Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-01-20
LIE WOOL MEMS ADDRESS.

The following is the address prepared
by committee of nine-three from each
of delegates representing wool-growers,
dealers and manufacturers, who met in
Washington last week:
The representatives OF the National
association of wool manufacturers andJof
the Wool Growers National association,
speaking, as they believe. for all persons
engaged in both these occupations in the
United States, with only individual ex-
ceptions, proclaim anew their deep con-
viction that the protection by tariff of
the production of wool and of the manu-
features of wool is demanded by the best
interests of the American people. The
increase in the clip of American wool
from 60 ,264 1923 pounds in 1859 to 302.-
100000 pounds in 1885, while the imports
of foreign wool advanced only from 26,-
2S2.935 pounds to 70,596.l70 pounds with
in the same period, demonstrates the
effect of protective duties in promoting
sheep husbandry i'm this country, and in
thus adding to the sources of national
prosperity and wealth.
The fact that the reduction in the tariff
on wool in 1883 was Immediately followed
by a decrease in the number of sheep in
the country from 50.626,626 in 1884 to
44,159,3l4 in 1887 gives warning that the
abolition of duties on wool would seri-
ously cripple the raising of sheep in this
country. which is the third producer in
quantity among the nations, and would
thus increase the price of wool all over
the world, while the consequent destruc-
ton of sheep would materially affect the
supply and the price of meat and to
| Of oil isin
Inasmuch as American manufacturers
furnished in 1880 S1.9 per cent. of the
wooden goods consumed in the United
States, although in 1860 only 62.S per
cent. of such goods were produced in this
country, no reduction in the tariff can be
necessary to afford the American people
full supply and abundant competition
in fabrics which enter into every family,
and for which the prices for like qualities
compare favorably with those in foreign
countries.
The advance in the consumption of
wool in the United States from IS. 749, 635
pounds in 1859 to 424, 404 100 pounds in
1850, under a protective tariff. is to be
attributed to the impetus given to manu-
features by the raising of sheep in this
country, which in 1854 furnished l.3 per
cent of all the wool consumed here. As
means to the development of manufac-
lures at home, the sheep industry, which
has so largely aided in the development
and civilization of our vast Western cOun-
try, deserves consistent and adequate ell
couragement in the adjustment of the
national revenue. Under the protective
policy the United States has become the
foremost manufacturing nation in the
world. while its agriculture has been eX-
] ia nd IL ial hxrth a
the most profitable markets known to
men. Prudence forbids the overthrow of
a system of revenue under which such
results have been obtained, while the
wages of labor and the share of produc-
ton paid to the American artisan are far
greater than in any other country.
The committees here assembled ask for
the continuance of protection to their in
dustries only as they ask for like consid-
GRAFTON to every other branch of Ameri-
can productions. They plead for no
favoritism to particular interests, but for
a broad national policy, essential to the
well-being of all our people, and contrib
uting 10 the prosperity and progress and
power of the republic. They know that
the abolition of the duties on wool, almost
fatal to our sheep husbandry, would be
very damaging to the manufacturers OF
wool. These committees urge that nc
reason can be shown why subsidies
should be offered for foreign competition
by the repeal or reduction of the tariff
and they suggest that wisdom as well as
patriotism requires that all American
} productions shall have the fostering care
of the government as the safeguard Of
American nationality.
We urgently request Congress to imme
, diately pass joint resolution correcting
the present erroneous classification o.
worsteds, by directing that they be elias
| sitied as wooden cloths. We favor tn,
, passage of the Senate bill known as tn,
/ Aldrich bill to suppress differentiation
| of imports"