foundation of the political structure,
which is in the primary meetings.
F. w. SHAEFFER, Chairman,
for the committee.