The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1889-01-09
Wool and the Tariff.

Wool and the Tariff.
These words sound like belated
echo from the late canvass, but the re-
lation between them is abiding and in
terest in the subject survives the tur-
moil of political campaigns and the
result of elections. Indeed, decisive,
practical interest which shall crys-
talize into action-now begins. Pro-
lection to American industry was the
issue in the last election. The battle
has been fought and complete victory
won. Both branches of congress will be
in political accord, and congress in turn
will be in harmony with the executive.
An intelligent and exhaustive discussion
of the general principle of protection
and its application in detail to Ameri-
can industry has been had. So the con-
dtions are as favorable as they well
could be for prompt and effective legis-
lation so soon as, in the legal course of
events, consideration of the whole mat
ter shall be reached.
The sheep and wool industry, by
reason of it's universally and its init
mate relation to the necessities of the
people, will hold front rank in the
great battle that will be fought in the
fifty-first congress over the revision of
the tariff. The facts of the condition
of this industry have not changed with
the settlement of the question of the
control of the government for the four
years from March A. The diminishing
numbers in the fiocks of sheep in this
country, the decline in the production
of wool, was not an ephemeral issue of
the campaign. 1t is still true that
there was some intimate controlling
cause for the steady increase of the
number of sheep from 2S,000,000 in
1868 to 50,626 900 in 1884, and for the
equally sure and steady decline to
| Al 800, 900 in 1888. There was the same
cause for the increase of the domestic
wool product from 1862 100000 pounds
in 1869 to 30S, 100000 pounds in 1854,
and its rapid and constant decline to
270,000,0 900 pounds in 1888. These
facts and figures, considered in connec-
ton with the further fact that from
1867 to 1888 the tariff on foreign wool
was just adequate for the successful
protection of domestic production, and
that in 1888 the duty was lowered just
below the protective point, seem to To-
cate with sufficient precision the chief
cause of the ruinous decline of a great
industry. There may be minor con-
tributing causes, but tariff reduction is
chief. Coincident with the decline of
domestic production was correspond
ing increase of foreign importations of
wool, rising from 70,000,0 900 pounds in
1888 to 114,0O0,000 pounds in 1897.
There was also an increase in importa-
tions of worsted cloths from 97S $50
pounds in 1888, valued at 1868 $3.50, to
9,97l 80 pounds in 1887, valued at
S., 154 ,203.
The force of these facts is felt even
in Texas, the home of the apostle of
free-trade, who proposed to complete
the ruin of the sheep and wool indus
try, begun by reduction of the WOO
tariff in 1888 and the sanction since
of fraudulent importations, by putting
wool on the free list in 1888. The
wool-growers of four of the leading
counties of that state, at recent meet
ing, adopted resolutions urging congress
to so amend the present tariff as tC
prevent the importation of foreign
wool by evasions of duty, declaring
that it is largely due to fraudulent i'm
portations and improper classification
together with the inequality of the
tariff on wooden and worsted goods, tina
the development of their business ha
been so seriously checked. The meet
ing decided to send a delegation t.
Washington to present TO congress thu
true needs of the wool Industry of thu
South. The resolutions expressed
J great satisfaction at the result of thu
late election, calling it vindicaton o
! the protective system, and in view o
, the fact that all of the Texas delegate
r in congress are opposed to the presen
= tariff system and favor free wool, the
! respectfully request S. j. Randall o
; Pennsylvania and William Mckinley o
Ohio to represent the Texas wool