Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-01-26
THE WOOL INDUSTRY
FREE RAW MATERIAL THE TRUE
BASIS OF PROTECTION.

Some Interesting Facts Concerning Prac-
teal Tariff TaIaIIng-Duties on Imported
Wool Are Wrong Because They Have
Not Increased Production.
The Dry Goods Economist on Dec. 10
began a series of articles on practical
Tariff Making" to show, as it stated edi-
torially, what would be needed to place
our manufacturers upon substantial
equality with their European competi-
tors" The first paper restates the argl-
ments in favor of free wool. Some of the
facts are interesting to many not con-
nected with the woolen industry.
Since 1854 the duty on unwashed wool
has varied from ten to twelve cents per
pound, yielding protection of about so
per cent. In spite of this duty imports
have steadily increased from 81. .6S3. .675
pounds in 1867 to 110,390,2 pounds in
1891. Nor has the production of wool
increased as rapidly under protection in
the United States as it has increased in
the other countries of the world where
it has had no protection. Since 1860 the
product of the United States has in
creased from 60,264,913 to $4,000, 900
pounds-47j per cent. The increase since
1860 in the other comparatively new
countries of the world has been from
315,000,0 to 1853, 1881 600 pounds-an
average of 534 per cent. The increase in
Australia has been 9S3 per cent; River
Platte districts, $50 per cent; Cape Of
Good Hope, 494 per cent. These three
districts produce two-thirds of the
worlds SUPPLY ,G60, 1881 900 pounds.
The writer, Mr.. S. Hawking, then ex-
plains why it is that this country lags
behind. 1t is because of our poor wool
growing climate and because the duty on
woods has depressed our manufactures
and compelled them to buy less Ameri-
can wool than if they could purchase
freely abroad and make all kinds of fab
RIGS. He discusses the absurd tax on car
pet wools-a tax intended to protect
something that never has nor never vii!
exist here-tho camel, goat and alpaca
industry. He shows how the duties op-
Grated to raise prices of manufactured
goods here and to give cheap wool to for
eign manufacturers. He thus recapitu,
lates the first article:
.'The duties ON imported wool are con-
sequently economically wrong.
"First-Because they have failed to
stimulate the growing Of wool in this
country in proportion to its unlimited
pastural resources.
"Second-Because it isa gross injustice
to compel the consumer of goods made
of wool to pay twice over the duty paid
on imported wool in consequence of the
growers inability to produce within 80
per cent. as much as the wants of the
country require.
"Third-BecauSe domestic manufac-
turers are prohibited from buying such
woods as are most desirable to their
uses, and are compelled through the tax
on wool to buy such woods as are not
always suitable to their wants and the
requirements of the goods they manu-
facture.
"Fourth-Because domestic manufac.
turers, through being compelled to buy
woods of light shrinkage, buy the dearest
woods and are oppressed by the competi-
ton of the foreign manufacturer, who is
not hindered by u tax on wool from buy
ing the cheapest woods i'll the market.
"Fifth-Because the tax on wool gives
to wool fictitious value and renders
the use of inferior substitutes as adulter-
ants question Of much easier practice.
For these reasons taxed wool has
been tried and proved a failure. ANY
rational system Of tariff revision must
therefore have free wool as the basis and
chief factor of protection to the woolen
industry"
Editorially it is noted that these facts
contrast with President Harrison's re-
cent rm-licked- butt -I'll-stick-to-it high
tariff message, and it is remarked that
the argument for free wool is irresistible.
The father of Kant, the great German
thinker, was saddler and taught his son
the elements of the trade.
General Benjamin F. Butler, because of
his peculiar dropping eyelids. was called
"Old Cockeye' by his soldiers.
1t is singular fact that political parties
are generally defeated because they do not
learn as fast as the people who do the vot
ing.
While workmen were digging cellar at
New Haven the other day they came upon
an old fashioned well about ten feet below
the surface. 1t is believed to date back to
the time of the Puritans