The herald., 1895-11-08
THE ELECTION AND WOOL

In an interview published in yester-
days issue OF The Herald, the Hon.
Joseph II. Marley, who is out on the
skirmisb line for Tom Reel of Maine
INDUCES in the happy felicitatioa that
the late Republican victory in Ohio can
he ascrihed to the oper6tion of the new
tariff bill.
That the tariff question did operate
favorably for the Republic party in
Ohio may be true, but not in the way nor
for the reason that Mr.. Manley suggests.
The discomfort with the last taiiff bill
was not because the duties formerly ex.
listing were reduced or abolished too
frealy, but because they were not slsugh-
tered enough. This discomfort found it's
expression in the desire on the part OF
multitude of people who had voted the
Democratic ticket in 1892 to place Mr..
BrIce, who ably assisted in the mutilation
of the Wilson bill in the senate. where
he could not again mid in a senatorial re-
vision OF Democratic revenue measures.
Mr.. Marley also says that the Onio
wool growers have gone to the Republi-
can party solid on account of the new
tariff law placing wool on the free list.
~AAA' AAohiSy 10 iAbHe III MS DOiiti tuat Inc
wool growers of Ohio have gone to his
party, but he is little Bit off on the
time of theii departure. They went to it
years since-long before the Wilson bill
was dreamed OF, and have largely stayed
WITH it under the inexplicable delusion
that IA tariff on wool enhances the price
of the article.
The Ielsistency with which this high
tariff, high price idea has chung to the
minds of the Buckeye wool raiser would
lead to the plausible conclusion that the
wool producing intellect of that state is
as soft Is the stuff they deal in.
The facts relative to this condition OF
wool under protection are decid eddy de-
structive of the sheep rasers' bstinately.
adhered-to theory.
From 1866 to 1890 wool was protected
by duties ranging from 40 to 30 per cent,
and vet during all that time the article
steadily declined in price, the average
decline being about 40 per cent. In 1890
the grand climax OF protection was at.
tanned in the Mckinley law. which ad-
vanced the duties on the sheep's covering
with the avowed intention of raising
both it and the price. 1t raised neither,
but something a great deal warmer m
stead. During the existence of this prod
uct of transplanted Mongolianism WOO!
declined very rapidly, the fall averaging
between 40 and 80 per cent. Wool touched
Its lowest point under McKinleyism;
stick pin in that proposition, Mr.. Man
ley and brethren, and keep your eyes on
it. And 1t has advanced under the new
tariff act. or since it has been on the free
list. something it never did under the
Mckinley act.
The reason for depreciation under pro.
lection and appreciation under free trade
is clear and needs no elaboration. In
brief, it Is that but small proportion of
wooden. goods can be made in this ooun-
try, and those only of the coarser gind,
without also mixing from so TO rs per
cent OF foreign wool, the American and
foreign articles being of different length
and quality. Such being the case. it can
be readily seen by every one exec pt an
Ohio sheep raiser with the fieecy product
pullei over his eyes by prouectionist rre-
tenders. that in the degree that foreign
wool is shut out the demand for Gomes-
tic wool fails off. The home and the i'm
ported articles do not com pete. but when
the latter is admitted free co-operate in
the production of wooden manu factlres of
the kind the peorle want