The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1894-02-16
AGAINST FREE WOOL.

WAsnlNDroN, Feb. .. The memorial
OF the National Woulgrowers assoca-
tion asking that no reduction OF du-
ties he made in wool or woolens, was
laid before the senate. yesterday morn
ing by MIR. sherman. and was ordered
20 he printed as a document IL is ex-
ceedingly voluminons. The memorial
recites that the association assembled
in Na>hing ton 10 present 10 the finance
committee arguments in opposition to
those provisions OF the Wilson bill
proposing 10 put wool on the free
list and 10 reduce the duties
on wooden goods The request of the
association was presented ON the 9th
inst. to the chairman of the finance
committee. and was declined. the
memorial states. with the Information
that written communications would
be duly considered. An oral discussion
was greatly desired to give woolgrow-
ers an opportunity To meet questions
that might b. propoundcd. but that be-
ing denied, the association submits its
memorial. They say they represent
more than 1000. 900 flock masters
invested capital OF the aggregate value.
under normal conditions. Of 100000
600, and eNpending annually for labor
SIS. 900, 900 resides their own services.
with an annual product in wool. etc.
Of more than SliO.0 900. exceeding
by more than SIS. 900. 600 the total
product of our mines of gold and silver
IN the year s92.
They say that the investments made
N and for sheep husbandry were in
vited by and never would have been
made but for the acts of congress Of
March >. 1867. March 3. 1883. and Octo-
Der !. 1890. all giving protective duties
on wool, intended To secure fair prices.
Under them sheep increased from rs.
-ss.95i in 1870. e. 47.273, 553 in January.
1898. and the wool prodlc, from 49,,
los.s>7 pounds 10 5d4, l56,656 pounds.
With continued adequate protection
for five years our American sheep
would reach 100, 1000, producing
GO0.O00,Ooo pounds OF wool. thus sup
plying allof every kind needed for con-
sumption in the United States, besides
furnishing an abundant supply for
mutton. The republic would be indie
pendent of all the world for these in
dispensablc articles. In view of these
conditions the memorial presents the
following propositions:
! wi,hoi, protection duties FOR wool sheep
hu.nanary in the United States viii soon sub
stantially be destroyed
. The substantial destruction lis free wool
Of American sheep hu-hanary. would be
grievou- wrong 20 all enragei in tina, indus
try TO put wool on the fire. list would he an
exercise II power by congress resulting in had
faith 10 those whose capital has been invested
In sheep hl~bandry
3 The wrong done by free wool viii not be
alone TO woslgrowers. 1t woull he disastrous
10 all agric cultural industries. The dcstinc-
tion OF fockss OF sheep will withdraw the de-
mand they nos make for pasturagc. hay. corn
and oats. The importation OF foreign wool
will, in effect. be an Importation 90 those
things that 90 4, make the wool. TINS import
ing those things into county in which there
+ already an ovc-proiuctson-
4 Free wool would be ruinons 10 all other
and useful cmpoyrn ents Nearly
one-half the population is engaged In agricul
tural pursuits. The destruction Of the wool
Industry would impair their ahility 10 inn
prove farms. 10 erect buildings. TO parronza
churches.
) Free wool would Impair the ability Of tho
to maintain in this couEtry "a SUN
ricni amount OF gold tcsupply the demands and
70 avoid panicS. The destruction ~ the wool
Industry will cause annual dram OF gold
rom this country to ray for foreign soolS Of
'5DDDo0D or more II no foreign woods had
oecn imported during tee last ten Yeas there
would have been no panic.
~heen ind TIA afffa1 f~t.,strv
,f wool manufacturing have stronger slams
10 protection than any ether American indus
Try. Is II the only absolutely general industry
reaching into every stsJfe and ierritCs-r it,
'igniucance j. great; Is products cannot
De couyroed by concentrations. H. gives
greate- compensatory benent for re al
eyed burden Of taxation than any
,thcr industry ami rs browning glory j.
hat u appeals to patriot rm for protect on a.
means ~ adding TO national wealth ~ util-
Us ur5oli millions of acres OF land yh.ch
would ~ berwi~c nc Of little Or no value. The
'~ist'rg duties on woods arr lin View 90 the
changed conditions since $500. the elias silica
lion Of Eoos ana the method OF admins Ir.ng
ne Nc htnley Law no longcr protective, but
Tor revenue only
at can be demonstrated. say > the
"that free wool will not
perma nently give cheaper cloth ing
4 ne dA~tldIlDn protests against Tree
s.ool because II it proposed TO thrust il
upon the country substantially with
put any request from the people.
The petitions for it are so few
in number as to be utterly .nsig-
nifcart IL may we'll be do rbted
any measure ever befor = con-
yress -eccived as many protests. Free
wool attacked the agricultural inter-
ests nj those interests were now. more
ieprcs sed than any other. Instead Of
being singled out for hostile l6gisa-
ton. they were. as ;-<inatter Of n~tice
and sonnd domestic policy, entiristd tn
and sAculd received the Fostering caro-
Of congress
Appended to the memorial is an
argu ncnt Of William Lawrence. presi.
dent Of the Nat nnal Woolirvowcrs'
in fav r. OF adequate pro-
tect;on which is r. plcie with statistics
and data Of all sorts hearing cppn tha
wed question. There are also volu-
mi nous tables Slowing the wool pro-
dnetion Of the sited Statc.lthe prices
paid. etc.
Memorials frcm the Shc.p-brccders'
a.si WoolrrpvprS' associatipns of In