The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-05-23
WOOL. BORROWERS IN ooNYENTION.

| WOOL.GR0WERS IN CONVENTION.
First Days Proceedings of the Gathering
at Chicago-CoIumbus DeIano. of Ohio,
Chosen Permanent Chairman-The Reso-
buttons Adopted.
! CHICAGO, May 20.-A convention OF
wool-growers from all parts of the country
met yesterday at the Grand Pacific. The
attendance was approximately two hundred,
the largest delegations being from Ohio,
! Pennsy lvania, Illinois, Missouri, New York,
| Wisconsin and Iowa. Representatives
were present from twenty-three States.
Hon. Columbus Delano, of Ohio, called the
convention to order, and said that the object
of the convention was to takeI faction
toward restoring the duty of 1867 on
wool. The wool-growers of the United
States, whether they belong to the National
| Wooi-Growers Association or not should be
aroused to knowledge of the danger
which threatened their industry He pre-
dicted that within five years the wool-grow-
ers would be power which Congress could
not afford to ignore. The only business
| transacted in the morning session was the
appointment Of Committees on Resolutions,
C1uiduSut vi dlllLdtlOll OIC.
At the opening of the afternoon session
Hon. Columbus Delano of Ohio, was made
permanent Chairman, and r. I. McCulley,
of Missouri permanent Secretary. In his
speech of acceptance Mr.. Delano urged the
wool-growers throughout the country to or
ganize in order to protect themselves
They should insist on the restoration of
the tariff of 1867, and the politicians,
fhnU hot
votes were at stake, would accede to
such demand. The only substantial en-
couragement ever given to wool-growing in
this country was under the tariff running
from 1867 to 1888. In 1860 the wool clip
was 60,000,000 pounds. In 1880 it was 30O,-
600, 900 pounds. During the same period
the number of sheep increased from 20, 0OO,-
600 to 50,000,000. This tariff was abolished
in 1883, and already the depressing effect
on the wool-growing industry was appar-
ent
The report of the Committee on Resoiu-
tons, which was in substance as follows,
was adopted:
The Woo-Growers of the United States have
assembled in National Convention to make
known the magnitude and Importance OF the
move the injustice inflicted by the act of Con-
gress passed in March, 1888, and to secure in
future legislation such equal, fair and Just
consideration as the business of sheep hus-
bandry merits and requires.
Therefore we declare that In 1880 there were
l,020,0O0 Hock-maSters in the United States.
and there was no State where the industry
was not pursued. The wool product of 1883
reached 52000U,0G0 pounds, valued at over
$l00,000,000 The value of the mutton put on
the market for food in that year was over
$50,000.0v0. The sheep industry is an impor-
tant factor in the prosperity of other agri-
ahanHOnmant or
serious diminution will embarraSs our
entire agricultural system and the in
dustries dependent upon it. An agri-
cultural pursuit which adds $l50,000
900 yearly to the Nations wealth, has
$500, co., O00in vested in real estate, and con-
tributes so extensively to the Nations pros
perlty can not wisely be ignored. The act of
1888 reducing duties on foreign woods has seri-
ously injured. and if continued will diminish
If it does not substantially destroy, the produc-
tion of sheep and wool in the United States.
The clip of 1883 did not yield to the producers
so much by five cents per pound as was real
lied in 1882, or, in other words, caused a loss
of $l6.000.000 to them. The estimated loss of
TINS year Will be greater II this policy is con-
exceptional wooi-growing facilities will conn
pei American producers to abandon the bust
ness. Therefore, be it resolved:
That we will organize as wOol-grOwers and
sheep-breeders, and cooperate by. means of
our National Association, to be aided by State
and county societies, and in this way, and by
I'LL OIn6f legitimate meUlOQS, we Will 40 all IN
our power to restore the tariff of 1857, or its
equivalent on woods and woOlens, and cause
to be repealed the unjust, unwise and I'M
equal legislation of 1888 reducing duties on
imported woods and woolens
That in doing this we will, without reference
to former political affiliations, recognize our
friends whenever and whereverwe find them
and at the polls we will sustain only such men
and party organizations as are in favor of pro-
tect1ng and encouraging and sustaining sheep
huSbandry in the United States by restoring
the wool tariff of 1867 or it's equivalent. And
that we will not support any party or political
candidate until they have clearly defined their
position as in favor of the restoration of said
tariff.
That we favor a wise and comprehensive
system of economic legislation best calculat-
ed to foster, develop and sustain all American
industries that can be protftaby pursued by
our people, whereby employment may be
given to all of the labOf1ng classes, not at the
prices paid to the laboring poor of foreign
nations. but at wages that will secure to the
workingmen of the United States such edu-
cational, religious and social privileges and
such physical comforts as the freemen of
this free nation are entitled to and ought to
enjoy.
That we repudiate the doctrine of free trade
as fallacious and impracticable theory, sus-
tanned largely by the money OF foreign CAPT
taiists who desire the control of our markets
for the sale and consumption of goods pro-
duced where labor is cheap and money album
dant, aDdiwe regard as unworthy of respectful
consideration the theory of those manufact-
urers who claim that raw material shall be
free while their fabrics are protected We
ask with emphasis why labor required to pro-
duce wool is less worthy of protection than
labor at the spindle and loom where the fab.
RIGS of wool are produced.
That the long-cOntinued, paipable and svs-
tematic undervauation of imported woods,
resulting, as it does, in the loss of much rev.
enue to the Government and robbing the
American woo-growerS of the protection
sought to be conferred by a tariff and which
the Secretary of the Treasury declares will
continue under existing laws demands and
should receive the immediate attention of
Congress.
The last part of the second resolution was
the only portion which created much dis
cussion.
The resolutions were signed by Albert
Chapman, Vermont; John Ray, New York;
R. A. Pugh, West Virginia; A. D. Whit
more, Wisconsin; Edward Brunsun, Kansas;
Mortimer Loering. Indiana; S. P. Smith,
Illinois; Fl. McAlIister, Jr., Colorado; L.
L. Seiber, Missouri; R. r. Claridge, Texas;
P. Jansen, Nebraska; w. III. Cowden,
Ohio; William Ball, Michigan, and w. L.
Archer, Pennsylvania.
Mr.. Delano and others were thanked for
so ably advocating the interests of WOOL
growers before the Congressional Commit
tee on Ways and Means. MeSsrs. Meal
lister, of Colorado; Miller, of Pennsylvania;
Ball, of Michigan; Lawrence, of Ohio, and
Wellington, of Kansas, were appointed a
committee to prepare an address to the
woolgrowers of the United States, after