The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-09-06
WOOL.
The Ex-President of the Ohio
Wool Growers Association
Tells the Story of the Reduction
of the Wool Tariff.

of the Wool Tariff.
. Mr.. 8. G. Stevens is one of the most
wool growers in Ohio, and
sne of the best posted men in the
country on all questions relating to
wool growing interests. He served
eleven years consscutively as President
of the Ohio Wool growers Association,
is its Vice President now and has serv-
ed as Vice-President of the National
Wool Growers Association. Mr.. Ste
vens has defended .wool.growers inter-
ests to the best of his ability. and has
watched all the movements in cOnnec-
ton with the recent reduction of the
tariff ON wool SO thoroughly as to
make him an authority wh.se state
msnts can be relied oa.
"The reduction of the tariff on
wool,n said Mr.. Stevens, Twas secured
by q combination of the wooden manu-
faeturers of New England. They have
been fighting for years to secure re-
duction of the tariff. and at the same
time maintain or increase the tariff on
WOODEN fabrics imported to this coun-
try, thereby maintaining monopoly
at the expenseof American consumers
while they robbed wool-growers of a
fair profit for their wool, and put the
gain in their pockets, no one but them
selves being bettered by the transac-
ton. Prior to last Winter they failed
to secure reduction, and would not
then if the Republican members OF
Congress had not aided them.
"Now, great many wool growers
in Ohio are not aware just how it was
accomplished, and I want them to
knew just who is responsible for the
reduction of the tariff Oh wool, by
which thousands of dollars have been
taken from Ohio Wool-growers and
kept out of the State. The New Eng
land WOODEN manufactures saw that
it would be impossible to pass their
measure in the House first, and they
thereto g forced it through the Senate
1t was t, o late, however, after this had
been accomplished, to secure action or
the bill through the regular routine
! In order, therefore, to pass their bill
| before the close of the session, it was
necessary to get q suspension of the
| rules, and take the bill up out of its
order. To do this req aired two-thirds
vote, and this could not be secured
Through Keifer an arrangement was
made by which the rule requiring {
| two-thirds vote to take bill up out o.
its order was suspended, as far as it re
lated to the tariff bill, SO that the meas
ure could be taken up by majority
vote. The Ohio Wool-growers were
| represented at Washington by dele
CATION headed by Hon. Columb bus De
lano, and they beseught Republican
members to vote against the adoption
| of this rule, Mr.. Delano declaring il
to be revolutionary precedent. Des
pite their appeals and remonstrances
| it was adopted, and by Republican
votes, the Democrats voting almos
solid against it.
"Had the Republican members voteC
| against a suspension, the tariff on woo
| would not have been reduced. The at
tempt Of party organs to saddle the re-
sponsibility of the reduction of the tar
| iff upon the Democratic members O.
Congress is all buncombe. Senator
Sherman's casting vote passed the bill
1 in the Senate, and the Republican
members of Congress are responsible
"If my statement needed any cor
roboration, the Woolen Manufacturer
| Bulletin edited by John l.. Hayes late
chairman of the Tariff Commission, in
| q recent issue furnishes it iD the fol
lowing statement, in which, speaking
| of Senator Sherman, it says:
"'Mr. Sherman, Chairman of the
| Finance Committee, on the last day
| bat one of the second session of the
| Thirty-ninth Congress, carried the
| Bingham bill,n now known as the
Tariff Bill of 1861" through his
committee, and finally through the
Senate, service only second to that o
| his casting vote, which carried the
| Tariff bill "f March 8, 1888, through
the anne body
nave ocuu," continued Mar. Ste
| vens, "a Republican since the first gul
was fired on Fort Sumpter, and il
common with thousands of Republi
cans, have voted the Republican tick
ct, because I thought the interests o
the country aud Ohio would be bes
protected by so doing. The farmers o
Ohio, and especially the wool-growers
wanted Judge Lawrence Nominated
for Governor but when We went t.
the State eConvention,fr from the momen
of our arrival in Columbus, we saw
that d lob had been set up by Charlie,
Foster. A prominent Republican in
formed me that Foster had subsidize
the. press of the State in the interest G
Foraker, and that Foraker would b
nominated unless sherman would con
sent to run, and he was afraid. Th
result of the convention proved tn
truth of his prediction and statement
"As I said before, am Republ
can, and shall not leave my party blu
knowing as do the views and pos
ton of Judge Hoadly on the wool ta
iff question, l shall, if 1 live, cast M
vote for him, and l think, in justice
themselves, every wool-grower in Obi
ought to do the same. 1t is time til,
men who fail to do right and respe'
the interests of the people should
. rebuked. Republicans can do tn
without being any the less loyal
l what they believe to be true Republ
=, can principles.