New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-20
FREE WOOL.

Ont of about n million wool-growers Judge
Lawrence is expected to be dissatisfied with the
proposed tariff 1t Is to be regretted, and yet
II Is much better that he should be discontinued
than that the wool and We ollens tariff should
fail If men will take careful notice Of the fact
that urgent opposition to this or that feature OF
the proposed tariff may possibly defeat ii, thus
giving free wool for some years to come instead
of the duty proposed they may perhaps be in
clincd to modify their position. Undoubtedly
the wool-growers whom Judge Lawrence repre-
SCENTS would prefer some duty instead of none
whatever on WOOL Ii he consults their real IN
terests he will not so far oppose duty which he
considers less than entirely satisfactory as to
prevent the passage Of any new tariff whatever,
leaving free trade in wool
There Is often seen in Free-Trade journals the
promise that this is just what Mr.. Lawrence and
some of his friends in the Far Western States
are going to do The Tribune does not attach
Importance to this suggestion. because 1t be-
lieves Judge Lawrence an advocate of the in
terests of wool-growers and because they are
we'll aware that they cannot afford 10 strike at
this time for the defeat Of n protective tariff on
the ground that It's provisions do not quite suit
them. In the years that are coming. duties on
wool may be modified, but il will be done by
Protectionists and not by Free Traders, and the
representatives Of wool growers. whether in any
association or ont Of any. will not find it TO Their
advantage to block the way 10 Protection this
year.
Assuming therefore. that neither Judge Law
renee nor any other sincere advocate of Proiec-
ton will stand in the way of the tariff proposed.
the question remains whether the silver Sen
ators will adopt such course These gentle
men, 1t may be assumed. are in the field for
business. They do not want. If they can just
rs well avoid II. 10 lay themselves evcrlastingly
on the shelf. nor 10 make their cause OF silver
so odous that II can nevc- carry single state.
They have no idea that they can gain anything
for the woo-gro yers by keeping the present
tariff in force by free trade in wool. They have
no chance Of popularity in that direction. II Is
within their power 10 secure great advantages.
though possibly not all that they might like, for
their constituents and for the OOl-grOwPrs
Throughout; the country by the proposed duties,
and they are entirely aware that sharp fight
between the wOOl-growerS and the Silve- pro-
ducers would not be particularly beneficial, to
them.
The straight course for these people is the
ONLY safe one. They will be compelled to ask
the best duties they can get for wool. but not the
best they can by any possibility imagine They
will be obliged TO act in the Senate as the sup
portcrs. or else as the opponents, OF protective
tariff on wool, and they cannot afford to vote
for free wool Or for a defeat of the proposed
tariff at any stage. Judge Lawrence is well
aware that not one Of his silver friends can af-
ford 10 vote for free wool this year. That set
ties the matter. and there will not be disagree
ment Of the advocates of Protection for the bene
fit Of the Free Traders under McKinleys Adj
miniStraton,