The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-21
THE WOOL RA[SERS.
Proceedings of the National Conveu-
ton of Wool-Growers.
Some Figures on the Magnitude Of
the Interest-Demand for the
Restoration of the 1867
Tariff.

National Wool-Growers convention, Hon.
Columbus Delano made an address in which
he said that in 1860, three years before the
wool tariff, there was an annual clip of co.
600, 900 pounds If the tariff of 1867 was
restored, the wool-growers of the United
States could supply all the wool the country
needed. In 1880 the number of sheep had
risen from q, 600 600 to 59,000000, and the
wool clip from 60,0O0,000 to SOC, GOO, 600
pounds. The diminution of the tariff now
threatens to annihilate this great in-
| dustry and place it in the hands Of
foreigners. He declared that the wool
growers must take bold stand
The committee ON resolutions reported in
accordance with the suggestions thrown out
by Mr.. Delano, pledging the wool-growers to
do all in their power to restore the tariff of
1867, favoring a comprehensive system Of
legislation calculated to develop and foster
American industries, regulating the doc
trine of free trade as a fallacious and
| Improbable theory, and declaring that the
| long-continued palpable, and systematic
| differentiation of imported wool, resulting
as it does in the loss of much revenue to the
government and robbing the American wool
| growers of the protection sought to be con-
| ferred by tariff, and which the secretary Of
| the treasury declares will continue under ex-
isting laws demands and should receive the
| immediate attention of congress"
| The following resolution was adopted:
Resolved, That the large and increasing
| amounts of sboddy being used in the manu-
facture of clothing fabrics, thereby displac-
| ing many million pounds of WOOL calls for
| the enactment of laws by the several states
| by which all goods shall be labeled by the
vender, so the purchaser may know the kind
| and amount of adulteration.
A resolution looking to the establishment
of a quarterly periodical to be published in
the interest of wool-growers was passed.
The committee appointed yesterday to draft
an address to the wool-growers of the coun-
try reporter an address which was adopted
Following is a synopsis: 1t declares that the
depressed condition of the wool interest of
the country is the result of adverse
congressional legislation, and that prosperity
will not return until that legislation is re-
versed, and the tariffaof 1867 restored, that
the tariff of 1867, while giving full opportunity
to the building up of the wool trade of the
| country gave consumers as cheap goods as
were known in Europe or elsewhere; that its
repeal was brought about by the efforts OF
importers and others interested in securing in
the United States a market for foreign woods,
| that wool is not raw material but the
finished product of million fiockowners,
and that to class it as raw material is an
injustice against which said fockowners
should protest.
| The address says that the arguments for the
| principle OF protection apply as forcibly to
the protection of wool as to any article in the
1 1,1Ia hiatt no of :,
as much primary element of national Sc
curity and independence, both in war and
peace, as that of any other interest in the
country, the loss or neglect of which would
entail great calamities upon the nation; that
the industry is not hot-house affair, but
that it is an important pursuit in every state
and territory; that in 1882 it yielded value
of $50, 000, 900 Gn wool and mutton) and rep
resents capital invested in real estate alone
of $780, 900, 900. In conclusion the address
says:
In view Of these facts, we believe that the
wool-growers of the country have the right to
ask of congress such a measure of protect on
as will restore this great industry to condi-
| ton of prosperity. To our members of con-
gress alone can We look for relief We
| urge you to bring to bear upon
your respective representatives In that
| body all the influence you may have in favor
| of restoration OF the tariff of 1867, or its
| equivalent, upon wool and woolens For
the purpose of Strengthening your influence
and securing united action, we recommend
tie formation of state, county aud district
organizations wherever practicable.
We desire, in conclusion, to say to all
wool growers in the United States, that by
| proper effort we may reasonably hope to
succeed in obtaining our rights, and that
you may well be encouraged to continue in
business in which you have so much in
vested of capital, experience and intelligence
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 adequately protecting and encouraging
the great interest of sheep husbandry by
voting to restore the wool tariff of 1887, or
rates of duties at least as protective as those
embodied in that act
The committee on resolutions reported ad-
ditional resolutions that the large amount of
shoddy used in the manufacture of clothing
fabrics, displacing many million pounds of
wool, called for the enactment of laws by the
several states by which all goods shall be
labelled by the vendor SO that the purchaser
may know the kind and amount q adultera.
ton. Adopted. Thanking the congressman
who voted for the return of the
tariff of 1867. and ordering tho
issue of a regular bulletin. These
resolutions were adopted, as also one for the
publication of a monthly journal The con
vention then adjourned.