Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-10-15

Ways and Means correct when il report,
that our capacity to produce Is far in ex-
cess Of tbs requirements Of homo con-
sumption? Does the fact stated that
msny of our mills have closed and many
of those still in operation are running on
short time prove that allegation? Surely
not This is simply prof tbet the peo-
pie haven't confidence; not that they fear
and dread to trust the present administra-
| ton"
Now, sirs, let General Goff turn to the
report of Mr.. Ar,hur's Secretary Of the
Treasury, Mr.. MeCulloch, who has
lately come over to the Dem.
ccratic party. rs he should have
done, Mr.. McCu)l,ch Gays: THE exist
ing iron, cotton and woolen mills II en-.
ployed at their full capacity, could meet in
SIX months-perhaps in q shorter time
,be home demand for year" That was
the year before Grover Cleveland got to be
President Of the country.
Now my fellow citizens, there Is but one
more subjsct will allude to in this open
ing speech.
THE MILLS BILL,
as said, proposes to take about $50, ,0C0,-
600 Of this tax that is upon the shoulders
Of the American workipgman, that mar
rows his field of employment, that takes
something from.erery home in this land. 1t
proposes to give untaxed salt to
every American workingman, it proposes to
give untaxed lumber, that he may build
his home and feel that the Government
has not taxed it,; it proposes TO give un-
taxed wool that his clothing may be made,
and the Government not wrap up so much
OF taxes in that single necessary Of life
and in all its provisions, rot only release
him of the burden Of tax on his wages, but
to open for him new fields Of occupation
and more certainty Of employment. Why,
fellow citizens notwithstanding this tar
upon woolen goods, so heavy that it is alb
solutely merciless, we imported iuto this
country last year SIS. 600, 900 worth OF
woolen clothing, clothing that We
were able to import, clothing that gave
employment to foreign operatives instead
OF 10 American worSingmen, because the
Government imposes such heavy tax up.
on wool, that the American manufacturer
cannot make it and compete with the
foreigner, although the Government gives
him this merciless bounty. Nov, fellow
c,t'zsns, l want to say this, that in helping
to frame the Mills bill, if had found any
points where it helped the farmer, that
would have been the point that / would
have left last to be changed. admit, be-
fore looked into the tariff question, /
supposed, rs doubtless you supposed, tha.
theIe was some benefit in
THE TARIFF on WOOL
to the American wool grower; had that
idea, and knew that in the jugglery OF
1883, the W, Ol grower had heen somewhat
sacrificed to The American woolen manu-
facturer, and l was willing, when I first
went in Congress tn strike that which had
been done before off and leave them where
they were befors That jugglery was &C.
c'mI OliShsd, but when came 10 look in
10 this matter found, az can prove TO
any impartial man in this audience, that
the tax uIOn WOOL by the Government
does not raise ths price ot wool. but that
it depressee tbs price OF American wool.
In year we consum, 100000. 900 rounds
of wool and the American people producs
less than one-hslt or not more than one-
half OF that in this county.
If the Government vii, not allow us TO
import foreign wool to mix with our own
wo.l, foreigners will make our clothes
sash %sh al our FRs TAX 'oa On wool 70 wear
10 day
NOT wooLEN CLOTHING, BUT sHODDY.
Ny fellow ,i'izsnI, when you 20 TO q store
in Martinsburg and buy $40 or q SIS or .
$50 tuit don't persuade yourselves that
You are getting n snit that is all wool and
q yard wide; the chances are nine 10 one
that you are bpying shoddy suit; that II
does not come 10 your back from the sheep's
back, bnt it has come 10 your back fom o
succss on OF wearers either at home or
abroad. We are forcsd TO wear stoddy
because Of this merciless tax upon wool
coming into this country. aud our woolen
industries sre the least prosperous, Of all
o lr industries In this country to day. We
know, as Gen. Grant said in his message,
which I could refer you TO il l thought IL
worth while TO stop, that we require for.
e'g1 woods Of different kinds to mix with
cur wools TO make wcolcn goods, and the
unva yipg history in this country has been
with heavy taxts on wool, wool has been
lower; with NO tax, or light tax, II has a.
ways bounded up, and that has BEEN the
h,tJry Of England aad that has been the
history Of France es well % Of our own
country.
Now, fellow citizens, I have here an an
swer to the Pre,idenps messsg, by
THE MANUFACTURERS CLUB OF PHILA-
DELPHIA;
the President Of that club 10 Mr.. Thomas
Dolau, great woolen manufacturer; one
of its vice presidents is Mr.. Edwin H.
Filter, whom the Pennsy ylvanis delegation
voted for for President at Chicago; in this
r,p'y to the Presidents message, COM
menting On tbs Presidents claim that the
consumer paid the tax, and declaring that
il was not always true; these gentlemen
say: Still another proof Of this is found
in the fact that the tax on wool demon
strabIy operates to keep down the price Of
wool" Is that what General Goff tells
the farmers of West Virginia that the
taxes demonstrsbly keep down the prico
of wool? He tells them that the tar In
put there TO keep up the price Of wool,
aud that il you take the tax Of, the wool
growers business will be destroyed in this
country.
Now, fellow citizsus, just one more word
now on this waol qoe'tion. Look at the
statististics of the last twenty ye,rs and
you will find that the wool growing busi-
ness of this country has been g,ing wes:
In 1853 there were nearly forty million
shetp eas. Of the Mississippi; In 1888 there
were less thar twenty million sheep east Of
the Mississippi; the vol growing business
has gone west Of the Misappi, 1t has gone
to the cheap lands of Tex AZ, California, An
zopa and New Mexico; the competion OF
the West Virginia farmer i, not with
foreign wool, Il 10 with
the wool raised on ths cheap
lands Of Texas aud the territories Of the
West. You pay high pricss for Jour lstor
in this country, You pay high prices fer
your farm lands; Texas wool g,ower, .
Mr.. Burbank, stated when be attended the
Wool GrJwers' Convention lst year. thai
be 10. his land at rental Of six cents an
sc:e Bot, says General God, It 10 tbs
Aps,ral;an cheap labor that we have got 70
fear. Fellow ct zsns. whsre does General
9cff get his ideas sb,nt cheap forsga
labor? Turn to Mr.. Blaine's report here,
turn to Mr.. Evarfs', and he will tell you
that the wages In the cotton iedustrie, 10.
day are not higher here than In Eogland.
General Gof says tha. in Australia tbs
II T. L. A. - a H.