Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1888-04-11
THE WOOL TARIFF.
the Editors Of the TRANSCRIPT.

THE WOOL TARIFF.
TO the Editors Of the TRANSCRIPT.
The only recommendation President
Cleveland made TO congress in his mes
sage at the commencement of their pres
ent session, was the removal of the tariff
on imported wool, simply appealing to
the patriotism of manufacturers to submit
wOOlen fabrics in consideration of the ad-
yantages they would derive if wool was
put upon the free list. The executive
committee of our State Alliance endorse
President Cleve,and's message. The par
tisans of President Cleveland in Congress
following his recommendation, propose
to put wool on the free list, also lumber,
salt, fax seed. etc. They also propose to
make reductions in tariff on many other
articles, but their main objective point
and the one over which their clackers are
shouting themselves hoarse, is free wool.
This branch of the tariff question I ask
permission to discuss in my farmer like
way through the medium of your paper.
1t is more in the hopes of getting people
to stop and think before committing
themselves, and of arousing healthy
public sentiment, than of shedding any
particular light upon the question. I Ger
tainly have as yet but little fears that
farmers or even honorable men in con-
gress are willing to thus wantonly slaugh-
ter one of the geese that lays valuable if
not golden eggs, though it he in the in
terest of wealthy corporations and at the
back of powerful party chieftain.
Unfortunately laboring men and especi-
ally we farmers, are so worn and physi-
cally and mentally prostrated by the Sc
we're protracted labor and the worries at
tendent upon our efforts to supply our
selves and families with the bare neces-
saries of lite, that we do not give subjects
like this of great national as we'll as in
dividual importance and the considera
ton their magnitude demands, but often
by following the lead of brazen dema-
gogues, unwittingly lend our influence
and aid to schemes prejudiced to our in
terests.
The following incident illustrates this
fact, also the apparent necessity for a
wider field for the discussion of this ques-
tion than the writer at first contemplated.
At the last meeting of our Austin alliance
at the close of the very interesting discus
sion of the question of protection vs.. tree
trade, member requested that the fol-
lowing resolution be made the subject
for discussion at the next meeting:
ResolUed, That the proposed change in
import duties on wool and woolen fabrics
recommended by maj jority of the Ways
and Means Committee of the lower house
of congress and incorporated in their So
called Mills bill, is solely in the interest
of manufacturers and people of wealth;
that it's enactment would be ruinous to
the wool grower and detrimental to the
producing class.
He gave as his reasons for asking this
favor. that it was in line with the discus
sion just closed, but more specific, that
it was a question of great Importance
and at present exciting much interest.
Their committee on programme had ag-
reed upon the question of convict labor
as the subject for next discussion and
broadly declared that the question first
named was only of interest to few wool
men while the question of convict labor
was of immediate importance to them all.
The latter appeared to be the prevailing
sentiment. While I am willing to give
the Alliance members credit for knowing
what pertains particularly to their inter.
ests. wish to protest in behalf of WOO
growers that the question of convict la
Dor is of comparatively limited interest
| to them, nor will it be otherwise unit
President Cleveland and his satyrs, or il
| you please, satellites, succeed in depriv'
ing us of our one little talent (our sheep
and giving it to those Of ten Thousand
| talents \the manufacturers.
But twas the wool and its fabrics ques
tion and in the form of aforesaid resolu
ton I proposed to discuss and will nov
try to get there"
This Mills bill proposes to put wool or
the free list, thus giving manufacturer!
access to the foreign markets of the wOrlC
for their supplies and enable them to dis
pose of their fabrics to other nations ir
fair competition with the manufacturers
of the old world, but by maintaining ar
advalorem tax on imported goods of from
80 to 40 per cent. on value. will enable
IN addition to costs of manufacture
which they are sure to do, but will effec
lively cut US off from obtaining supplies
IN the free markets of the world on ar
equality with them. This IS land o
socalled equal rights and privileges"
| Need more be said to establish in tht
minds of rejecting men the proposition
that this scheme is in the interest o
manufacturers.
| Here permit me to ask the honorable
members of the executive committee o
our State Alliance if it is particularly
within their province to forward the in
terests of the manufacturer by giving
them advantages denied us: Is that wha
the Alliance was organized for?
Whether wealthy people aside from
manufacturers and speculating sharks art
likely to be benefited by the passage oi
this bill or not is of comparatively little
Importance. This much is certain, if !
reduces the price of any class of goods i
is likely to be that of the best class o
imported goods, such as is used by mer
chant tailors and IS worn only by peopl'
of wealth and a few no account spend
thrift dudes. Farmers are by force o
circumstances obliged to content them
selves with cheap domestics, too ofte1
composed of cotton and shoddy and Otter
with but a limited supply of that. Thi
Mills bill proposes to admit shoddY ap'
wool waste, duty free. Evidently the.
do not intend that the state of Denmarl
or any foreign state should enjoy mo
nopoly of rottenness.
But fear weary you and will there
fole proceed to consider the two last bu
most important propositions in the reso
luton, viz: that its enactment would b
Al l.A.