Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-06-13
THE WOOL INTERESTS.
An Address Issued by the National
Convention to the Wool
Growers Of the Country.
They Propose tDvotc Only for Candidates
VINO Pledge Themselves to Work
for the Restoration of III
Tariff of 1867.
THE PROCEEDINGS.

CHICAGO, ILL.,, May 20.-The Wool-grow-
ers' Convention is an emphatic success al
though in its first days session ii has only
roughly outlined the work to be accom-
plished. The delegation from Ohio are in a
majority, and the representatives from that
State have virtually shaped the action of
the gathering. They have insisted that
there shouldb be no politics andno geograph-
ical difference in Il convention which has
come together fcY the purpose Of protection.
The committee on resolutions made a re-
port, which, after speaking of the injustice
inflicted by the act of Congress OF March,
1888, went on to declare: 1
F~irst-That by the census returns Tor 1850
there were l,02G,OO0 flock masters, and that
there is no State where this industry is not
pursued.
Sccond-That the product of wool for the
year 1883 reached $4,000, 0G0 pounds, and its
value more than Si00,ooD,Do0, and that the
value of mutton resulting from sheep siaugh-
tered for food was over SSO,VDO,0JO.
~Third-Ihat sheep hlshandry is an impor-
tant factor in the prosperity oil other agl,iciil-
tural pursuits, because OF the utility Of sheep
hausted lands. SO that il abandoned or seri-
ously diminished our entire system OF agri-
culture would be embarrassed, our capacity
for the production OF meats, breadstnifs
and other articles required by. our civiliAa-
ton will be seriously diminished, and the
great prosperity impaired. We cannot afford
as Il Nation to endangcra great agricultural
pursuit which adds each year directly &l5a,-
Uj2,0O0 TO the Nations wealth, having invested
ill real estate not less than $500, 900 900 of cap
itai and which contributes indirectly SO en-
tensively to the Nations prosperity.
F~ourth-That the act Of 1883 reducing duties
on foreign woods has seriously injured, and, if
continued, will in future diminish il it does
not substantially destroy the production of
wool and sheep in The United States, and this
assertion we sustain by these facts: THE re.
caused q loss OF over $li,00a,0O to the wool
growers, compared with that of 1852, and pre-
diets q much greater loss Tor lSS4,and says the
climate and conditions in Australia will COM
pei American. producers to abandon sheep
raising for other pursuits.l 1T is. therefore
R"sotred. 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 associations, and in
this way and by all other legitimate methods
will do all in our power to restore the wool
tariff Of 1867 or its equivalent on woods and
woolcns, and cause to be repealed the unjust,
unwjse and unequal legislation Of 1853 reduc-
ing the duties on woods and woolens.
Rcs0lUcd, That i'll doing this we will, without
reference to former political affiliations, re-
cognize our friends whenever and wherever
we find them, and al the polls will sustain
only such men and such party organizations as
are in favor of protecting and encouraging
and sustaining sheep. hushandry, in these
United States by restoring the wool tariff Of
1867 or its equivalent.
ResOlCcd, That we favor q wise and compre-
hensive system Of economic legislation best
calculated to foster and develop all American
industries that can be protitahly pursued by
our people whereby, employment may be
given all laboring classes, not at the prices
paid the lahoring poor Of foreign nations, but
at such ages as will secure such educational,
religious and social privileges and such phys
zeal comforts as the free men OF this free Ma
ton are entitled to and ought to enjoy.
ReSolDcd, That we repuidatc the doctrine of
free trade as a fallacious and impracticable
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 we regard as unworthy
respectful consideration the theory of those
manufacturers who claim that raw material
shall be free while their fabrics are protected.
to produce wool is less worthy of protection
than labor at the spindle and loom where fab
RIGS OF wool are produced?
E%cs0lrcd. That the lone-continued and syste-
matte undcrvaluatiOn of imported wood, re-
sulting, as it does, in the loss Of much revenue
torthcG Government, and robbing the American
conferred by the tariff, and which the secre-
tary Of the Treasury declares will continue
under existing laws, demands and should re-
,ceive the immediate attention OF Congress.
The platform was adopted with the fol
lowing words to the second resolution:
sAnd that we will not support any party
or political candidate until it OF he has
"lSlll SllllN lo IL ilio pCSlliOll Al wv VI
the restoration of said tariff"
A committee OF five was appointed to
draft an address to the wool-growers of the
United States, and the convention adjourned
until 9 a. N. tomorrow.
SECOND Days PROCEEDINGS:
CHICAGO, May 2O,-The National Mass
meeting OF wool growers of the United
States resumed atten o'clock this morning.
The committee appointed to prepare an ad-
dress to the wool growers OF the country
submitted the following.
To the Wool Growers and Sheep Breeders OF
the United States:
OF wool growers and sheep breeders of the
United States, held at Chicago the 18th 0 fMay,
1881. and which was attended by delegates
from twenty States, n committee was APP.
pointed to draw up an address to the woo
growers of the country for the purpose of
saronsing them to the proper realization OF the
the great industry in which they are en-.
gagged, from its present depressed condition
and the impending danger Of a still more
serious nature. The undersigned members of
the committee firmly believe that the exist
ing sad condition Of the interest pres
altogether: by adverse Congressional legisla-
ton, and that it will not again be prosperous
until Congress shall reverse, its action at it's
10 those which prevailed under the tariff
of 1851, by which for the first time in
the industrial history of the country
equitable relations We're established between
the duties on wool and those on wooden goods.
1T can be conclusively shown that the tariff
act OF that year gave to the American
producers Of both woods and WOODEN goods
steady markets, a sure expansion of produc-
ton and that through this increased produc-
ton it gives consumers cheaper woods and
wOolens than We're ever before known in
America and brought prices for all goods of
ordinary wear, lower OF as low as are know
in Europe or elsewhere. Ihe repeal Of the
tariff of 1867 on wool and woolcns was not
asked for, as has been alleged by the conser-
vativc business sentimento of the country or by
considerable number Of the American peo-
pie. 1t was brought about wholly through
the efforts of importers and others interested
in securing the United States a market for
foreign woods aided by a few parties who de-
sired to make use Of the foreign product rs a
whip with which to subduc the American
market and menace American producers,
upon whom they are necessarily compelled to
rely for nine-tenths of the wool required in
this business. These combined influences,
nnpatriotic and un-American, led to the pass
age OF the unwise, abOrtive and suicidal tariff
act Of 1855, to which, we firmly believe. may be
attributed the present depressed condition of
the wool industries.
You have doubtless, gentlemen, heard much
of late touching tho sounducss of the policy of
putting raw materials of manufacture" in
GLIDING wool, on the free list. We trust you
ayill resent such Il proposition whenever and
wherever made with the Indignation which it
greatly merits. Wool is the finished product