Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1892-09-07
ENLIGHTENED WOOL GROWERS.
New York Sheep Men Discover That the
Wool Tariff Is Dclusion.


Wool Tariff Is a Dclusion.
The farmers are beginning to under
stand this matter The Wool Growers
and Sheep Breeders association, of On
tario and Livingston counties, in New
York, is one of the oldest ard strongest
and most .resentative organizations
of that kind in the United States. There,
sir, is one of the great centers of the fine
wool growing and sheep breeding indus
tries. The members of that association
are in the main Republicans. Sley were
protectionists. They are so now on
everything but wool-the one thing they
know about.
But when they got together and looked
each other in the face in January, 1891,
they concluded to stop political wool
growing and to look at that matter IN
practical way. They had not neglected
their political duties as they saw them
They had only short time before elected
to represent them from Ontario county
Mr.. Raines, and from Livingston Mr..
Wadsworth. But when these wool
growers and sheep breeders got together
after election, and their party was not
at stake and all they had to consider was
the wool business, here is the conclusion
to which they came:
Whereas, It has been the policy in the past
for this association TO annually pass stereo-
typed resolutions praying congress to restore
the wool duty of 1861 or its equivalent; and
Whereas This association finally recognizes
the unsoundncss Of its past position on this
question, and, ever ready 10 correct any error
into which it may have fallen, we beg leave
to submit the following:
First-We recognize that the wool duty Is n
delusion and a snare 10 the wool growers, and
that it has been largely instrumental in driy-
ing to the wall an industry it was calculated
10 benefit.
Second-Prior to 1867, 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-
ceved high prices and low prices under hlgh
tariffs, and, conversely, low prices and high
prices under low tariffs.
Thrd-Thc success OF the wool grower de-
pends on the success of the woolen manufac-
turer. while the American manufacturer is
seriously handicapped by reason Of being COM
PEELED to pay exorbitant tariff taxes on every
pound Of clothing wool imported for necessary
admixture, while all foreign countries OF any
consequence have the benefit Of free wool, and
are thus enabled to undersell the manufac-
turers.
Fourth-Tho great wool tariff Of 1867 resulted
in driving from the eight chief wool producing
states-for whose special benefit said tariff was
conceived and passed-more than 30 per cent.
Of their sheep in single decade, while the
price of wool declined in nearly correspond
ing ratio.
Fifth-The importation OF foreign wool In
creased from about 100000 pounds in 1861 TO
more than 125O0O,00 pounds in 1871, just four
years succeeding the highest duty ever I'M
posed on wool and woolcns.
Sixth-Durng eight Of the past eighteen
years the foreign price of imported clothing
woods at the last port of export actually ex-
ceedcd the price OF our domestic fleece in the
markets OF Boston. New York or Philadel-
phia, while in no single year did the domestic
woods bring the foreign price plus tho duty.
Sevcnth-England. France and Germany are
the only three countries in the world that cx-
port woolen manufactures in excess OF the inn
ports of raw wool: in other words, these coun-
tries by admitting wool free have created a de
mand for their home wool in excess OF all
wools required to clothe their people, and after
giving employment to labor export more wool
than they have imported. The United States,
on the other hand, by imposing a high duty or
raw wool has not only 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 man
ufacturers the cream of our markets for
cloths.
Eighth-The free importation Of raw wool
into the United States would knock out tho
imports Of wooden goods, and would revive the
present depressed state Of our own manufac-
lures, thus giving employment TO labor hero
and create an increased demand for our strong
wools for necessary admixture.
Ninth-Recognizin the truth Of the aboTe
facts, therefore, we, the members OF the On-
tario and Livingston Sheep Breeders and Wool
Growers association, in convention assem-
bled most respectfully petition congress Ia
Immediately place wool and woolen manufac-
lures on the free list, in order that their indus
tries may again thrive and assume the magni-
tude commensurate with a nation OF G3,O0D,yO
of people.
Speech OF Hon. JohniDe Witt Warner
in Congress.