Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1896-07-08

The Wool Contention Adopts a Con-
stitution and Bylaws; Also, a
Set OF Resolutions.
ADDRESS by DELEGATE cATRoN

oOoAtAt aht Htst ~"N
purpose OF forming a Territorial wool
growers association, met, In adjourned
session, In the city hall, In East Las Ve-
gas, at AIS o'clock, yesterday afternoon,
and was raped to order by President Pc
dro Perea, OF Bernalillo county. Secreta-
ry George Arnot read the minutes of the
morning session, and the same we're ap.
proved.
The committee on constitution and by
laws submitted their report, which was ia
vorably acted upon. [This report is too
volumiuous for publication In THE Optic,
this evening, together with the resolutions
adopted.
Hon. I. b. Catron, delegate to congress,
from New Mexico, then addressed the In
terested assemblage, saying, substantially,
that he had not attended the meeting for
the purpose Of making a speech, but he
was there to aid the wo%ol-growers, and
consult with them in their efforts to es-
tablish a Territorial wool-growers' ASSOC
citation. He compared the sheep Industry
with that OF cattle raising, in favor'of the
former, on account of the conditions Of
this country declaring New Mexico to be a
superior sheep-raising country, and that
our people understood the business better
than any other people in the United States.
He then went on to say that the wool
product Of 1898 produced $4,000 900 net,
arising from the sheep industry, not
reckoning the natural increase in the focks
| each year, which he stated was at that date
worth "a, 800, 900, a%ggregating altogether
an annual income, gross, of 81. 500, 900.
! He described in glowing language the
| different changes in the sheep industry,
caused by the removal of the duty on first
and second class woods under and by the
present democratic administration, and
the consequent death. blow to our hearths
and homes, the great loss to the sheep
men of the Territory, and as well all peo-
pie carry ing on the sheep-raising industry
in other parts of the United States, de-
nouncing the government as having acted
in bad faith coward all who are interested
in raising sheep and wool. This action of
the government, also, closed fully three
fourths of the factories and caused a loss
of over $500, COO, 900 to our people; our
manufacturers of wooden goods, our sheep
raisers and wool-growers.
He predicted the ousting of the present
government at the coming election, and
the consequent good times that would fol-
low by the restoration of duty on wool and
protection loud a%pplausel to our United
States industries of kindred natures,
wherein wool was used.
The speaker, also, declared in favor
of a specific duty as compared
with an ad valorem duty, explaining
in clear and concise language, the
frauds that could be practiced under the ad
valorem system, and which we're undoubt-
ed.y carried out by differentiation in GUS
tom house manifests, which undervalua-
ton was supported by the a6i iavits of the
importers, based on the face of the invoices
shown.
Mr.. Catron fully set forth the different
methods employed by importers described
the various classes Of woods imported.
hence they came, or were said to have
come from, the names they went by, and
countries raised in--all his discourse prov
ing indisputably the great detriment
caused to our wool growers by an ad valor-
EN- duty, instead Of a specific duty, as it
should be, to properly protect our great
industry of New Mexico.
He further prophesied the certain cleo
ton of Mckinley and that his first mes
sage to congress would contain a demand
for the restoration of a protective tariff,
and that he would insist on its observance.
to the ultimate establishment of a tariff
that would protect American industries,
the manufacturer business and the work
ingman's home and family.
Mr.. Catron ~substantiated all his state
with facts and figures, quoted from
English reports, that prosperity in Eng
land, of recent years, resulted from the
removal Of a duty on imports Of wool and
wooden goods to the United States, which
British manufacturer to success
fully compete with our home factories, to
the great detriment of the American peo-
pie; the manufacturer as well as the wage
Garner, robbing the former Of his legiti-
mate business, and the latter Of support
for his home and family.
The speaker urged upon the meeting the
necessity of representing their views to the
this meeting of the national wool growers
held In Washington, in regard
to wool protection, and which he attended
in the int est of New Mexico. The pub
of the memorial by this conven-
ton to congress-, he said, was suppressed
by the efforts of a free-trade democrat,
only a limited number was ever issued,
being distributed in the senate and
house of representatives. He could obtain
only three copies of this memorial, which
sent out here, however, for the informa-
ton Of those interested in the wool grow
lng industry.
His concluding remarks on this subject
uttered, and when he finished, !
ne was applauded by all present for his
interesting and instructive speech. The
thanks OF the meeting were extendedin a
unanimous vote and the same conveyed to
he speaker. As the hour was now late, an !,
adjournment was taken until this morning, :
It 10 O'Clock. Il
:. THIS MORNINGS SESSION. !
The adjourned meeting of the New {
Mexico Wool Growers association met. In !
he city hall at 1885 a. m. pursuant to ad-
and proceeded to business. A
light change was made in the constitu-
ion Of the wool growers association maxi
ng 1t more comprehensive and SO as to
all those who were interested In
he wool industry.