The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1894-10-19
THE FREE:
WOOL INF Amy
ohlo Wool Growers Issue An
Appeal to the People of
the United States.
What They have to say About
their Grievances.


Following is the full text Of tho an.
peal TO the people Of the United states
issued by the Ohio Wool Growers asso-
eiation at its recent meeting in Column
The Ohio Wool Growers association
Of this, its first meeting, September !.
1904, after the German tariff act Of An.
gust "a became law, takes occasion to
make this brief appeal to the wool
growers and other farmers, aud people
OF the United States:
For over seventy.eight years there
have been tariff duties, more or less
protective, on wool. The German law
not only denies wool growers the bene.
MT off tariff for revenue, but places
wool on the free list, though not one
citizen By petition TO congress asked
1t. Until President cleyelands free
wool message of December, 1857, all
political parties favored protection
for the wool industry. The price
OF foreign wool imports is now
so low that without protective duties
American wool growers can not sue
cessfully compete with them. Free
wool as permanent policy would sub.
stantially destroy the American wool
industry, and in a large measure an
initiate capital invested therein. The
threat of free wool has reduced the
value of our 45.0OO.0OO sheep nearly
SIO'ooO.ooO, and reduced the price OF
the wool clip of 1894 more than $780,
co., 900 below the normal value under
adequate protection. The German law
attack on agricultural industry is ag-
grayated by the fact that the whisky
trust and sugar trust and others are
amply provided for, and protection
professedly, If not actually adequate,
has been given to most of our manu-
featuring industries, and for coal, iron
ore, and other raw materials
Free wool is an Infamous and odious
discrimination and conspiracy against
all our agricultural industries, AS a
permanent policy 1t would drive mil
lion of wool growers from sheep nus
bandry into increased production of
hay, wheat, corn, oats, cotton and
other products; destroy our sheep and
reduce the demand they would make
for feed, and. thus add to existing over
production and low prices, the ruin Of
still further overproduction. This
would take from all the farmers a
large measure OF their Just income,
and render them unable to patronize
merchants, grocers mechanics, schools
and churches. Allindustrial and other
classes would be involved in common
disaster. Free wool Is blow at civil
ization and progress. Immense imports
of low-prieed wool would supplant TO a
large extent the use Of cotton, and thus
bring ruin TO the planters of the south,
In 1893 the imports for consumption
OF third-class woods were is3,i97, ss1
pounds at q valuation of 7.75 cents per
pound. Why is free wool thrust upon
the country? Notone Of all the sena.
tors who voted for the German bill
yentured TO give any reason in support
of free wool. Their silence is con-
fession of It's injustice and that itmeans
ruin.
1t is conspiracy with four purposes
First, to add to existing overproduc-
ton Of cereals, cotton and other farm
products, and still further reduce prices
already universally low. Second, to
ALLEVIATE wool growers from the protec-
tive policy and thus to enlarge the
policy Of free trade, Third, with cheap
foreign wool and protective duties on
manufactures, to limit manufacturing
TO the eastern cities and New England
states. Fourth, its political purpose Is
to win to the democratic German party
few New England states and punish
the protective wool growing states It
is deep-laid conspiracy against the
mighty west and the interior states
The pretense of cheaper clothing is
false and fraudulent With the de-
struction of American flocks and with
manufactures limited TO narrow sec.
ton, combinations and trusts would re-
tort upon the people with monopoly
of wool and wooden goods
The pretense of relief from tariff tax
alton is equally false. The government
must have revenue II not derived
from duties, the people will pay in
some other form.
The wool tariff yielded in 1893 Ss,l47,-
2le. The German bill surrenders the
wool tariff revenue, but imposes five
times greater burdens by tariff tax
on sugar of $40, 100000 annually.
We indorse the doctrine announced
by the National Grange, that while
protection is accorded to any industry
It should also be given to wool. Full
and adequate protection for the wool
industry would soon increase our 40
100000 sheep to required 10000, 900,
furnishing $50, 100000 pounds OF wool
lneeded-an we would im-
port none. This would save an annual
export of gold of sGO,oOO,ooo or more
TO buy foreign wool from countries
which. take substantially nothing from
us in return but gold. 1t would keep
our demand on a solid basis. 1t would
make such an increased demand for
pasturage, hay, oats and corn as to in
crease the product and secure full and
fair prices. II would enable farmers
to reduce the wheat product, and thss
secure fair prices. 1t would enlarge
the resources of more than so. 600, 900 of
the agricultural classes, and thus by
their patronage 10 other classes give
prosperity to all.
It has been proved that no foreign
wool is needed to mix with ours for
successful manufacture, What, then,
shall wool growers doP The free wool
policy cannot be reversed until after
1895. In the meantime sheep cannot