The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-05-29
THE WOOL GROWERS.
Eheir National Mass Meeting at Chicago
Address to the Wool Growers.


Eheif National Mass Meeting at Chicago
Address to the Wool Growers.
CHICAGO. May s1.-The National mas
meeting of the woel-growers of the Unite(
States was resumed at ten O'Clock yesterda,
morning. The committee appointed to pre-
pare an address to the wool-growers Of thu
country submitted the following:
To the wool-Growers and Sheep Breeders o.
the United States:
GENTLEMEN:-At the National ConVen
ton of the Wool-GroweTs and Sheep
Breeders of the United States, held at Chi
cago on the 18th of May, 1884, and which
was attended by delegates from twenty
States, o committee was appointed II
draw up an address to the wool
growers of the country for the pur
pose of arousing them to proper realization
of the necessity that exists for immediate
and energetic action, if they would rsecue
that great industry in which they are en-
gagged from the present depressed condition
and impending dangers of a still more seri
Gus nature. The members of the com.
mittee firmly believe that the existing
sad condition of the interest you repre-
sent has been brought about largely. il not
altogether, by adverse Congressional legisla-
ton, and that il
WILL NOT AGAIN BE PROSPEROUS
until Congress shall reverse its action at the
last session, and restore the rate of duty to
that which prevailed under the tariff of
1867, by which for the first time in the
history of this country equitable relations
were established in this industry between
the duties on wool and those on wooden
goods. 1t can be conclusively shown that
the tariff act of that year gave to American
producers of both wool and wooden goods
steady markets, sure expansion of pro-
ductiOn. and through this expanded pro-
duction it 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 luxurious wear, lower or as low as
are known in Europe or elsewhere. The
repeal of the tariff of 1887 on wool and
woolens was not asked for, as has been al
legged, by the conservative business senti-
ment Of the country, or by any considerable
number of the American people. 1t was
brought about wholly through the efforts of
importers and others interested in securing
in the United States a market for foreign
woods, aided by few parties who desired
to make use of the foreign product as
whip TO subdue the American market and
menace the American producers, upon whom
they were necessarily compelled to rely for
nine-tenths of the wool required in this
business. These combined influences,
UNPATRIoTIC AND UNASIERICAN,
as they were, led to the passage Of the unwiSe
abortive and suicidal tariff act of 1882 to
which we firmly believe may be attributed
the present depressed condition of the wooden
industry. You have, doubtless, gentlemen,
heard much of late touching the soundness
of the policy of putting raw materials of
manufacture including wool on the free list
We trust that you will resent such propo-
sitiOn whenever and by whoever it is made
with Indignation which it greatly merits.
Wool is the finished product of a million
flOcks whose owners have by years of intel
ligent and patient labor and the expenditure
of large sums of money brought their pro.
duct to the present too high standard of ex-
cellence to class it simply as raw MATERIAL
as something that has been produced al
most without cost or expenditure, time and
labor and it is an injustice against which we
trust you will enter an effective protest.
Arguments used in the defense of the prin-
ciple of protection apply at least as forcibly
TO wool as TO any article on the tariff
schedule. The growing of wool is equally
the same with growing of food and forests
and with the manufacture of iron and steel
and the maintenance of the commercial
marine and navy, also of the National
militia, which is the primary element of
National defence in war and of financial Sc
curity and independence, which, if placed at
neglect or loss, would
DERANGE OUR ENTIRE MONETARY SYSTEM,
and place the entire country and all its in
tereStS in a condition of industrial and colo
NAL vasSalage to foreign producers, which
will be equally fatal to the happiness and
to the dignity and honor of the
Nation, whose annual increase in wealth is
now three fold more than any other nation,
and whose population now gives it the second
rank among civilized empires, and first
among the self, free-goveming and enlight
ened peoples" The appeal finally declares
that the wool-growers have perfect right
to ask Congress for a restoration of
the policy of protection, and con-
cludes in the following terms: 1--WE es.
pecially ask you to sustain at the polls for
legislative Offices only such candidates as
are in favor of adequately protecting and |
tho great industry of sheep |
by Yoting to restore 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 |
session was taken up by discuss
ing the methods for united action in the |
pending National Presidential canvass in |
making the power of the wool growing in
lustry felt Adjourned.