National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-05-21
THE WOOL GROWERS.
Tho Address Adopted by tho Convention
The Present Thrift sharply Attacked

Tho Address Adopted by tho Convention
The Present Tariff Sharply Attacked.
CHICAGO, May 20.-At the session of the
national convention of Wool Growers to-day
au address was issued to the wool growers Of
the country, in which it is stated that immc-
date and energetic efforts must be made II
this great industry is to be rescued from the
present depression and from impending
dangers of still more serious nature. That
the present sad condition of the interest
which the convention represents is entirely
due to adverse congressional legislation, and
that it will not again BIO prosperous until con-
gress reverses its action of last year and re-
stores tho tariff Of 1867.
1t 10 stated that it can be conclusively
shown that the tariff act OF 1867 gave to
American producers Of both wool and wooden
goods steady markets and a secure expansion
of production, and that through this eG-
panded production 1t gave consumers cheaper
woods and wooeus 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. Tho
repeal of the tariff Of 1867 on wool or
woolens was not asked for, rs has been
alleged, by tho conservative bust
ness sentiment 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 tho United States market for
foreign wools aided by few parties who
desired to make use of the foreign product as
o whip with which to subdue tho American
market and menace American producers,
upon whom they wero necessarily compelled
to rely for nino-tenths of the wool required
in this business These combined influences,
unpatriotic and unAmerican, led to the
passage Of the unwise, abortivc, and suicidal
tariff act Of 1883, to which, we firmly believe,
may be attributed the present depressed con-
dition of the wool industry.
The address attacks tho policy of putting
wool as raw material on the free list, and
says that wool Is the finished product of a
million flock owners, who havo by years Of
intelligent and patient labor and the ex-
penditure of large sums of money, brought
their product to the present high standard of
excellence. To class it simply as raw ma
terial, as something that has been produced
almost without cost or the expenditure of
time and labor, Ia an injustice against which
should be entered an effective protest. The
arguments used in defense Of the principle of
protection apply at least as forcibly to wool
as to any article ON the tariff schedule.
The appeal finally declares that wool
growers have right TO ask congress for the
restoration Of q measure of protection, and
concludes in the following terms: FINALLY,
believing that desperate diseases require
heroic remedies wo especially urge you to
sustain at the polls for legislative Offices only
such candidates rs are in favor of adequately
protecting and encouraging the great interest
of the sheep husbandry by voting to restore
the wool tariff of 1867, or rates of such at
least protective as those embodied in that
act"
The report was unanimously adopted.
The remainder of the session was spent in
discussing methods for united action in the
pending national political canvass, and for
making the power of the wool growing in
dustry felt