St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1897-02-27
a TRIBUTE FROM THE ENEMY.

house of representa- tives was by all odds
the most interesting and enlightening
disclosure that the tariff hearing has
called out, If indeed it is not the most
important contribution. to tariff litera.
ture. and thought that has appeared
since Grover Cleveland's celebrated
tariff message of 1887.
It was a genuine surprise. 1t was Q
terrible shock to the fanaticai protec-
ZIONIST. 1t was the highest tribute to
the principle of tariff reform thatcould
be paid. Between the position of the
free traders, as the protectionist press
denominates tariff reformers, and the
wooien manufacturers as represented
by Mr.aNorth, thereais scarcely one iota
of practical difference. In other words,
the wooden manufacturers, speaking
through their official representative,
proclaim to the world their acceptance
Of the policy of the free traders. This
is a great advance towards the final
and satisfactory settlement of the tariff
question.
The corner stone of the tariff reform
structure was free wool. That was the
key note of President Cleveland's tariff
message in 1887. The center of opposi-
ton to tariff reform was massed against
free wool The free traders, accepting
the enenly's designation of tariff re-
formers, said that free wool would be a
boon to the people because it would
give them cheaper and better clothing;
that it would be boon for the manu-
facturer because. it would enlarge and
cheaper the supply of raw material;
and that it would not injure the Ameri-
can wool grower because the wool inn
ported would not compete with the
home clip; that the American grower
would be likely to be benefited by the
building up of the American woolen
manufacturing industries. President
Cleveland set forth these views nine
years ago, and they were combatted
with such intensity by both the manu-
facturer and the grower that for very
consistency extreme views in the op-
posite direction were incorporated into
the Mckinley law. What is Mr.. North's
testimony to-day? We quote from the
press report of his speech:
Never, until he had had experience under
free wool, did the manufacturer realize the
disadvantage he suffered under wool
duty, and the impossihility of any COM
pensntory duty offsetting these disadyan-
tages. The concentration of American
purchases upon the woods which can be
bought under the duty increases the price
compared with that which would be paid
Q f-lI J1 Hol ~ f1,a
of the market under free wool has indfca ted
that the enhancement of the price is about
four cents per pound. A duty has another
effect in cheapening the price of the wool
which cannot be imported, SO that the for
eisn manufacturer. added to all the other
advantages which he naturally possesses,
is able to get his wool cheaper from cause
growing indirectly out of the duty.
all the restrictions of the old law were
put there, Mr.. North insisted, to ernbarrass
and impede the manufacturer in his choice.
of wool. They have that effect, and are
thus additional disadvantages for which he
gets no equivalent. Mr.. North declared
that these restrictions were not required.
because there was hardly any occupation
for which the opportunities were SO few
as in the sale of WOOL
Z It was necessary, he believed. to recite
these facts, that congress and the Amer
lean people Should understand the econonl-
ic Disadvantages of a duty on wool. The
did not appear to resist the
restora ton of q wool duty. They were
willing to make sacrifices in order that the
policy of protection might apply to all
products that need protection. They
agreed in advance to a degree OF protection
equal to that to be imposed on their goods.
They simply demanded that there should be
no return to the restrictive rates of pre-
vious wool schedules.
S.~-.. Nz1l IL.
as the manufacture had now developed
here. the use of foreign wools had become
Any duties on wool, the pur-
pose of which was to exclude and pro-
hibft its Importation, would restrict the
American manufacturer to such fabrics as
can be produced from domestic wool. The
effect of such restriction would be to i'm
crease the importation of foreign woods in
form and diminish the de-
mand for American woods and the employ
ment of American machinery. s#ff
Mr.. North declared that no American
bought foreign wool for any
purpose for which he could use domestic
wool, and that foreign wool was not used
to displace American, and that, while it
lid not disp1ace 1t. its Importation increased
the market for American wool.
Pretty substantial testimony in favor
Of free wool, is it not? A thorough ae-
knowledgmento of the correctness of the
position of the free traders, is it not? 1t |
must be remembered that Mr.. North is
no mere theorist, as he once regarded
President Cleveland, and Roger @.
Mills, William i. Wilson and other free
raiders. He is not an emissary from the |
,obden club, paid by British gold"
lie is the representa- and spokesman |
If the practical men in business. He is |
he secretary Of the Wool Manufacture
rs association, and the views he pre-
ents must be accepted as the views OF
ne practical wool manufacturers. And |
10 theorizing free trader has put the I
for free wool stronger than
lid Mr.. North for the manufacturers
they are converted to the belief in the
cry foundation of tariff reform, free
WOOL, after only two years practical
experience in its use. And these two /
rears have been most unfavorable to
business experiments Of any kind.
We regard this confession as the most
triking effect that the campaign of ed
cation has produced. Sound ideas upon
economic policies have. been driven into
he heads of the most virulent enemies
# tariff reduction Itisan encouraging
ign. IT cannot fail to have an effect
or good upon those who would plunge
he country into protective madness
gain. 1t leads to the hope and belief
hat the time may not be long distant
shen manufacturing New England viii
ecome what it was before. the strong
lold of free trade in America.-Ut Utica
y. ~ Observer.