The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1884-05-31
the WOOL GROWERS.
Proceedings Of the Mass Meeting
Held at Chicago.

meeting OF wool growers of the United
States was called to order at 10 o'clock
this morning, l34 delegates being pres
ept Fifty of them were from Ohio and
tticty-eight from Pennsylvania. Teen-
ty-one states and territories are repre-
sented. j. S. Codding, of Kansas. was
elected temporary chairman. A COM
mittee on permanent organization was
appointed and a recess taken.
After recess, Columbus Delano, of
Ohio, WAS chosen president, and r.
L. McCuliy, of Missouri, secretary, and
made up a list of vice presidents from
the wool growing states. The commit
tee on resolutions made a report, which.
after speaking of the injustice inflicted
by the act of Congress of March, 1873,
declares that if sheep husbandry is
abandoned or seriously diminished our
entire system of agriculture viii be en-
barrassed, our capacity FOR production Of
meats, breadstuffs and other articles re-
luired by our civilization will be seri-
ously diminished, and our great prosper
lty Impaired. 1t says the act of 1888,
reducing duties on foreign WOODS, has
seriously injured, and, if continued, will
in the future diminish, if it Joes not
substantially destroy, the production
of wool and sheep in the
United States The resolutions
then declare in favor of organization as
wool-growers and sheep-breeders, 10 CO.
operate by means of our national asso-
slation, to be aided by state and county
associations, and in thst way and by all
>ther legitimate methods. endeavor to
restore the wool tariff of 1867 or It's
Equivalent on wools and woolens, and
cause to be repealed the unjust, unwise
md unequal legislation of 1888, reduc-
ng the duties On woods and woolens.
The resolutions repudiate the doctrine
If free trade as faliacious and lmprac-
icable theory, sustained largely by the
money of foreign capitalists, who desire
the control OF our markets for the sale
and consumption of goods produced
where labor is cheap and money
abundant, and pronounce as unworthy
of respectful consideration the theory of
those manufacturers who claim that raw
material shall be free while their fabrics
are protected. The question is then
asked, with emphasis, why the labor re-
quired to produce wool Is less worthy of
protection than the labor at toe spindle
and loom, where the fabrics Of wool are
produced. The resolutions were adopt
ed with the addition of a declaration that
the wool-growers will not support any
party or political candidate until 1T or he
Las clearly defined Its or his position In
favor of the restoration of the tariff of
1867.
CHICAGO, May 20.-The national mass
meeting of wool-growers of the United
States resumed its deliberations at 10
o'clock this morning. The committee
appointed to prepare an address to the
wooi-growers of tie country submitted
the following:
To tie Woo Grot1e1s and SltePp-Breeders OF
The UH5ied Stdtes-GENTLEMEN: Al tie pa.
tionaI convention of wooi-i rowers and sheep
breeders OF the United S ates, held in Chicago
o. the 18Th OF May, 1884. and which was at
tended by de G ates from twenty states, a
committee was SppOiHted to CrGw up an aGd.ess
to the WOO growers of the country fer tue pur-
pose OF aroGs:ng them to q proper realization
of the necessity that exits for ImnIec ate
and energetic action = they would revive
the great industry in w,..ch they are engaged
from Its present depressed condition AID from
impending dangers. The undersigned men,
bers of the COMMITTEES firmly believe that the
existing Sad condition Of the interest you rep
resent has been icought about largely. If not
altogether, by adverse congressional legislation
and tha; it Will BOT sgaia De prosperous un:.l
Congress snail reverse lis action at Is last ses-
sIon aad restore tie rates of du!y t. hose
which prevailed under the tariff of 1867, by
whlc1 for the first tiWe III the lndasllsI bus
tory OF the country equitable relations were es-
tahlished between tue duties on MOO and taose
on woo.en goods.
II can be conclusIvely shcwn that the tariff act
OF that year gave to the American producers
Of both WoOls and wooden goods steady market s
and secure expansion of production. Ii gave
consn.ners cheaper woods and woOiens than
were ever before known ii America, and
brought prices for eli goods of ordinary wear
and Of many for fine and luxurious wear lower
or as low as are known IN Europe Cr elsewhere.
The repeal of the tariff Of 1857 on wool and
voolens was not asked foc. as Eas been alleged.
by the conservative business sentiment OF
tie country, or by any considerable
number OF the American people. l. wal
brought about wholly through tn,
efforts of importers and others interested in Sc
curing in the Uuited States market fer for.
eIga woods, aided by a few parties who desire
to make use OF the foreign product as q whp
with which to subdUe the American market,
aud :. menace to American producers, upon
whom they were necessarily compelled TO rely
for nine-tenths OF the wool required III thls
rlouc and un-Americau, led to the passage Of
toe uuwise. abortive and suicidal tariff act Of
1888. to which we firmly believe may be attrib-
uted ihe present depressed condition of the
wool industry. You have doubtless, gent;e
Den. heard much Of late touching the
souudness OF policy OF putting raw materials
OF Manufacture, including wool. on the free
list. We trust you will resent such proposition
whenever and wherever made, with the lDdig.
nation wkica 1t Justly merits. Wool is the
finished prodoct Of million fock-owneis who
have BY years OF intelligent and patient labor,
and the expenditure of large sums OF money.
brought their product to the present high
standard of excellence. To class 1t simply 81
raw material, as something That has been pro
duced almost without cost c. expenditure OF
time and labor, is an injustice against which
we trust you will enter ku effective
protest Tie arguments made in the
defense Of the principle Of production
apply al least az forcibly to wool to any arti-
Gle on the tariff schedule. The growing OF
wool is equally with the growing Of food and
forests, snd with the manufacture OF iron and
steel the maintenance OF commercial marine
and navy. or of a national militia, primary
cement OF national defense N w.r and OF tinan
cial security and Independence in peace, the
loss or neglect of which would dersnge our en-.
tire mcnetaj system and place the entire coua-
try in si is interests IL q condition of industrial
and colonial y2ssalsge 10 foreign producers
equally fats, to happiness and unbecoming to
fne dIgnitT and honor of the nStoD, whose AZ
nusl increase in wealth is now thrce-soid this
of ary other na.ion, and whose populati0
now giTes it secoGd rank among the civil;ze
empires, and first among free, se.f-goyernin
aud ebhs shtened peoples.
The appeal finally declares that th
wool growers have the right TO ask Con
gress for the restoration of measure O
protection and concludes in the follow
ing ter Ds:
Finally, believing that desperate diseases re
qu;re heroic remedies, we especially urge yol
10 sustain st the polls FOR legislative office
only such candidates as are In favcr CT ade
uateIv protecting and encouraging the gr,a
industry o. sheep oandry by voting to II
store the wool tariff OF 1867 or rates of dutie
at east as protective M those embodied i'll tha
act.
The report was unanimously adopted
The remainder of the sass;on vs fako