The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-06-15
Senator Mcmillan Speaks for Michigan
Wool Growers.


Senator Mcmillan deserves the thanks OF
Michigan wool growers for his earnest plea
in the Senate in their behalf. His address
Is both timely and straight to the point
Read what he said:
''AIr. President cannot let the wool
schedule pass without protest, however in
etfectual, on behalf of the farmers of Mich
igan, state which stands fifth among the
wool producing states of the union. In that
state the wool is about the first large prod
uct which the farmer brings to market.
THE money which he obtains for his
wool is used to pay the expenses Of harvest
ing. The country banks obtain their sup
plies of money from the eastern centers on
shipments of wool and in this way the NOV
ing of the crops is assisted and made easy.
Again, it has been found that sheep will
thrive on what is called the pine barrens,'
from which the timber has been cut; and in
this way large quantities of land are brought
into use. Under the influence of a tariff
designed to be protective, the production of
wool in Michigan has increased steadily
from 1884, 1915 pounds in 1910 to 12,37S, 31S
pounds in 1890.
when the Mckinley law was passed
the intention was to give adequate protec-
ton to wool, but by an error only half the
protection intended to be placed on the fine
woods was provided for. AS result, wool
graded with fine Ohio washed was subjected
to duty of but cents, instead of % cents,
as was intended.
Feelings OF MICHIGAN WOOL MEN.
Honorable John T.. Rich, the governor
of Michigan, in his address before the
National Wool Growers Association, well
expressed the feelings of the Michigan wool
growers. He said 1T is useless to expect
during the present Congress any amendment
to the law of 1890 which will help our case
at all. On the contrary, there is a well
grounded fear that such changes are liable
to be made in the law that what little pro-
lection we haye may be wiped out,
The question is, what can be done to
avert this threatened action? This is the
real purpose for which you were called to-
gether. 1t is generally understood that the
majority in Congress proposes to put wool
on the free list and remove the compensat- |
ing duty ON manufacturers.
"'Now,if placing wool on the free list did |
not entirely destroy wool raising in the |
United States, protection on manufactured |
woolens would be better than nothing, as it |
would make it possible to have market for |
BUR wool in this country instead of. selling |
t in foreign country to be returned to us |
" But with his own finished product on
he free list the wool grower would not feel
IN interest in protecting another product |
while his own had only remote and Incl
lental benefit, If he did not at once insist |
hat all or none should 60 on the free list.
+" 1t is evident that the people who are at
heart just as much in favor of free wooden
as of free wool recognize the
act that the combined wool interests of this
country are too strong to be attacked at
,nce and are appealing to the cupidity and
,elfishness of the manufacturers for their
lid in placing wool on the free list. With
his accomplishment they will then ask the
injured and indignant wool grower to get
wen with the manufacturer by helping to
pat the manufactured article on the free
list.
1.-the final result of free list must be that
We shall come to depend on foreign lands
lot only to raise wool bat also to manufac-
ure woolens.'
COST OF RAISING WOOL.
Honorable M. e. Rumsey, of Leslie,
dich., states the case fairly In letter from