The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-20
THE W00L-GR0WERS,
The Convention Demands the Restoration Of
the Tariff of 1867.

CHICAGO May 19-The national mass meet
ing of the wool growers of the United States was
called to order at 10 o'clock this morning, 134
delegates being present, fifty of whom were from
Ohio and thirty eight from Pennsylvania.
Twenty-one States and Territories are repre-
scented J. s. Coddington, of Kansas, was elected
temporary chairman, and committee on perma-
nent organization appointed
The committee on permanent organization re-
ported Columbus Delano of Ohio, for president;
r. T. McCulley. of Missouri, secretary, and
list of vice-presidents from the woods growing
States. The report was approved.
Mr.. Delano in taking the chair, returned
thanks for the honor conferred; sketched the
Importance of the wool industry in the
United States and the necessity for united
action for the protection of that interest
He said the development of wool growing began
with the passage of the wool tariff of 1867 and
the result had been reduction of the price of
wool to the manufacturer He urged the neces-
sity for constant work until the restoration of
that tariff was secured. He urged the existing
danger Of the financial ruin pending over the
nation, and held that q tariff for sevenue only
was free trade, and was dangerous to the pros
perity of the country.
The committee resolutions made a report,
which, after speaking of the injustice inflicted
by the act of Congress of March, 1885, went on
and declared:
Frst-That by the census returns of 1880 there
were l ,020 600 Aockmasters and there is no State
where this industry is not pursued.
Second-That the product of wool for the year
than 800 600 900, and that the value of NUT
ton resulting from sheep slaughtered for food was
over $50 900, 600.
Third-That sheep husbandry is an important fac
tor in the prosperity of other agricultural pursuits be-
of the utility of sheep fertzing the soil and
replenishing exhausted lands that if abandoned
seriously diminished our entire system of agriculture
will be embarrassed capacity for the production
of meats, breadstus and other articles required by
our civilization will be seriously diminished and our
great prosperity impaired We cannot afford as ma
ton to endanger the great agricultural pursuit which
adds each year directly $15000O0 600 to the nations
wealth. having invested in real estate not less than
$500, 900 900 capital and which contributes midi
rectly so extensively to the nations prosperity.
FOurth-That the act of 1888 reducing the duties
on foreign woods has seriously injured and if con
tined will in future diminish if it does substan-
TALLY destroy the production of wool and sheep in the
United States and this assertion we sustain by these
facts.
The report then goes on to show that the clip
of 1888 caused loss of over $l6 DOC, 600 to wool
growers compared with 1882, and predicts a
much greater loss for 1884. 1t says the climate
and conditions in Australia will compel Ameri-
can producers to abandon sheepraisng for other
pursuits. 1t is therefore,
Resolved, That we will organize wool-growers
and sheep-raisers, and cooperate by means of
tional association to be aided by State and county
socations, and in this way and by all legitimate
methods win do all in our power to restore the wool
tariff of 1867, or its equivalent, wool and wooden
goods, and cause to be repealed the unjust unwise
and unequal legislation of 1888 reducing duties on
woods and wooden goods.
Resolved That in doing this we will, without ref
to former political affiliations, recognize our
friends whenever and wherever find them, and at
the polls will sustain only such men and such party
organizations in favor of protecting and
aging and sustaining sheep husbandry in these
United States by restoring the wool tariff of 1867
or ne
Resolved That we favor wise and eolnprehen-
sve system of economic legislation best calculated
to foster and develop all American industries that ca
be proftably pursued by people whereby employ
ment may be given all laborng classes not at the
prices paid the aboring poor Of foreign nations but at
such may secure such educational religious
and social privileges and such physical comforts the
free men of this free nation entitled to and ought
to enjoy;
trade falacous and impraoticable theory, sus
tanned largely by the money of foreign capitalists who
desire control of our market for the sale and CON
sumption of goods produced where labor is cheap and
money abundsnt and regard unworthy of re-
spectfu consideration the theory of those manufac
turers who claim that raw material shall be free
while their fabrics protected. We ask with en-
phasis why the labor required to produce wool is less
worthy of protection than labor at the spindle and
loom where fabrics of wool are produced.
Resolved. That the long continued and systematic
differentiation of imported wool resulting it does
in the loss of much revenue to the government and
robbing the American woolgrower of the protection
which ought to be conferred by the tariff, and which
the Secretary of the Treasury declares will continue
under existing laws demands, aud should receive the
immediate attention of Congress"
The platform was adopted, with the addition
OF the following words to the second resolutions
And that We will not support any party or political
candidate until it OF he has clearly defined its or his
position in favor of the restotation of said tariff"
A committee of five was appointed to draft an
address to the wool growers of the United States
Adjourned until 8 A. N to morrow,