The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1884-05-24
THE WOOL GROWERS.
medicine

IND WoOb INV bihS'
The present is year especially notable
for national conventions. Besides several
already held, no less than six national con
ventions are called TO meet within the next
eight weeks to nominate presidential can
didates. But of all the national conven-
tons of the year, the checklist and exhib-
ting the greatest gall" in its objects and
outcome was the socalled "WoOl Growers
National Convention" at Chicago on Mon
day and Tuesday Of the present week. 1t
was attended by about 80 delegates, of
whom IS were from Pennsylvania and
Ohio half a dozen from Wisconsin, and thd
balance from few other scattering states
The objects of the convention were suf
ficiently set forth in the call as well as ex-
planned in the opening address of Mr.. Co
lumbus Delano, of Ohio, who presided over
its deliberations. 1t was to frame solemn
protest against the reduction of about 3
cents pound effected by the tariff of the
Republican congress of 1888, and to organ
lie the entire body of wool growers of the
country, claimed to number 1000 900 of vo.
tiers! as one grand political body to vote
against and kill off any presidential candi.
date who shall be opposed to restoration
of the wool tariff to the figures fixed by the
law of 1867
The convention puts forth an address in
which these violent threatenings are at
tempted to be justified. 1t is claimed that
under the fostering influence of the tariff
of 1867 the production of wool in this coun-
try has risen from 100000 lbs in 1867 to
400, 100000 lbs. in 1884, and that by the
change of 3 cts, pound in the tariff on
wool this whole mighty industry will be de-
stroyed! The tariff on foreign wool by the
law of 1867 was from 10 to 10 cts per b.,
according to grade; by the law of 1888 that
is reduced to 10 to ID cts per ib.,-3 cents.
Meantime, Mr.. Delano in his opening ad.
dress admitted that wool in 1867, before
the tariff went into effect, was worth SO cts
per b., while since then it has averaged
less than AZ cts. So there was a fall of 10
cts in consequence of protection! But
since the change by the tariff of 1883 there
has been further fall of cts, and though
the tariff of 1867 had nothing to do with
the former fall, the present fall of 8 cts. is
clearly attributable to the three cent reduc-
ton of March 1888! Wheat has fallen 90
cts since then, rye 10 cts corn Is cts, oats
10 cts and so on throughout the entire list
of agricultural products. 1t is not pretend
ed that the tariff hatanything TO do with
the fall Of any other prices, but ii is alone
responsible for the fall in the price of
wool!
At any other time the address of the
wool growers, as contemporary remarks,
would be regarded as piece of bombast
or IA practical joke. That change of
few cents per pound in the duties levied
upon imported woods could cause such
catastrophe to the wool interest as is here
represented is simply ridiculous. That
such statement could be gravely prepared
and sen. out as Il true description of the ex-
listing depression in the wool interest and
that il could be in all seriousness accepted
by the people, is striking illustration of
the blind and irrational faith in the eifica.
cy of really destructive tariff, which the
Republicans have taught for so long, and
which circumstances have apparently tend
ed to support, though in fact to disprove.'
These wool growers would like the cam
paign to turn upon the wool duties-a sin.
gularly narrow and selfish view of the mat
ter. And the more they undertake to mag
nifty their own Importance the more ride
ulousdo they appear. That they will eX-
ert any influence in the contest we see no
reason to believe; and we hope that the
peope will not be blinded by such rant, a
grea, deal of which will probably he Ut.
tered in the next six months. The real is
sue does not turn upon the wool duties, or
Theron duties, OF the copper duties, but
on the tariff as whole The tariff ought
not TO be reformed" in the selfish manner
In which it was built up and in which the
Thrift Commission attempted to change il.
The Democrats of southern Illinois are