The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-05
WOOL-GROWERSAR ARE ALARMED
Special Meeting of the State AsSO-
citation Enters Protest.
Resolutions Against Proposed Tariff
Reductions Unanimously Adopted
Other Business.

A Poodly number of Hoosiers from the
different portions of the State gathered
into the called meeting of the Indiana
Wool Growers Association in the Grim
inal Court Room yesterday afternoon.
Thomas Nelson. of Clark County. presided
over the meeting. A committee consisting
of Hon. Calvin Cowgirl. of Wabash: j. w.
Robe, of Greencastle. and j. w. of
Indianapolis. presented the following reso-
lutions to the association. and they were
unanimously adopted:
A moments reflection forces the conviction
that the less diversified are our pursuits as farm
from our fields in exhaustive crops, not only i'm
posing upon US heavy expenses in maintaining
the fertility OF our lands. but forcing us into
narrower channels Of production, thus tending
10 glut the market and reduce the price for such
surplus as we may be able 10 produce because OF
Oyer-prOductlOn
For the foregoing reasons. and many others
that might readily be assigned,
Resolved, That we regard IL as our imperative
duty 10 ourselves, TO our common country and
10 more than eight million farmers and husband
men of the United Ststes interested either di-
rectly o. indirectly IN sheep husbandy, to use
every honorable means OF which we are capa-
BILE In resisting any legislation tending TO lessen
the present duties on the importation OF foreign
grown wool.
Resolved. further, That we regard the fall
lacious ard sOphistical arguments used by the
free traders TO induce the woolgrower to be-
lieve that IL there were no duties imposed on the
foreign article be would be able TO realize n bet
ter price for his wool, rs an insult to the under
standing OF every intelligent farmer.
The present fear OF such legislation has 70 n
large extent destroyed our markets and reduced
the 0btainable price that we can realize for our
Wool at least thirty-three per cent.
Whereas, We, as farmers and husbandInen or
Indiana. being interested III woolgrOwiDg and
sheep husbandry. viewing with alarm The
Threatened destruction OF that industry because
of IhO nrOnOsQ6 rara1l Of The la " lmnOStnVD CHS
toms duties on the importation or foreign grown
wool, do respectfully, but most earnestly protest
against any change or modification OF the
present law, whereby wool and woOlens may be
imported into the United States upon more
favorable terms TO the importer than at present.
And for our action we assign The following
reasons:
Such threatened repeal has caused already q
depreciation in the value OF sheep and wool In
this country or nearly, or quite. 30 per cent. on
that kind OF property OF tho aggregate value or
$500, 900, 600.
There is no branch OF husbandry more remu-
nerative to the American farmer IL he can have
that protection that will secure to him his homo
market for his wool than OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
it is impossible for him to successfully compete
on equal terms in the same market with those
who grow wool with the cheap labor and on the
cheap lands OF Australia. the Argentine repub-
lie and south Africa, and in other countries
where it Is produced at merely nominal expense.
When 1t is admitted. asst must be by all wcll-in-
formed persons. that this countrys main re-
against us in our international trade with other
nations Is upon the products OF our fields, our
herds and foeks, the threatened destruction Of
that great industry becomes irexplicablc. And
more especially Is that SO when we reflect that
II sheep husbandry Ia destroyed the American
farmer shall be compiled 10 resort TO branches
OF agriculture not only more laborfouS, hut far
more exhaustive of the fertility OF the soil, thus
in every way lessening his ability to earn a de-
cent livelihood.
Why that great industry should he singled out
for destructive legislation when none are ask
ing for 1t, and none are TO DC benefited by 1t eX-
cept the foreigner or importer OF his products,
surpasses our COMPREHENSION 10 understand.
The association then proceeded with It's
other busines To the mass meeting at
Chicago for the 2Sth of this month they
elected as delegates Messrs. Cowgirl. Robe,
Sid Conger. Fielding Bieler. of lndianapo-
lis. and Dr. JOHN Kunkl. of Marion ounty.
As delegates To the National Association of
Wool Growers. TO be convened at the Same
city. Oct. ;. they chose Messrs. Nelson.
Hull. Bieler. Cowgirl and J. jackson. of
Upton. George Merritt then read a paper
on "Wool Growing In Australia" which
was of profit to the members OF the asso-
citation. They then adjourned.