San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1894-10-08
An Open Letter.
From the San Angelo Enterprise
SAN ANGELO, Tex, Oct. 3, 1894.

DAN ANGELO, Tex, Oct. ), 1894.
Mr.. Editor:
For over seventy-eight years
there have been tariff duties, more
or less protection upon wool. The
German law not only denies wool
growers the benefit of Cd a tariff
for revenue, but (2) places wool Cd
the free list, though not one citi-
zen by petition to Congress asked
| it. Until President Cleveland's
free wool message of Decent Der
1887, all political parties favored
protection for the wooden industry.
The price Of foreign wool imports
| is now so low, that without protec-
tive duties, American wool growers
can not successfully compete with
them. Free as permanent
policy, would substantially des-
troy the American woollen indus
try, and in large measure ami
hilate the capital invested therein.
The threat of free wool has re-
duced the value of our 100000
sheep nearly $70,OO0,OOO, and has
reduced the price of the wool clip
of 1894 more than $30,000,000 below
the normal price under adequate
protection.
The German law attack on agri-
cultural interests is aggravated by
the fact that the odious sugar,
iron, ETC., trust and others are am
ply provided for, and protection,
professedly, if not, actually ade-
quate, is given to most of our man.
ufacturing industries, and to most
raw materials. Free wool is an in
famous and odious discrimination
and a conspiracy against all our
agricultural industries.
AS permanent policy it will
drive million of wool growers
from sheep husbandry into in.
creased production of hay, wheat,
corn, oats, cotton and other pro-
ducts; destroy our sheep and re-
duce the demand they would make
for food, and thus add to our exist
ing over production and low prices,
the ruin of still further over pro-
duction. This would take from all
farmers a large measure of their
just income and render them I'M
able to patronize merchants, gro.
GERS, mechanics, schools and
churches. All industrial and other
classes would be involved in com.
mon disaster.
Free wool is a blow at civilization
and progress. Immense imports
of low priced woods would supplant |
to large extent the use of cotton,
and thus bring disaster to the |
planter of the south. In 1898 the |
imports for consumption of the |
wool were 1873, 1871, 1891 |
pounds, at valuation of Y cents |
per pound.
Why is free wool thrust upon |
the country? Not one of all the |
the senators who voted for the |
German bill ventured to give any |
reason in support of free wool.
Maybe Mr.. Paschal or the present |
nominee of the Democracy. for the
18th district can give sufficient
reason 30 convince the voters of the
18th why they should support Mr..
but don't think they will
nor can they. 1t has been proven
time and again that no foreign
wool is needed to mix with ours
for successful manufacture, yet
they protect manufacturers inter
est and compel the wool growers to
sell at London prices. Wool grow
ers what are you going to do at the
coming election, vote for Mr.. Hous-
ton and the manufacturing East
or for Mr.. Noonan and the protec-
ton of the raw material South?
Mr.. Cow man, you are interested
in this question as we'll. Mexico
with cheap labor and cheap lands
can raise as good beef as Texas.
Stop Obeying the party call, listen
to the voice of reason and the in
terests of yourself and family; give
this question a thought and with
the help of our votes at the polls
we will show that we do not in
dorse a policy that has virtually
beggared this country.
With the finest soil, climate and
grass, today we are financially
"busted" through the inactive
and ruinous policy of the demo-
cratic administration.