The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1888-08-08
A WOOL DEALER TALKS.
Why the Democrats of Texas are In Favor
of Free Wool.
New York Post.l

why the Democrats of Texas are In Favor
of Free Wool.
New York Post
In view of many assertions that the passage
of the Mills bill, which puts wool on the free
list would injure the domestic growers of that
staple, and it was, therefore, opposed in the
sheep-raising states, reporter OF the Evening
Post to-day made some inquiries on this subject
of Mr.. George t. Malone, who is vice president
Of the Texas trading company OF Lampasas,
Texas. This company handles wool in con-
signment direct from the growers, taking the
bulk OF the clip which comes to the Lampasas
market. Wen the clip is full, the quantity
that it handles annually is some l,250,0O0
pounds. Its dealings are extensive IN number
as well as in amount. most OF the growers with
which it does business having clips of from
5000 to 10000 each.
In reply to the questions put to him, Mr..
Malone said: "The present price OF wool,
which is very low, could not be deprecated by
the passage of the Mills bill. have not come
in personal contact with the growers since last
fall, before the introduction of the Mills bill,
but know that some very prominent growers
in Texas have taken the same stand that | do,
which is that their interests would suffer no
permanent harm by the passage OF that meas
ure. If this bill had been brought forward a
few years since, when the prices OF wool were
very high, the growers would have felt differ
emily. Later, however, they have become
much dissatisfied with the determinations and
inequalities of the existing tariff. Formerly
they regarded the tariff as a protection TO them,
and believed it was that which kept up the
price of wool. II the Mills bill had been in
troduced year ago they would have attrib-
uted to that. and TO the agitation connected
with it, the low prices which have since pre-
vailed. For years the price OF wool has been
very variable. Last season it opened extremely
high, and then a shrinkage followed, which
still continues. The condition is better, nowl
however, than before the introduction Of the
Mills bill, prices having touched bottom pre-
viously.
'The decline in the price of wool was due 10
the unhealthy condition of the manufacturing
interest 1t is now seen by many of the grow
ers that the manufacturers need free wool. and
that if they got it, the manufacturing industry
would receive a stimulus that would cause q
strady and uniform demand for wool at stable
prices. With wool on the free list, growers
would know Just where they stood, whereas,
when il may lie altered or what the condition
of manufactures may be. Carpet stock and
the finer grades Of wool are not grown in this
country al all, and their importation duty free,
while not in any way interfering with the do
nestle wo0l-grower, would tend TO widen the
range of manufacturing, and thereby open
new avenues of employment TO the working
classes. In my opinion, free raw materials of
every kind would increase the prosperity Of
the working classes by the consequent extern
sion of manufacturing in this country, In new
as well as old directions.
$50 far as can perceive, there is no class of
wool which, if put on the free list, is likely to
be imported in sufficient quantities to depre-
ciate the present price of any grade of Ameri-
can wool The class of wool that we do pro-
duee is not raised here in sufficient quantities
to fill the domestic demand. Manufacturers ad-
nit that it would be an advantage to them to
have free wool, and believe that in the long
run the interests of the wool manufacturer and
the grower are identical.
There is a certain amount of fine wool which
must be imported TO mix with our own WOOL
in order to compete with the products of for
eign manufacturers, The exaction of duty
upon this hurts the domestic grower as much
as the domestic manufacturer, because the lat
ter to make up for the enhanced cost of the
foreign wool, has to secure his native wool at
a cheaper rate than he could otherwise afford
to pay"