The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-11-04

After the reduction Of the tariff in 1888,
that number diminished to Al ,0U0, 900.
Since the passage of the Mckinley bill, it
has increased to A, 900, 900. and with con-
| tinued protection will increase. We are
informed that wool growers are showing
more care in the breeding, and that there
is great improvement in the character
OF the sheep and wool, and that to day
| goods produced by our wool will outwear
those of any other country in the world.
| Formerly large quantities of substi-
tutes for wool were imported, but the
Mckinley bill increased the duty on
shoddy from 10 to 80 cents per pound,
which is prohibitory. This was done
not only to protect the wool grower, but
the consumer also. The percentage of
shoddy used in this country is not an
eighth of that used in England, where
rags as well as wool are free and England
is the dumping ground for the disease
spreading rags of southern Europe and
Asia Whole districts in England are de-
voted to the manufacture of wooden
goods, where not single pound of wool
is used. Formerly a large percentage of
these goods came to this country, but
the Mckinley bill has stopped that.
Free wool means free rags, and it is
barely possible that the almighty dollar
might make some manufacturers who
never used anything but pure wool, use
rags, and then, in truth. the poor mans
suit would be shoddy. Sixty million
pounds is about the amount of shoddy
produced in this country. 1t is of bet
ter character than any other shoddy in
the world, for the reason that our peo-
pie discard the clothing while there is
still value in the material. twenty-five
per cent. of this shoddy is used in the
manufacture of felt paper, about as
much more in coarse carpets and horse !
blankets. Tue balance is further re-
duced i'll goods that cannot be perfectly |
produced without shoddy, leaving only |
small percentage to be used as an adul-
terant.
Sheep raising is not confined to one
section. Nearly all States are interested
in it. Free wool is blow to the whole
agricultural interest. With diversified
climate, food and soil, there is no wool
we cannot produce to perfection and in
the near future we will not be depend
ent on the balance of the world for a
poun1 of wool. We use, per capita,
double as much wool as any other coun-
try. 1t is almost impossible to conceive
the misfortune it would be for us to be
dependent upon other countries for it.
If Great Britain, France, Germany and
Russia used as much wool per capita, the
present clip of the world would not go
around, leaving out the balance of the
world. The temperature of these coun-
tries averages lower than ours, but mil
lions of people in them never have had
wool to their backs and to millions more
wooden clothing of the coarsest and very
cheapest description is a luxury. With
us suit for each season of the year is a
necessity.
Free wool means ruin to many hard
working farmers and is of value to none
but the foreign wool grower, and we
hope that they will cast their votes
against open doors to Australian free
lands and South American eight cents
per day labor. This section of the State
is particularly interested in the Using
of wool, and the people hereabout will
vote for John A. Quackenbush, who
aided in the passage of the Mckinley law
under which the wool interest has pros
(N.Y.) Telegram.