The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1892-04-07
WHY WE WANT FREE WOOL,
Democrats and Republicans Discuss tho
Matter.

WASHINGTON, March 3O.-Thc
House went into committee of the whole
on the tariff bill (Mr. Blount of Geor.
gla in the chair), Mr.. Butler (Dem. } of
Iowa taking the floor in advocacy of the
measure. In spealnug of the elements
which entered into the manu- ufacture of
raw materials, he said that they mainly
consisted of cotton, wool, lumber, iron,
stone, copper, coal and silver. OF cot
ton, the United States produced $685.
600 bales in 1880; of wool 155 900 900
pounds; of lumber 118, 900, 900 900 feet;
leather, 100000 hides, and of coal
7O,OO0,0 900 tons. This country has the
best coal in the world, and was rich in
its lumber forests and iron mines. Our
cotton fields were ample to supply the
world. He referred to the intelligence
of the American workman, and said
that they were more energetic, more
capable and more intelligent than in any
other country.
Mr.. Ray (Rep.) of New York inquired
who gave them that intelligence.
Mr.. Butler replied thai it was God
Almighty.
MIR. Ray: "And a protective tariff"
D1r. Butler said that if the latter be
true, then, with a tariff of 1000 per
cent, the people of the country would
all be SolomCns. Laughter. A pro-
tective tariff had never increased the
wages of any workingman | cent, and
had never decreased the price of any
article used by the consumer.
MIR. Ray suggested that in those coun-
trles where there was impoverished la
Dor, there were no public schools, and
the laborlng man had TO take his little
children out of their cradles and put
them into the workshop.
Mr.. Butler: "And all Of these couu-
tries, except one, is protective tariff
country" [Laughter.] AS a Demo-
crat he was not afraid to say that COM
mercial freedom was the best thing tha t
the country could have for its prosper
ity. No tax should be put upon trade
except what should be necessary to
meet the necessities of the Governme ent,
honestly administered. In closing his
speech, whi III was atten.ively listened
to, he said: "Ye tools of monopolies,
ye croakers in the aristocratic garb of
beggars, ye pretended paupers in the
homes of luxury, rise and declare Il no.
bier American character; declare your
ability to complete OH equal terms with
all competitors. Put energy IN the place
of wholesale beggary, and cease wear
lug upon your breasts the title of aristo-
cratic tramps of the highways of foreign
trade" [Applause.]
MIR. Lawson (Dem.) of Georgia IA
vored the bill, and SAID he had had some
eA perlence IN lhe wool industry. and yet
he had never realized the necessity Tor
!rotection for that in dustry. The rails
lng OF sheep was one Of the cheapest
and most profitable industries in this
country. In Georgia :,io tIo sheep took
care Of themselves nine months in the
year. In 1860 fine woods raised in
America sold for 10 cents pound more
than medium woois. In 1867 fine wool
began to decline in value because the
tariff excluded exportatien of such woods,
and in 1891 fine woods were selling for
cents less per pound than medium
woods. This was on account of the pro-
hibltive tariff placed on importations of
foreign woods, which are necessary to
mix with foreign woods to make the fa-
brlcs which our manufacturers produce.
Mr. Everett (Dem.) of Georgia ia
vored the bill, and addressed himself to
the cotton tie question. He said the
Democracy rebelled against the unjust
taxation Of the Republican party. Pro-
lection was in favor Of classes, and
against the masses. The policy of the
Government for the last twenty-five
years was such as to build up pluto
cracY, and the masses of the people were
sinking deeper and deeper into the
meshes of poverty.
MIR. j. D. Taylor (Rep.) of Ohio op-
posed the bill, and said that the McI<in-
ley bill had not decreased wages and in
creased prices. The bill was framed in
the interest of the American people.
| While securing revenue, its provisions
were intended to ameliorate, and did
better the condition Of the people. 1t
opened new lines of protection. These
pledges were made by the Republican
party, and they had kept them. The
South needed protection. 1t would be
well if the South should kill all it's dogs
and raise sheep. 1t would then be more
prosperous. lie predicted that In ten
years the South would be knocking at
doors of Congress asking protection for
its sheep.
| lie predicted that free wool would be
followed by free woolen in this country,
as in England, and that the people
would resent this conspiracy between
the cotton raisers of the South and the
wool manufacturers of the North to en-
rich themselves at the expense of our
prosperity in time of peace and our in
| dependence in time OF war.
Mr.. Grady (Dem.) OF North Cal DINA
and Mr.. Layton (Dem.) of Ohio spoke
in favor of the bill, as did also Mr.. Cros.
by (Dem.) of Massachusetts, who made
his maiden speech in Congress. He
characterized the Mckinley bill as a
fraud upon the farmers and wool grow.
ers. At $3.50 the House took a recess
until Q o'clock.
| Exodus of Neeroes.
| MEMPHIS, Tenn, March 2G.-Six hun
dred and fifty negroes left Memphis
this morning for Oklahoma. They will