The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1895-08-30
4 VERY USELESS THREAT
Protectonists Say Wool Duties
Will Be Restored.
Under the New Tariff Domestic Wool
Has Advanced and Manufacture
Vastly Increased. No Fat Can
Be Fried Out Of the Manu-
features on This Issue.

Nothing could more significantly
demonstrate the growing prosperity of
the country's wooden industries than
have the enormous importatious of free
wool since the new tariff Went into of
feet. During the II months ended May
81, 1895, the total importations Of WOO!
amounted to $50, 231,24 pounds. Of
which 40, 1928, Cos pounds were admit
ted free of duty. In the corresponding
months of the previous year the total
importations of wool amounted to 49,
d36, 968 pounds But this growth III the
quantity is not the most significant fact
connected with these wool imports.
Formerly the great bulk of these i'm
ports consisted of low grade carpet
wool, or was invoiccd as such. When
landed, a considerable part of this wool
was sorted out for the manufacture of
clothing, and there is no doubt that more
or less fraud was practiccd from time to
time in its valuation. But since wool
has been made free the imports Of the
fine Australian and Andcan heeccs are
oustrippins the imports Of cheap carpet
wool. Thus i'll the l. months of 1894
the dutiable imports of clothing wool
amounted to S,llG,lSl pounds, and in
the nine months Of the now tariff, be
ginning Sept. l and ended MAY 81, tho
imports of free clothing wool have
swollen to 1880. I53 pounds. Could
anything testify more clearly to the
progress of American wooden industries?
Since the new tariff went into effect
American merchants have taken tho
front rank of buyers in the London wool
market
IL ap interview the other day Senator
Dubois Of Idaho declared that one Of the
first tcts of the Republican party would
be'tnrestore the wool duties for the pro
lection Of American farmers. There is
no, region Oh earth where sheep can be
more cheaply reared than on the free
slopes OF tho Rocky mountains. But
this lar western statesman has evident
" not kept pace with the march OF in
dustrial events. Instead of the predicted
ruin of the sheep growers, who were
advised by the organs of calamity to
convert their herds into mutton, tho
market for domestic wool has steadily
improved under the new tariff. The
larger the impOrtati0ns of foreign woods
for making cloths the greater is the de
mand for domestic woods for mixing in
the manufacture, and MS proof of this
tendency the average price of domestic
WOOL has Wlthina short period advanced
= cents 4 pound. As further evidence of
the phenomenal growth of tho wooden
industries under tho benign influence Of
the new tariff The Cotton and Wool Re
porter states that during tho first half
of tho current year 30l new wooden fac
tories have been established in the
United States against 1lG in tho cor
responding period of 1894.
What interest. then, does Senator
DHbeis expect to enlist in behalf of n
restoration OF the duties on wool? Not
the sheep growers, for they must see hy
this time that obstruction of tho i'm
portatiou Of foreign wool discuuraveS
American manufactures, and thereby
depresses the market for their own prod
uct. Nor can he look for any help from
intelligent wooden manufacturers. who
would regard with serious concern the
revival Of u policy that would put them
To so great n disadvantage i'll connect
ton with their foreign rivals. Nor can
he get amy substantial aid from tho
great mass of American consumers. to
whom free wool means cheaper, better
and purer clothing, and consequently
more comfort and health.
In this Situation the protcctionists
should abandon without further DELAY
the threat 10 restore the barbarous wool
duties which have been discarded bvall
manufacturing nations On this issue
no fat can be fried out of American
manufacturers in the next presidential
campaign. So far from it, the manufac-
snrers, the sheep growers and the con-
suiners VIII unite against any party that
Shall wantonly undertake to disturb the
industrial peace. OF this peace free wool
is an absolutely essential condition. and
the tariff calamity howlcrs may as we'll
recognize the fact first AS last. -Phila-
delphia Record.
4 Republican From Away Back.