Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-10-05
S125,O0O,0 900

Besides this immense sum yearly il is
claimed by good authorities THAT the decline
in the value of the farm lands caused by the
abandonment of this industry would exceed
two and one-half dollars per acre on ll2,
900 900 acres, or $3.50, 900 900. Now | wish
to compare our standing with other countries.
Australia, with her immense area of cheap
lands, cheap labor, and remarkable climate
stands first in the world as wool raiser
United States. second; South America,
thrd-eheapest land and cheapest labor
Russia fourth boundless territory and
semi-slave labor.
The United States is the only civilized
country in which there has in recent years
been large increase in the production of
wool. The United States has increased her
wool crop from 1860 to 1884 five hundred
per cent. and supplied so per cent of the
wool required for her manufactures. Under
the competition of Australian and South
American woods the European wool crop has
declined 25 per cent since 1870. Previous
to that time it had steadily increased The
United States now raises one-sixth of the
worlds crop of wool.
We see what effect Australian and South
American wool has on the wool crop of Eu-
rope under low tariff or free trade accord
ing to the country. We have seen what the
effect has been in the United States under
the slight reduction of the tariff of 1888.
We have seen what effect free wool"
from the Western States has had
on Vermont sheep. To-day under
free trade in wool Australian wool can be
landed in this country for lie per Id. You
will readily understand that would result in
the destruction of the wool industry in this
country. You also understand, as a business
man, that with the destruction of one-sixth of
the worlds supply there would be large
advance in the price of wool. consequently
the manufacturer would not get his cheap
wool after all, in the meantime the farmer is
going for the manufacturers scalp and vote
for free woolens. Then the manufacturer in
self defence will insist on low priced labor
and he will get it, To know what low priced
labor means read some of the English reports
to Parliament on the labor question Southern
slavery in the old times does not begin. As
business men we know that our success de-
ponds on the purchasing ability of the farm
ers and the laboring classes, if they have
good wages they are liberal customers; if
low wages they are poor customers. Now to
90 back to the hsnd-bill again you will notice
to begin with its tables are not truthful.
They are made up to prove their statements.
Their statement regarding Vermont is very
likely correct but when taken in connection
with the rest of the country it proves what
they do not wish it to prove. The hand-bill
also states that everything the farmer uses
is taxed to the utmost limit, and then tells the
farmer he is not protected in what he raises.
Both statements are false. As | have given
You big dose of figures will not tire you
out by putting in any more. We all know
how much more the farmer can purchase
to-day with a given amount of farm produce
than he could in 1860 and before that time.
Don't you think it is rather absurd for a
party to be telling the farmers that they are
not protected enough, and then ask them to
vote for free wool.
Don't you think, as practical business
man, that it is the worst of folly to attempt
anything that will injure such an immense
industry as wool raising, and when YOU once
start who can tell where it will stop?
Yours truly,