The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-05-22
THEY GIVE THEIR INDUSTRY A
BIG BOOST IN THE RES-
URREOTED CITY!
A Lively Congressional Debate,
With Pistols for Two in
the Background!
The Crop Reports from Many
States Continue to Exhibit
Favorable Prospects!
And Il Perfumed COterie of Bus
mess Republicans Endorse
Arthur's Nomination.!
THE WOOL GROWERS.

| They Issue an Important Manifesto
Touching their General Interests,
CHICAGO, May 20.-The national
mass-meeting of wool growers of the
| United States resumed it's session this
morning. The committee appointed
to prepare an address to the wool
growers of the country submitted the
following
To the wool growers and sheep
breeders of the United States:
Gentlemen-At the national con-
vention of weol growers and sheep
breeders of the United States, held at
Chicago, May 10, 1884, and which was
attended by delegates from twenty
states, committee was appointed to
draw up an address to the wool grow
ers of the country for the purpose of
arousing them to a proper realization
of the necessity that exists for imme-
diate action. if they would rescue
the great industry in which they are
engaged from the present depressed
condition and the impending danger
of still more serious nature. The
undersigned members of the commit
tee firmly believe that the existing
sad condition of the interest you rep
resent has been brought about large
ly, if not altogether, by adverse con-
greSSional legislation, and that it will
not again be prosperous until congress
shall reverse the action of its last SeS.
sion, and restore the rates of duty to
those which prevailed under the
tariff of '67, by which, for the first
time in the industrial history of the
country, equitable relations were es-
tablished between the duties on wool
and those on woolen goods. 1t
can be conclusively shown that
the tariff act of that
year gave to American
PRODUCERS of both woods and wooden
goods, steady markets and secure
expansion of production, and through
this expanded production it gave con-
Sumers cheaper woods and woolenS
than were ever before known in
America, and brought prices for all
goods of ordinary wear, and of many
for fine and luXuriuoS wear, lower, or
rs low, as known in Europe or else
where. The repeal of the tariff of
1867 on wool and woolens was not
asked for, as has been alleged, by the
conservative business sentiment of the
country, or by any considerable num-
Der of the American people.
1t was brought about wholly
through the efforts of importers
and others interested in securing In
the United States market for for
elgn woods, aided by few parties
who desired to make use of foreign
products as a whip with which to SUBJ
due the American market, and to men,
ace the American producers, upon
whom they were necessarily compelled
to rely for nine-tenths of the wool re-
uuired in their business. These COM
bined influences, unpatriotic and un-
American, led to the passage of the
unwise,. abortive and suicidal tariff
act of 1883, to which we firmly believe
may be attributed the present de-
pressed condition of the wool indus
try. You have doubtless, gentlemen,
heard much touching the soundness
of the policy of putting raw materials
of manufacture, including wool, on the
free list. We trust you will resent such
proposition, whenever and where
ever it is made, with the indignation
which it greatly merits. Wool is the
finished product of a million OF flock
owners, who have, by years of intelli-
gent and patient labor, and the expen-
diture of large sums of money,
brought their product to its present
high standard of excellence. To class
it simply as raw materials some
thing that has been produced almost
without cost OF expenditure OF labor
is an injustice against which we trust
YOU will enter 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. Growing wool
is equally essential with the
growing of food and forests,
and with the manufacture OF iron
and steel. The maintainance OF COM
merce. marine and navy, with ma
tional militia, are the primary ele-
ments of national defense in war and
of financial security and independence
in time of peace, the loss or neglect OF
which would derange our entire mon
etary system and place the entire
country. in all it's interests, in a con-
ditfon of industrial and colonial vas
salage to foreign producers, equally
fatal to the happiness and unDecom-
ing to the dignity and honor OF the
nation, whose annual increase IN
wealth is now three-fold that of any
other nation, and whose population
now gives it the second rank among
civilized empires, anil the hrst
among the free, self-governlng,
and enlightened people. The
appeal finally declares the wool
growers have right to ask congress
for the restoration of a measure OF
protection, and concludes in the fol-
lowing terms:
"Finally, believing that desperate
diseases require heroic remedies, we
especially urge you to sustain at the
polls, for the legislative offices, only
such candidates as are in favor OF ad-
eouately protecting and encouraging
the great industry of sheep husbandry,
by Voting to restore the wool tariff OF
1867. or a rate of duties at least as
protective as those embodied IN that
act"
The remaining session was taken up
by discussing methods for united ac,
ton In the pending national political
canvass, and in making the power OF
the wool-growing industry felt.
II