The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-25
THEY MUST BE PROTECTED
Viewsof Indiana Wool-Growers Regard
ing Proposed Tariff Reform.
They Declare that If Wool Is Placed on the
Free List It Will Prove Ruinous
to Their Industry.

The Indiana wool growers in attendance at
Ahe annual meeting of the association, which be-
gan yesterday are having great deal to say
about the proposition to place wool on the free
list. The prevailing sentiment among them is
that the tariff should be maintained Hon.
Calvin Cowgirl, of Wabash, large weol grower,
in speaking of the matter, said: II think it was
great mistake wssen the tariff was reduced on
wool in 1883 The effect has been to reduce the
Industry of sbeep-raising and to materially
lower the price of wool, and further reduction
of the tariff would almost wholly drive the
business out of the country. 1t undoub tedly
would in those States where the price Of land is
high, such as Indiana. Illinois. Ohio and other
central States. In the mountainous districts of
the Territories and Western States wool-produc-
ers might be able TO retain their fiocks. think
it impossible for the United States to be as inde-
pendent Of foreign countries it should be il
this great industry is destroyed
J. T.. Thompson, of Arcana, has large sheep
FARM upon which he rears a Thousand head.
He has been exclusively in the sheep business
for a number of years. He contemplates
the possible tinkering with the tariff with
a great deal OF apprehension. Had it not been
for the reduction in 1883 he thought the wool
industry by this time would have been sufficient
~ large TO supply the domestic market. Within
his acquaintance he could recall over hundred
farmers who have abandoned sheep raising in
the last five years. He thought that if the in
dustry could be protected until American farm
ers might be able to introduce improved breeds
and better understand the methods of sheep
culture, then the wool growers may be able to
stand alone, s'but.D said Mr. Thompson 1--WE
have fgot to be educated up to that point.
We cannot compete with India and Australia be-
cause their pasturage costs them nothing. Their
focks require no shelter, and even salt does not
have to be purchased
Other members of the association in CONVEX
sation stated that at the present prices OF TWEEN
ty TO twenty five cents per pound it was possible
20 make some profit, providing the producer is
able enter the business upon a large scale. If
the present tariff, amounting to about ten cents
per pound, were removed, the price of wool
would fall to ten and fifteen cents and at that
rate no one could afford to raise it.
After the convention was organized >. w.
DUNCAN, the president of the association, in his
address after speaking of the uncertainty in
the wool market. said that he took exception TO
the favorite theory of tariff reformers which
proposes to admit all raw material free of duty.
This theory, he said was sound only where the
raw material Is not home product. In the
present instance it would be a palpable attempt
to burden and even break down the
agricultural interests for the purpose of
promoting the manufacturing industry.
The claim that in order to reduce the surplus
revenue the free list must be largely increased,
including all raw material for manufacture
well general reduction of the scale of duty.
is mere pretense The amount of surplus
revenue is about 500 00O 000 and the income
from excise duty about the same These might be
dispensed with and not affect any valuable in
dustry in the country; at least industry
vital to the great agricultural interests of the
Nation as wool-growing should not be put in jeop-
ardy to crafty the sophsms of speculative econ
omists In the United States the most favorable
conditions for producing every variety of wool
prevail, and the large amount of wool con-
sumed should be produced at home. It would
be suicidal policy and the madness of political
folly TO admit wool free. In conclusion the
speaker recommended that resolutions on the
wool growing interests be couched in language
that could not be misunderstood.
A paper was read by j. Williams, of Mum
Gle. on Relative Profits of Sheep When Fed for
Market as Compared with Other Stock" He
thought sheep paid better than cattle, and cited
an illustration In one instance he had paid.
equal amounts for herd of sheep and num-
Der of cattle, which he fattened for the market.
The profits realized on the sheep amounted to
$433, and those on the cattle to $271 To deal
prohtaby with sheep for the market. il was
necessary, he said, to have them in the best
sacrilege to leave the subject without making a
few remarks upon the tariff. ''These so-called
reformers," the speaker said "are aiming a
blow at an industry on which five million peo-
pie are dependent. and the removal of the tariff
would drive an additional million to the
pursuit of farming. with the result of an inn
mense over-producton of farm products If the
protection on wool were removed, Australia,
with 10000, 900 of sheep, which it costs nothing
TO maintain, will entirely kill the sheep industry
in this country"
Raise Sheep for Mutton and Wool Aloneg
Fielding Beeler gave several good illustrations
of the profits he realized from a well attended
flock of sheep.
DR.. Ryland T. Brown in response to the ques-
ton, "Can we control the sex in breeding2" made
O few remarks, in which he said il was mpossi-
BILE, and it is well that it is So Mr.. Brown also
gave his views wool protection. in speaking
of which he said: "When the question Of tariff
comes up there is a pretty general agreement
that rhe tariff on raw material should be taken
off as a means of aiding the manufacturer.
This, think, is correct far it applies to
foreign raw material. bat material which re-
quires the employment of American labor the
tariff should be maintained. 1t takes
much labor to raise a pound of wool
as il does to manufacture it, and the farmer has
an equal right with the manufacturer to be pro-
tected The same thing is true of the lumber
industry The term raw material is RELATIVES;
iron ore is material to the pig iron manu-
facturer. Pig iron is material to the steel
rail manufacturer and steel rails mater
ial to the railroad. The true philosophy is to
levy a tax to protect all the industries"
A rambling talk upon sheep culture showed
that in the opinion of a majority of members
sheep raising, with view to the meat market,
is more profitable than the rearing of either hogs
or cattle Sheep fatten more quickly and re-
quire less care aud attention. and with their
added value as weed exterminators they are a
necessity on every farm.
A question drawer gave rise to further dis
cussion of the tariff and the convention adj
journed to meet at o'clock this morning.