Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-22

the measure WOQlu udNt dnOEucN out tAstAS
relief; but with it, il becomes one OF the
most important statutes enacted By Con.
gress since the war. and one which viii
entitle IL 10 the gratitude of the people for
al time to come. A leading prOtectionist
once said that wool was the keystone 10
the arch of protection. With IL gone II
IL only a question of time when the whole
arch will collapse and tumble into ruin.
1 have been thoroughly familiar with the
history OF the agitation for free wool from
its inception. Fifteen years ago when the
Democratic State convention OF ONO ap-
proved a resolution declaring for duty on
wool, was on the committee on resolu-
tiOrs and opposed a proposition for Tree
wool. which received my vote only. Later
/ was in the House Of Representative and
took part in the debate on the wooden
schedule In the second Morrison Dill.
spoke for free wool. and when confronted
with the fact that the Ohio Legislature
unanimously requested the members OF
Congress from this State to vote for duties
ON wool / said then as | say now, would
rotvote 70 make wooden clothing dearer 10
the poor in our northern climate II every
man, woman and Child in Ohio should re-
quest me 10 do 50.
I watched with delight the passage OF
the Mills dill with free wool by the House
ton in Ohio when Democratic state
convention Endorsed that bill, free wool
and all
IL is not necessary now TO repeat the
arguments in favor Of free wool. Moth
ing more need be said than that they
were strong enough 70 convince the
leaders OF the Democratic party and 10
MAKE II one OF the cardinal principles OF
our organization. IL may, however, De
well to recall some OF the arguments o.
fered for free wool IN congress twelve
years ago.
Then il was maintained that the WOOL OF
every country had texture aud Il Der oflts
own; that foreign woods Whea Imported dld
nor compete with domestic wool; that they
came here to supplement the deficiencies OF
our wool. and by mixing with II 10 produce
the pest manufactured results; that the
dirty embarrassed the American manufact-
urer. who made the sole market Tor the
American farmer; that the effect OF tue
duty could not be TO increase the price OF
American fleeces, aRd that with fee wool
the American wool would advance 10 price
Within three months after the passage OF
the dill pl acing wool on the free list, domes-
tic wool advanced I cents per pound, ana
thus the advocates Of free wool stand VIM
dictated bv the result Of the experiment
Auu uOuAGSL-N NNNA W - W. -%t@-N~ W N--N
as domestic manufacturing Is Increased and
stimulated by the free foreign product.
Ii may be asked how then can free wool
benefit the cOnsumert The duties paid on
imported wool Appropriated last year
8, 200, 900. The increase IN price TO the
farmer, through free wool, Will oe next
YEAR say g, OUO, QUO. The consumers VIII
save the difference between the Increase
and the old duty, say SI,OOOOOO. Free
wool, therefore, inevitably means higher
prices to the farmer and cheeper goods 10
the consumer.
DIN this way free wool is.destined TO be the
great educator OF the people on the tarlH
question. Heretofore prOtcctioniSts have
said our propositions were impracticable;
that we were dreamers; that what we
claimed was well enough IN theory,
but would not work in practice.
Bat with free wool we will show that
they are the dreamerS and that freedom
as applied 10 trade in wool brings the same
results that freedom brings 10 everything
and everywhere, the highest development
of which the subject matter to which II Is
applied is capable. With the experience
thus derived the people will demand, very
soon, that other articles OF foreign trade,
so far as il is practicable, shall be brought
within the operation OF the same oenehcent
principles OF liberty.
TO WHOM is the credit due for these
great things that have been accomplished
in the direction of tariff reform.
In considering the question will not re-
fer to the points Of difference which arose
between the leaders Of the Democratic
party while the measure was pending IN
Congress. l do not deem 1t within the
province of the temporary chairman OF
this convention TO discuss these dlfer-
ences.
| shall only consider those matters OF
policy on which the party IS united ana at
the same time express the hope that as 10
the matters 10 dispute, aspeedy agreement
may ne reached, that there may oe no d.
vision in the great Democratic army, har-
mOuiOus in the main as 70 all fundamental
principles of Democracy.
First and foremost to whom credit should
be given is Grover Cleveland, President OF
the United States. IL was by his act that
any legislation for tariff reform was made
possible in this generation. Many OF US
mad been struggling for years IL par
ticular districts TO call public attention
TO the overshadowing Importance OF
the tariff question. But our EFFORTS
were in vain. Except in special localities,
the people would not consider the subject
az all. But in 1857 Grover Cleveland in
MS ultSSakb 10 AQuElNoo lAANNO NAO NA-'
ton from the obScurity Of local controversy
and made it a national issue. The stone
which had been rejected Oy the builders
was made the head stone of the corner He
did 10 with a bOldness and determination
rarely seen In politics. His reelection 10
the presidency was at stake. Party lead
ers advised against issuing the message
Most of his constitutional advisers pro-
tested against it. But he rejected the pro-
teStRtiOnS and remOnStranceS and IN the
interest Of truth and justice and long
suffering people issued the proclamation
which shall Of itself be sufficient 70 make
his name immortal. Nor was he mistaken
as TO its consequences. Although ne lost
by 1t one election, he gained another The
victory of 1892 was au overwhelming IN
dOrsement Of the message OF lSSi, and
placed anew the banner Of the leadership
Of the cause in his hands, from which II
shall never fall with GishOnOr.
Next 10 him the gratitude Of our people
is most due 20 the great Secretary OF the
Treasury, john G.. Carlisle. | was lnt-
mateiy associated with him in the pioneer
days of tariff reform. l learned his dis
his fidelity 20 principle, his
anu his profound knowledge OF
political economy. | watched and admired
his superb leadership as bill after bill was
in the interest Of tarih re-
form and submitted 10 Congress. He came
70 the cabinet with more experience IN
tariff legislation than any man IN public
life BY his wise suggestions be assisted
the Ways and Means Committee
Of the House and the finance committee
of the Senate and in consultation with the
President was ever mis- trusted adviser.
At the same time he was conducting sue
cessfully the treasury end the credits OF the
NHnFNa1 81
which have envirOned them since the war.
No history of American tariff reform will
ever be truthiuuy written which does not
give 10 John O.. Carlisle a position IN u,