The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-06
WOOL GROWERS
Give WARNING.
Free Silver Congress and PreSi-
dent are Predicted
Unless the Republicans Give
Wool Protection.
THEY SAVED M'KINLEY
Wool Growers Declare They
Saved Doubtful States.
Favored Silver But Wanted
Wool Protected More.

washington, JAN 6.-The nearing on
the wool schedule of the tariff brought
many farmers and manufacturers to
the ways and means committee room
today. The first speaker was John G.
Clark of the Washington county, Penn
sylVania, wool growers association He
spoke strongly on the effects of the free
wool clause of the Wilson law, which,
he declared, had prostrated the buSi-
ness in the United States. The expert
ment of free trade had been a crime.
The value of lands had declined and
sheep men in all parts of the country
had been driven from the business.
The sheep raiSerS asked only mod
crate duty that would enable them to
continue in business.
The Democratic members of the COM
mittee prObed the witness for some
time.
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama, asked if
clothing for the working men had been
cheaper under free wool, to which Mr..
Clark replied that most of the clothing
now sold was shoddy. The importa-
tions of shoddy had increased under the
law.
One hour was given to Judge William
Lawrence, the president of the National
Wool Growers association, to present
the request of that body. The state
ment was an exhaustive review of the
wool industry under different tariff
rates during the last half century.
Speaking of the effects of the Wilson
law, he declared that it had stopped
one third of the wool growing business
and closed one-half of the mills of the
country. There had been no adequate
protection on wool since 1857.
Referring to the political aspect of
the matter, Mr.. Lawrence averred that
the election of Mckinley had been ac-
complished by votes of wool growers
in half dozen doubtful states who
would have voted for Bryan and free
silver had they not considered protec-
ton on wool more important than free
silver. If this protection were not
given, there would be a free silver con-
gress two years hence and in four years
a free silver president and congress.
The Mckinley bill as it came from its
author had been moderately protective
on wool, but the addition of the skirt
ing clause and advalorem rates made it
disastrous. Then came the Wilson law.
Under this law the number of sheep in
the United States had decreased three
million a year with a loss of $50, 600, 900
according to official statistics.
Unofficial and more accurate figures
proved the loss to wool growers through
the Wilson rates to have been Sis, ,000,-
coo.
The schedule asked by the wool grow
erS' association was II cents a pound
on all MerinO woods, "a cents on washed
and SO cents on secured Australian un-
washed woods to be considered as wash
ed. On account of its superior light
ness they said the Australian had an
advantage over South American, losing
comparatively little weight in washing.
The dropping of the skirting clause was
asked as to secure it's advantages
the parts of Australian wool imported
amounted to only half the fleece
To do away with this clause it was
said would give employment to 5000
men in this country. Personally, I
would like a much higher duty than u
cents said Mr.. Lawrence but the
growers limit their demands to that
figure.
When the speaker asserted that Au-
stralian wool could be put on ship at
al q n of mt n md
Mr.. Wheeler of Alabama commented:
And that is the wool on which you ask
"A cents duty?'
well. "a and is SO cents, and that
wool will bring from to cents more
than ours in Ohio which would leave US
only about 25 cents. If people will use
| luxuries, they should pay luxurious
| duty
would a pound of Australian wool
be brought into this country at "a
| cents?" asked Chairman Dingley.
There would. Any way it would
transfer our trade from Australia, where
we have to pay in gold, to South Afri-
ca, where we would exchange agricul-
| tural implements and goods for their
| WOOL
Continuing, Mr. Lawrence urged that
| China wool should be classed as first
| class, otherwise there would be an in
| fiux which would kill the American
| business. Incidentally he referred to
the advalorem system as the most in
| fernal scheme ever invented by rascals
! on earth.
| AS a plan to prevent a flood of i'm
| ports pending the passage of a bill
| Judge Lawrence suggested that con-
gress pass at the present session a bill
| declaring that all articles imported af-
| ter the first day of the first session of
| the 55th congress to be subject to the
rates of duty of any law passed by
| that congress when the new rates are
| an advance; bonds to be given by i'm
| porters for such payments before goods
/ can be withdrawn.