Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-02-19


driving to the wall an industry It was calcu-
lated TO benefit
Second-Prior to 1851 under the various
changes of the wool duties. the price OF wool
huctuated, not in sympathy with the tariff
but by reason of the ever controlling law OF
demand and supply, the grower having re-
ceived high prices and low prices under high
taIiffs, and, conversely, low prices and high
prices under low tariffs
Third-The success of the wool-grower de-
ponds the success OF the wooden manu-
is seriously handicapped by reason OF being
compelled to pay exorbitant tariff taxes on
every pound of clothing wool imported for
necessary admixture, while all foreign coun-
tries OF any consequence have the benefit of
free wool. and are thus enabled to undersen
our manufacturers.
Fourth-The great wool tariff OF 1867 re-
suited in driving from the eight chief wool
producing States-for whose special benefit
said tariff was conceived and passed-Inore
than 50 per cent of their sheep in single
decade. while the price OF wool declined in
nearly corresponding ratio.
Fifth-The importation of foreign wool in
creased from about 100000 pounds in 1867
to more than l26. 1900 pounds in ISL, just
four years succeeding the highest duty ever
imposed on wool and woolens
Sixth-During eight of the past eighteen
years the foreign price of imported clothing
woods at the last port of export actually ex-
ceeded the price of our domestic fleece in the
markets of Boston, New York or Philadel-
phia, while in single year did the domes-
tic woods bring the foreign price, plus the
duty.
Seventh-England, France and Germany
are the only three countries in the world
that export wooden manufactures in excess
of the imports of raw wool; in other words,
these countries, by admitting wool free, have
created a demand for their home wool in ex-
cess of all woods required to clothe their peo-
pie, and after giving employment to labor,
export more wool than they have imported
The United States. on the other hand, by i'm
s7r1~x-
destroyed our export trade, but so throttled
our manufacturers as to ruin the market for
domestic fleece and give to the English.
French and German manufacturers the
cream of our market for cloths
Eighth-The free importation of raw wool
into the United States would knock out the
imports of wooden goods and would revive
the present depressed state OF our own man
ufacturers, thus giving employment to labor
here and create an increased demand for our
strong woods for necessary admixture-
Ninth-Recognizing the truth of the above
facts, therefore. we. the members OF the On
tario and Livingston Sheep Breeders and
Wool Growers Association. in convention
assembled, most respectfully petition Con-
gress to Immediately place wool and wooden
manufactures on the free list, in order that
these industries may again thrive and as
sumo that magnitude commensurate with
nation of s., 100000 of people 80
at this meeting Mr. John NJ Norton
read a paper in which he denounced the
language. One effect of free wool Mr..
Norton explained in the following
words: There is just one of our move
fat and thriving infant industries that
would gracefully turn up its toes at the
advent OF free wool / refer, of course
to that beautiful cherub, the shoddy
manufacturer"
This association Is the oldest one on
the kind in the country and 1t has here's
tofore been worked for all 1t was worth
in the interest of a high protective duty
on wool. The meetings of the associa-
ton were in the habit of passing the
usual resolutions favoring high dutiae
and petitions We're circulated only last
| wear asking for the Immediate passage
of the Mckinley bill
| Mr.. Norton in a letter to the editor Of
the New York Standard, says: Many
of us have for years been disguised
with this course, but if any one offered
| the slightest remonstrance he was
promptly jumped upon by the whole
gang and effectually squelched- / had
resolved that if the opportunity ever of
fered i would stir them up a little, any
how. So, when invited to read papef
at the meeting, 1 mixed them a mild
dose just to see how 1t would work
One year ago they would have jumped
upon me by the dozen and tried to choke
me off, but now they took their medi-
cine as meekly as lambs In the dis
cussion that followed they didn't get up
and dust worth a cent"
1t is interesting to note that the two
counties in which this great change
has taken place Were thoroughly cam
vassed BY the New York Reform Club
Il tot <,f <ho ~ I'M
made forty-three speeches in the two
counties, six of these being joint de-
bates Besides this, tariff reform litera-
ture was distributed at the meetings
and large number of documents were
sent by mail to the farmers of the two
| counties. Already this work is bearing
fruit
When the wool-growers themselves
turn against the wool tax surely that
tax is doomed.
Mexican Against American Civilization
Every good American citizen viii
claim that the United States is much
more highly civilized country than Mex
leo. But let us see. We have always
been accustomed to rate a nation very
low in civilization which shuts itself of
from the rest of the world and will have
/
| countries When China some years ago
opened its ports to foreign ships we
hailed that event as distinct gain in
the direction of civilization for China
We saw that China would no longer be
1.-The hermit nation" that it was hence
forth to be a member of the great fam
| lily of nations
If these ideas were right, how do We
| cornpare as a nation with Mexico9 II
we apply the test of commercial hos.
pitality to the two nations, which ranks
higher in the scale of civilization?
That hospitality can be measured by
examining the tariffs of the two coun-
tries Here l. a comparison of the du.
ties on livestock in the two countries
| MersoGn McHf1ies
| Duty. Duty.
Sheep.------------ Sis.
| l<dinDs---- o-O9
Hogs as II
1 . w 4u-U