Salt Lake evening Democrat. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1885-1887, 1885-05-29
THE WOOL GROWERS.

The National Wool-growers' Associa-
ton has just been holding its annual
convention in st. Louis. 1t seems not to
have been very largely attended, not so
largely as the wool-growers could have
wished. The far West seems to have
been entirely unrepresented. Vernon, of
Texas, said that as good wool could be
grown in the United States as the wool of
North Australia, and could be raised as
cheaply as the wool of South Australia
The cheap wool of South Australia has
been the one competitor that the wool
growers have had to fear, no other coun-
try even trying to enter the race. This
was not denied by any of the delegates
present, at least the kilograms do not
mention them. But just prior to ad-
! journing sine die, resolution was re-
ported which demands the restoration of
the wool tariff of 1867. That tariff was
more than protective; it was prohibitive.
! Other resolutions recited the fact that
since the alteration OF the tariff
on wool in 1888, the wool-growers of
this country have lost ninety million dol
lars on account of the reduction; and this
did not take into account the depreciation
of the focks. This depreciation of the
fiocks was bound to result from the
lessened price of wool. At the present
prices for wool, the sheep industry is one
of the best paying in the whole country,
and the risks in it are those which arise
from the seasons and the danger of dis
ease getting among the fioclzs, but not
from foreign competition. The profits of
the industry have not been merely good,
but enormous, 80 to 80 per cent. being the
usual return. Perhaps it may not have
been so large of late, but for all that it
has been more profitable than any other
industry in the West, cattle-raising not
excepted. But the almost last act of the
convention was to tell how much the
wool-growers had lost since 1888. 1t is
| strange they did not mention how much
the country had gained, for it has gained
by their loss. Our domestic wool has not
! been exported on account of the
reduction of the tariff on wool, but
has all been consumed at home.
In addition to this the country has i'm
| ported ninety million dollars worth of
wool to supply the demand, or else the
wool-growers could have maintained a
price on wool that would have saved this
ninety million dollars to them. The
lower prices for wool have not been
owing solely to the reduction in the tariff.
but to the much larger number of per-
sons engaged in wool raising. They were
induced to engage in the business be.
cause OF the enormous profits realized
by those already in it. The demand
was far greater than the supply, and
hence the high prices obtained by those
who were in part able to supply the de-
mands The duty on foreign wool was SO
great as to forbid consumers importing
the manufactured goods being too costly
to create the demand which would make
their sale profitable. Purchasers had
but one market in which to buy, and that
market was limited. The producers had
the consumers at their mercy and gave
them no quarter. The right of
the consumer to buy in the cheapest
market was denied him that the pro-
ducer might live and flourish at his ex-
pense. This was in part changed by the re-
duction of the tariff, but now the producer
wants the old regime establ ished. and
threatens that if it is not done the sbaa,,
industry in America will be abandoned
Ii that industry can only live when living
at the expense OF those not engaged in If
1t ought to be abandoned. Why the Gov
ernment should compel people to buv
what they want at one place, with the
prices regulated in accordance with the
interests of that place or 90 without. is
hard to see. The wool-growers have
lived very comfortably, and if they have
lost ninety millions in two years, then the
have gained that much. The
wrong OF the wool-growers has been
caused by according some rights to those
who were not wool-growers. :
Before adjourning, the Association gave
he Golden Club a farewell blast, and
the Club very severely. Doubt :
ess the Club will feel very sorry for the
,ourse they have taken in trying to spread
he ideas of free trade, and the trua doc
rlne that trade and commerce are best
encouraged when given the freest scone
lntrammeled by obstructive legislation
me average protectionist looks upon the
heones OF the Golden Club as though
hat Club were society of dynamiters or
body of Nihilists bent on introducing 4
haos. So terrible is this fear with most