The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1884-01-25

Hon. ThOs. 8. Lang, Secretary Raa--
tern Oregon WoOl-growers' Conven-
tion SIN
have tho honor TO acknowledge the
receipt Of your letter Of Nov. 81, 1883,
enclosing the proceedings Of the Eas-
tern Oregon WoOl.growera' Convention,
held at The DAlles, on the Ord Of octo-
Der last, among which proceedings /
fnd the following resolutions
Resoiped, That this conveAtion de.
mand Of Hon. j. II. Slater aud Hon. J..
N. DELPHI, United s.atea Senator'S, and
Hon. NJ. @. George, our Representative
in Congress, that they use every possl-
bic effort to restore the tariff on foreign
wools to the rates which were maintain.
Cd previous TO tho last session Of Con-
gress.
Speaking for myself, / recognize to
she fullest extent the right Of every
person, class and interest in the State
Of Oregon 10 present To their Senators
and Representatives their claims and
desires and TO have them fairly consid.
cred in connection with legislation af-
fecsing the same, but ] am not willing
to subordinate my own Judgement and
convictions Of what Is proper and right
ful legislation in any given case even
at the demand" of special interests
however great or important such inter
ssts may BE-. To do 30 would be blind
suhsorving to class interest and do
manda.
The Wool-growerH' Convention, Ia
the above resolution, do not ask TO have
the matter Of restoring the former rates
Of tariff on foreign woods considered In
connection with the interests Of other
classes, such ~ The manufacturers Of
wool and the consumers Of WOODEN fab
RIGS and in connection with the general
demand for revenue reform, with .
view 10 their restoration, IL compatible
with public interest, but the demand Il
persmptory and without any considers
tion Of The effect such restoration may
have upon the manufacturing Industries
Of the country or Of the increased bur
thens which may thereby be imposed
upsn the great body Of the people who
consume the manufactures Of wool.
Doubtless the theory Of the eonven-
ton was that high rates Of duty upon
forsiga wOOfa serve to keep up the
price Of the domestic product, and that
the recent decline in the price Of do
mestic wool Is to bs attributed TO The
late reduction of the rates Of duty upon
the foreign article and tAking this view
Of tho situation the wool growers o.
Eastern Oregon demand" that is th.
word, that tneir Senators and Reprssen
ta,ives shall "use every effort possible
TO restore their tariff rates on fsreigI
woods, TO the end Of course, that the]
may procure . better price for theil
product. No matter IL such restoration
retricts the manufacture Of wool an.
increases The cost of the manufacture,
product 10 the great body Of consumers
The logic Of the demand is restore thes
rates that the wool grower may pu
money in bis pocket. Verify, tbs mo
nopolisis Of this country are not conGn
ed to great railroad corporations
What is the difference in principle in
demand for legislation whereby th
wool growers may make gain and pros
per in their special business by impos
ing burthens upon ell other classes an
the demand Of the railroad corporation
that there shall be no legislation at .
respecting fares and freights, to tho en-
that they may continue to exact exor
bitant rates for the transportation ,
every busbel Of grain, every pound {
cotton or other kinds of freight th
farmers and merchants may need
transport If there Is any differenc
in principle am unable to see it.
| To carry on the government require
revenue to obtain it, among Oths
methods import duties have been levi
ed. Among the articles Of foreign i'm
portations upon which such duties ha'
been imposed is foreign wool, which
since 1924, has been subjected to vary
Ing rates of duty always expecting froI
l846 to 1864, OF very highly prote'
tive character.
Within the past few years the gov
ernment has found itself in the receiI
of very large surplus OF revenue
greatly more than the need Of the gov
ernment requires. So that the questio
has not been how to get revenue, b.
how to decrese it and lift the burtbe
of taxation from the shoulders of tt
people. The last Congress passed
new tariff act and reduced the tari
upon foreign woods about three cents
pound upon clothiag and combin
woods, leaving carpet wools without
change. This change Was made
obedience to tho almost universal de
mand for reform 10 the tariff legisls
ton of the country and for reductic
of revenue. The rates in the woole