The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-05-21


together, by adverse Congressional
legislation, and that it will not
again be prosperous until Congress
shsll reverse its action at its last
session and restore the RATES of duty
to those which prevailed under the
tariff of 1867, by which, for the first
time in the industrial history of the
country, equitable relations were
established between the duties on
wool and those on wooden goods. 1t
can be concIusively shown that the
tariff act of that year gave to Ame-
rican producers of both woods and
WOODEN goods Stesdy markets and
secured an expansion of production,
and that through this expanded
production 1t gave consumers
cheaper woods and woolens than
were eyer before known in
America, end brought prices
for all goods of ordinary wear,
and Of many for fine and lux
urious wear lower, or as low as are
known in Europe or elsewhere. The
repeal of the tariff Of 1867 on wool
and woolens was not asked for as
has been alleged by the conserve.
tive business sentiment of the
country, or by any considerable
number Of American people. 1t was
brought about wholly through the
efforts of importers and others In
terested in securing in the United
States a market for foreign woods,
aided by a few parties who desired
to make use of the foreign product
with which to subdue American
hnarkets and menace American pro-
duoera, upon whom they we're necee
sarlly compelled to rely for nine
tenths Of the wool required in this
business. These combined influs
ences. unpatrIotic and un-Amerlcan,
led to the passage of the un-
wise, abortive and suici-
dial tariff act of 1883, to
which we firmly believe may be at
tributed the present depression in
the condition of the wool industry.
You have doubtless, gentlemen,
heard much OF late touching the
soundness of the policy of putting
raw materials of manufacture, in>
Guiding wool, on the free list. We
trust you will resent such q propo-
sition whenever and VIII orever made
with the indignation which it justly
merits. Wool is the finished pro-
duct OF a million flock owners, who
have by years of intelligent and
patient labor and the ext endture Of
large sums of money brought their
product to the present high stands
ard of excellence; to class it simply
as raw material, something that has
been produced almost without cost
or expenditure Of time and labor, Is
an injustice and to which
we trust you will enter an effectual
protest. The arguments used in
defense of the principle ofprotec>
ton apply at least as forcibly to
wool IS to any article in the tariff
schedule. The growing of wool is
equal with the growing of food and
forests, and VITA the manufacture
of iron and steel. The maintenance
Of the commercial marine and the
navy of a national militia in the
primary element of national defense
in war, and of financial secur ty and
independence in peace, the loss or
neglect of which would derange our
entire monetaryssystem, and place
the entire country and all interests
in condition Of industrial and
colonial Vassalage to foreign pro.
ducers, equally fatal to happiness,
and unbecoming to the dignity and
honor of tho nation, whose annual
increase in wealth Is now thrse fold
that of any other nation, and whose
population now gives it the second
rank among civilized empires, and
the first among free sel%governins
and enlightened people,"
The appeal 1nally declares thai
wool growers have a right to AL
| Congress for the restoration OF The
measure for protection and con
cladss in the following terms:
"Finaliy, believing desperate di
seases require heroic remedies. WI
especially urge you to sustain at th'
| polls for legislative Offices only sucl
candidates as are in favor Of ade
iquately protecting and eneouraqin!
the great industry of sheep hus
bandry by voting to restore the woo
tarin OF '6T Or rates of duties at leas
as protective as those embodied il
that act" The report was unan
imeusly adopted. The remaining
session was takes up by the discus
sion of msthods for united action il
the pending national political can
i vaas in m akfnO tha ,,ovar of Won