The San Francisco call., 1896-07-29
Prices Fall More Than so Per
Cent in Less Than Two
Years.
THE LOCAL WAREHOUSES; CLOSE
Cheap Foreign Wools Crush Out Home
Dealers and Destroy American
Industries.

1t is the purpose of this and succeed
ing article to show in simple and conclu-
sive way, so clearly that none can mis-
understand the proposition, that when the
Democrats killed the Mckinley protective
tariff law and substituted therefor the
Wilson bill they destroyed the wool indus
try of the United States.
1t was the imm ortal DR.. Samuel John
son who said. ''The proof of the pudding
is the eating thereof and not the chewing
of the strings" 1t may be said that the
proof of governments policy is the work
ing thereof and not the spinning of the
ores.
The policy of the Republicans, as ex-
emplifed IN the Mckinley law governing
the wool industry, is the direct opposite of
the policy of the Democrats. as seen in
the present Wilson bill. The Mckinley
bill was IN effect from October 1,
1 800, until August %, 1894, and since
that time the country has been
struggling under the Democratic policy of
anti-protection. 1t is the duty of every
citizen to study the results of the two
policies, each of which had fair chance
but as the tariff lists cover thousands of
articles, it is well to study the more inn
portant industries in the order of their
general importance, one by one.
Let it be understood at the outset what
is the exact difference between the Nc
Kinley bill and the present Democratic
law. as regards the treatment of the wool
growing industry. The customs act of
October 1, 1890, commonly known as the
Mckinley law, divided wool into classes
one, two and three, and made stringent
provisions against their indiscriminate
. importation. Paragraphs 384, 1856 and 3s6
of the law, under schedule K, pro-
vided that wool OF the first class pay a
duty OF IL cents pound. that the second
class pay II cents, and that the third class
exceeding IN value 13 cents pound, pay
80 per cent ad valorem. On some quail
ties of the third class the duties were
placed at 90 per cent ad Talorem. These
are the main outlines of carefully drawn
law that equally protected tiannels car
pets, blankets, hats and scores of manu-
factured products. Throughout every sem
tence of the law, as the most casual read
ing will show, there was great care to pro-
tect American products against those of
other countries. On this point there has
never been dispute, for the provisions of
the law are as plain as the alphabet.
That law expressed the policy of the
Republican party, as carefully formulated
by such economic students as Allison and
Mckinley. 1t stood for the Republican
theory and practice of protection to Amer
ican labor and American industry and the
results Of practical workings may be found
-
cial life for the period extending from Oc-
tober 1, 1890, to August %, 1894, when the
Wilson bill, the idol of Democracy, SUPER
seded it. What were the provisions of
this bill affecting wool, and what effect
have they had on the sheep and wool in
dustries of the countryP
Under paragraph 685 of the Wilson bill
sthe following woods are freed from duty:
'sAll wool of the sheep, hair of the camel,
goat alpaca, and other like animals and all
hair on the skin, noils, yarn, waste, card
waste, bur waste, slu bbIng waste" etc.
On woolen and worsted yarns, shoddy
and many forms of fabrics that had ample
protection under the Mckinley law the
present law provides a small ad vaIorem
duty, which affords no protection what
ever.
1t cannot be said that there is any OBJ
security IN the provisions of either law.
The issue between Republican protection
and Democratic free trade is here sharply
defined and every point is clear cut.
1t was the contention of Mckinley and
the supporters of his law that the Demo
cratic policy would destroy the wool and
sheep business of the country; that for
eign woods would inundate the United
States, drive sheep-growers out of business
and result in a general depression of the
pursuits depending on sheep-raising. The
Republicans contended that American
growers and dealers would find no mar
theo Democrats held that there would be
an increased demand for the American
output, which would be mixed with the
finer wools from abroad. How can it be
shown whether this country's purchase of
foreign wools has increased? How are we
=. to know, whether there has been an in
creased demand for American wool2
Custom-house reports show what has
been imported from other countries, and
reports from market centers, as well as by
statisticians employed by the Govern
ment,o show the decadence of the sheep
raising industry on this continent.
Omitting unnecessary lists of figures,
and quoting the main points from reports.
1t may be said that importations of foreign
wools have increased even beyond the pre-
dictions OF the friends OF protection, while
sheeD-growers who raised wool have be-
come little more than mutton-raisers un-
der less than two years OF Democratic rule
The importations of woolens for the
fiscal year ending June 80 1892, may be
taken as fair test OF what was the status
OF affairs under the Mckinley law. OF
class 2, under schedule K there were
imported ., 826, ,574 pounds, valued at 81 $685.
654. and o. class 3, 81. 5S1, 282 pounds at
$8.795,6
For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1895.
under the Wilson bill, there were imported
as follows: Class 1. 81, ,6l5 1896 pounds at
2.713.350. being clothing wool free of
Outy alSO t,ooo,OZf POUNDS at $6ZZ, ,Z5Z;
class 2 free OF duty, ID 207. go pounds at
$2,564 427; class 3, free, 90, ,4O3.0 .0ls pounds
at IS, 718, 447, and of dntiable goods of the
same class 1O,OO2,631 pounds at duty of
1854. 791.
The student of figures will behold in
these increased importations some of the
sffects of the new law, the law which the
Democrats heralded as a panacea for all
industrial ills. Does the fable not show
that the Republicans were right in at least
one thing-in their prediction that for
eign woods would be imported in large
quantities? Now let us see whether the
Increased importations did any damage to
the home industry, or whether there was
a demand for American wool to mix with
the foreign product
The best summary of the American sit
uatlon that has been made for long time
was issued in Boston on July Is bv Fenno
Brothers d Chiids, prominent for many
years as commission wool merchants and
close students of the situation Their cir
cular, issued as cold business statement.
is fulfllDent of Republican prophecies.
1t is so important that the following quo