Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1888-01-06
Sheep Jnterest.
PENNSYLVANIA SENTIMENTS.

dent, John Mcdowell, Washington
county; vice president, T. A. Clifton,
Beaver county; secretary, r. L. Munce,
Washington county; treasurer, L. j..
Faddis, Lawrence county. These reso-
buttons were adopted:
The wool-growers of Pennsylvania,
through their State association, in ses-
sion at New Castle, Pa, Dec. 2lst, 1887,
make the following declaration of princi-
pies and purposes
lst We aver that the flock industry
| of the United States is one of the most
important adiuncts to our agriculture;
that it has contributed to the substantial
wealth of the country as much as any
other industry employing the same num-
Der of people and the same amount of
capital and that it is absolutely indis-
pensable to continued national prosperi-
| y.
I'd. The business of producing wool
can nowhere in this country, even with
the greatest economy and the highest
Improvement of our flocks, be carried on
successfully for term of years without
measure of tariff protection sufficient
to secure the American market; for the
reason that we cannot compete without
(this aid with the free grass and cheap
labor of the half-civilzed countries whose
wool floods the markets of the world.
3D. We depreciate the train of evils to
wool-growing which have followed the
tariff changes made four years ago, and
the agitation of the subject which has
since involved the prospects of the indus
try in so much uncertainty.
4th. We denounce as demagogism the
efforts made in Congress and elsewhere
i'm the last few years to cripple the count
rvs production by a further general re-
duction of tariff duties, and especially
the efforts to break down all barriers to
the free admission of foreign wool to our
markets.
9Th. We unqualifiedly condemn as I'M
statesmanlke, uncalled for and unfair
that part of the recent message of Presi-
dent Cleveland practically recommending
the placing of wool on the free list. If
this expression, which goes before the
world as the official deliverance of the
executive department of our govern
ment, is to be taken as manly avowal
of candid opinion, then the President has
forfeited our confidence in his Judgment
and his ability to guide Alright the desti-
mics of this great nation; if, on the 9th er
hand, it is merely the insincere manifesto
of man catering to the free-trade ele-
ment in this country, and seeking admir-
alton abroad, then he has proved lament
ably recreant to the trust reposed in him.
Without presuming to say which of the
two interpretations of his assault on
wool is to be taken as the true one-and
bit must be one of them-we declare that
i'm either event he merits the Indignation
which his message has excited.
9th. The history of the past three
years has demonstrated that the reduc-
ton of the taaitf on wool as a means of
reducing the surplus acts simply as a
means of increasing it, and the idea of
making wool free to accomplish the same
end is unworthy of consideration, for the
reason that the entire revenue from this
source is a mere bagatelle in comparison
with the volume of surplus to be reduced
amounting to only II cents a head to the
population of the country, and would
have no appreciable effect in that drec.
ton.
eth. 1t is fact beyond question, adj
ditional proofs of which have been sub.
mitted to your committee during its de-
liberation, that large quantities of WOO
are admitted into our ports at a lower
duty than is contemplated by existing
laws; and we insist upon such an amend
ment and enforcement of these laws a:
shall speedily render this outrage nc
longer possible.
Sth. We are not "A political body, bu
feeling that we are practically challeng
ed to take up the ballot in defense OF
our industry, we propose to do so, anC
hereby warn those who are disposed tC
drive us to the wall to stand from under
for we mean business.
9th. Weregret that the late conference,
of wO0l-grOwers and wOol-dealers at tn,
national capital was not also graced by
the participation of manufacturers anc
we are anxious that the proposed confer
ence of January IL shall embrace al
these interests, and that from its deliber
ations platform shall be evolved OF
which each can and will stand in cor
dial cooperation with the other.
10th. We recognize that the tariff, t.
be successful and satisfactory, must pac
wool-growers and wOol-manufacturer
on an equality, and establish the mos
cordial relations between them; and t,
secure this end the influence of this asso
citation shall be exercised in every prac
ticable way.
18th. We believe in protection as
principle, take pride in it as the grea
American system, and are ready to co
Operate with other industries i'm securip,
for them all that we ask for ourselves.
18th. The wool-growers of the countr,
q NOT AAtnar hni f,n Il