The Portland daily press., 1884-05-21
wOoL-GRoWERs' PROTEST.
An Address Issued by the National Con-
vention CondemninR the Present Tariff.

An Address Issued by the National Con-
vention Condemning the Present Tariff.
CHICAGO, May 20.-The National Conven-
tion Of Wool Growers of the United States re-
sumed its session at 10 o'clock this morning
The committee appointed to prepare an address
to the wool growers of the country submitted
the following:
To the acool groscerS and sheep breeders of the
United States:
Gentlemen-At the National Convention of
the Wool Growers and Sheep Breeders of the
United States, held in Chicago on the 10Th
OF May, 1884, and which was attended by dele
gates from twenty states, committee was ap-
pointed to draw up an address to the wool
growers OF the country for the purpose of arous
1ngthem to proper realization of the necessity
that exists for immediate and energetic action
If they would revive the great industry in
which they are engaged from its present de-
pressed condition and from impending dangers
OF still more serious nature. The undersign-
ed members of the committee firmly believe
that the existing sad condition of the interest
you represent has been brought about largely
II not altogether, by adverse Congress sional
Legislation, and that it will not again be pros
porous until Congress shall reverse its action
OF the last session and restore the rates of duty
to those which prevailed under the tariff of
1867, by which, for the first time in the indus
trial history OF the country, equitable relations
were established between duties on wool and
shown that the tariff act of that year gave to
American producers of both woods and woolen
goods steady markets and secure expansion
OF production; and that through this expand
90 production 1t gave consumers cheaper woods
and WoolenS than were ever before known in
America, and brought the prices for all goods
OF ordinary wear and of many for fine and lux
0rlouS wear lower, or as low, as is known in
Europe or elsewhere. The repeal of the tariff
OF 1867 on wool and woolens was not asked for
hryt tha
ness sentiment of the country, or BY any con-
siderable number Of the American people. 1t
was brought about wholly through the efforts
OF importers and others interested in securing
IN the United States market for foreign
woods, aided by few parties who desired to
make use OF the foreign product as whip
with which to subdue the American market
and menace American producers, upon whom
they were necessarily compelled to RELY for
nlne-tenths OF the wool required in this busi-
ness. These combined influences, unpatriotic
and un-American, led to the passage of the
unwlse, abortive and suicidal
tariff act of 1888, to which, We firmly believe,
may be attributed the present depressed condi-
ton OF the wool industry. You
have doubtless, gentlemen, heard much of
late touching the soundness of
the policy of putting "raw materials of manu-
facture," including wool, on the free list We
trust you will resent such propositions, when
ever and wherever made, with the INDIGNATION
which they greatly merit. Wool is the fin
lshed product of a million flock owners, who
nave, by years OF intelligent and patient1labor
and the expenditure of large sums of money.
brought their product to the present high
standard OF excellence. To class it sim ply as
raw MATERIAL" as something that has been
produced almost without cost or the expendi-
ture of time and labor, is an injustice against
which we trust you will enter an effective
protest. The arguments used in defence of the
principle of protection apply at least as forc-
bly, TO wool as to any article in the tariff
schedule. Growing wool is equal with the
gro@iug of food and forests and with the
manufacture of iron and steel, the mainten-
ance of commercial marine and navy OF a
national militia, primary element of national
defence in peace, the loss or neglect of which
would derange our entire monetary system
and place the entire country in all its interests
in condition of industrial and colonial vas
salage 10 foreign producers, equslly fatal to
the happiness and unbecoming to the dignity
and honor OF nation, whose annual increase
in wealth is now three-fold that of any other
nation, and whose population now gives it the
second rank among civilized empires and the
first among free, self-governing and enljght.
ened peoples. The appeal finally declares that
wool growers have right to ask Congress for
the restoration of a measure of protection and
concludes in tbs following terms:
Finally, believing that desperate diseases
require heroic remedies, we especially urge
you to sustain at the polls for legislative offices
only such candidates as are in favor of ade-
quately protecting and encouraging the great
interest of sheep husbandry by voting to re-
store the wool tariff of 1867 or rates OF duties
at least as protective as those embodied in that
act" The report was unanimously adopted,
The remainder of the session was spent in dis
cnssing methods for united action in the
pending national political canvass and for
making the power OF the wool-growing indus
try felt.
Committees of three Republicans and three
Dem ocrats were appointed to attend the ma
tional Republican and Democratic conventions
respectively, and urge the restoration of the
wool tariff of 1867.