The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-09-15
Sheep.Growers of the East Are
impoverished by the Low
Democratic Tariff.
THEY LOOK TO THE CHAMPION
OF PROTECTION.
Til1ers of the Soil Will Assist Him
in the Fight to Restore
Prosperity.

CANTON, ONO, Sept. 14.-The visiting
delegations took an early start this week.
Major Mckinley commenced his speech
making at IL o'clock this morning, and he
will not finish his oratorical labors until
Saturday evening. At 1920 a delegation
ct 1000 wool-gTowers and business men
from Harrison County, Ohio, arrived in
Canton. This delegation started from
Cadiz, the county seat and home of the
venerable diplomat and iurist, John A.
Bingham, shortly after sunrise. AS the
majority of the men in the delegation were
farmers early rising was no hardship for
them.
The Harrison County men were re-
ceived in handsome way at the station
by the Canton mounted troop. who es-
eorted them to Major McKinley's resi-
6ence. The candidate has made good
many speeches in Harrison County-which
is one of the largest wool-growing commu-
mites in the West-and he has a large
number of acquaintance and admirers
there, many of whom were among the
visitors to-day. 1t was this fact that &C
counted in the measure for the ardor of
the greeting which Major Mckinley re-
ceived when he appeared on his front
porch this morning. The farmers OF Har-
rison County cheered long and Justify.
x-Attorney-General D. A. Holdings
worth was spokesman. He said in part:
Major Mckinley: Your friends, both politi-
cal and personal Of Harrison County, 1000 in
humber, are here to-day to pay their respects
TO you and wish you godspeed in the manly
fight you are making for American honor,
American industries and American homes.
The people of Harrison County, here and at
home, beg to call your special attention to the
condition of their one leading industry, the
recent prostration, almost destruction, OF
which by Democratic free trade has paraly zed
every business center of the county.
Under the beneficial influences of the
act OF 1867, known as the Bingham
wool tariff. the venerable author of
which is still living in great respect and
honor at Cadiz, and who sends by US to you his
greeting and assurances of support, Harrison
County produced more sheep and wool than
any other county in the United States on like
area. It's soil seems especially adapted to
sheep husbandry. This prosperous condition
Of our wool industry was continued under the
Mckinley tariff of $780, and it became in fact,
not only the leading industry, but part and
parcel, the wool and warp, of every industrial
enterprise in the county.
In 1892 the last year of the McKinly tariff,
the sheep of Harrison County numbered 1884,
246, and were valued for taxation at $780,
B70 Siuce then the number of sheep has rap
idly decreased, so that in 1896 the statistics
show only 80, 134, valued at $165, 512 the
wool clip of which amounts to only 512, 265
pounds.
Mr.. Hollingsworth's speech was loudly
and enthusiastically appIauded. When
the people became quiet Major Mckinley
stepped forward. There was a thunder of
applause, and then he commenced his
speech. 1t was addressed to the wool
growers of the country and of Harrison
County. Major Mckinley said:
Mr.. Hollingsworth, Ladies and Gentlemen
My Fellow Citizens: 1 count it as a very
special honor to receive this visit from my
fellow citizens, composed for the most part
of the farmers of Harrison County. I would
nave been glad to have had with you that
venerable citizen and statesman, Hon. John
A. Bingham [great spplausel, whose message
of cheer and congratulstion and good will
you have brought me. Renewed applause.l
1t is especially gratifying to me 10 receive a
visit from so many OF the farmers ana wool
growers of Harrison County There is scarcely
county in the State which is so essentially
agricultural as yours. You have no large
towns; you have but few factories and your
occupations are almost exclusively rural
Your county has long been noted as one OF the
great agricultural sections of the State and
especially devoted to that branch of agricul-
ture known as sheep-rsising and woolgrow-
Ing There is probably no portion of the
country of the same area that has supported
so many sheep as yours, and for many years
at least this was the most profitable industry
of your farmers. 1t is not SO good, believe
now as formerly. Laughter and applause
and cries of ''No, nol"l The last three years
have been years OF great trial, not only to the
woolgrowers OF your county, but to the en- tire
country. You have seen your crops disappear
and your fieeces diminish in value to an ex-
tent that prior to 1892 you would not have be-
lieved was possible. l remember in 1891 to
have delivered an address in the city of Cadiz
to the Assem- bied farmers of Harrison County
In which undertook to predict what would
happen if we had free wool in the United
states There were few men in that great
audience who believed my prediction then.
What do you think OF it now, farmers of Har-
rfson County? ICr1es of ''We think it all
right"l
In 1891 you had, according to your banners
displayed here to-day, 153,5O3 sheep Of an
average value of S. per head. In 1896 you
have but $4,000 sheep worth only 81 so per
head In 1891 you received from 80 to 80
cents per pound for your wool; in 1896, for
the same grade OF wool, from IA TO 10 cents
ne pound This enormous loss to great in
dustry is truly astounding and calls for seri-
ms consideration and prompt remedy If one
ran be found, and the only remedy we have in
the United States is by the ballot; and If it is
protection you want you know what party car
lies the banner of protection. Enthusiastic
theer.ng and cries OF "Whats the matter with
Mckinley? He's all right"l
Prior to the enactment of the Wilson tariff
law you had enjoyed almost without inter
tuption from the beginning OF the government
tariff on your product to protect you from
The competition of the cheaper lands and the
cheaper labor of other countries BY that act
four product was made free and opened up TO
The unrestricted competition of all the wool OF
The world. What makes that act more indie
ensi5le is, first that it was wholly unneces-
sary; and, second, that il was singing out one
bf the greatest industries OF the country for
Immediate sacrifice. leaving o her industries
having no greater claim upon the considera-
lion Of the Government practically unframed.