The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-02

W.O0LEN ~:
wilson iil,s55Bi ow ut: GreatsAmeri
can Il us the Ttreatof Free
syYooris Doing.
In a recent number Of a journal of
economics Professor Taussig, OF Har-5
ward University,&ha an article upon
the duties on Wool and woolens which
is interesting, chiefly because it shows
him TO be in want of accurate informa-
ton upon the subject. He argues, for
example,, that the duties upon wool
have apparently no influence uponsp pro-
ddction, because the American wool clip
was no larger in 1892 thai in 1882. The
fact is that extraordinary changes in
the production occurred during that
period. The increase of sheep under
high wool duties imposed by the tariff
of 1867 was hailed by the reduction
of the duties IN the tariff of
1883, and it began again under
the high duties imposed by the
Mckinley tariff act OF 1890.
Between the years 1867 and 1882, there
fore, the number did greatly enlarge;
then unwise legislation stopped the en-
largement,S and finally wise legislation
again started it. AT this moment the
mere threat of free wool is resulting in
the slaughter of hundreds of thousands
of sheep. The figures ofEthis year will
show a heavy loss; whereas, II the du-
ties of 1857 had remained, we should
probably have had at this moment
&c, 600 sheep in the United States.
Let it be noted that as the number de-
jclines, not only do we lose a source of
revenue for our farmers, but the price
OF flesh food must advance. The pres
ence in this country OF millions of
sheep has saved to the American people,
in the lower price OF meat, far more
than all they have paid for duties.
Professor Taussig appears to think
that the natural conditions existing in
Australia permit the production OF wool
of such quality as we cannot grow IN
the United States. We assert that Ohio,
Montana, Texas and other states pro-
duce wool equal in quality to any grown
inAustralia. We assert, further, that
can produce in this country any
kind OF wool required for ordinary pur-
poses. Nothing can be more absurd
than the oft repeated declaration that
it is.absolutely necessary to have GER
tain foreign woods to "mix" with our
native woods. Wherever our domestic
manufacturers deem such woods deslra-
BILE for the purposes OF the BUSINESS,
they can well afford to pay the small
sums required by the duty that has pro-
tL6CGGus dtihO. Tx 49,
sheep raiser.
The professor complains that the
wooden manufacture in the United
States, even under high protection, has
not made rs much Roadway as the
manufacture Of cotton, iron, silk and
boots and shoes. That it has made
great advancementi is q fact. But there
are good reasons why-it has not gone
further. ahead. For Il thing, more
than any other industry, it is affected
by rapid changes in fashions, and
fashions are ordered by European
authority. Moreover, tho difference be-
tween European and American wages
is greater in this industry than in many
others. But chiefly have American
wooden manufacturers had to encounter
the obstacle that their business has
been the chief point of attack from the
free traders. With much higher wages
to pay, they. have never felt sure that
the tariff duties representing the differ
ence in wages would stand for our
years at a time. This has operated to
prevent bold ventures and to make
development of the industry subject to
conditions OF extreme caution.
Just why they have been selected Tor
specially fierce assault is plain enough.
Every voter in the land wears WOODEN
clothing, and therefore has a personal
interest in the industry. Che policy OF
the free traders has been to try to in
duce the people 10 believe that the
manufacturers were making undue
profits by taxingzthe garments OF the
masses. In the next place, this is the
chief industry which links the farmers
and the manufacturers together. Only
forty-two counties in the United States
have no sheep. Great numbers OF far
mers, therefore, have q great interest in
maintaining the WOODEN industry and
with it the protective system. There
has been a persistent effort to array one
class against the other, in the hope that
the support of the agricultural popula-
ton would be withdrawn from the pro-
tected industries.
Give the American wooden manufac-
turer assurance that he shall have lair
protection Tor twenty years and he will
make this country Independent of
Europe for wooden goods. He has now
to fight against European low wages on
the one hand and bitter free trade ami
mostly at Washington on the other
hand. Under the circumstances be has
accomplished wonderful results; and
thatthe American people have shared
the benefits of his presence here is
proved blythe fact that, although they.
are but o~ne-twentieth of the popula-
ton of the globe, they consume one,
third of the worlds crop of wool. That
does not,tell a story of oppression and
high prices.
a Happy Mother.
am most happy to testify to the
benefits received from Radam's Microbe
Killer. It qu1ckly and completely cured