Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-09-28
WHAT'S WRONG WITH WOOL I
70 the Editor Of the Register:

In 1898 Captain DOvener caught sheep
on his road to Republican meeting
at Weston and put it in the buggy or
wagon he was driving and took it there
and had it brought on to the speaker
stand to elucidate and explain the
great effect the Dingley tariff was hav-
ling in raising the price of wool. During
this wonderful parade of sheepology
| by Mr.. Dovener the sheep bleated.
There says Dovener, 1t understands
my dictum and is extolling me and the
Republican party for our protection TO
that industry its coat OF wool supplies
the raw material of. The hour this in
dustry is well protected no Demo-
crat will ever be able TO look a sheep
in the face again, and wool will always
be maintained at high price. Here the
sheep bleated again and Dovener said.
1T eoneurs in my argument. de
grew vigorous and swelled and pulled
and proclaimed that American labor
and American industry, the farmer
and everybody could see that the Ding
ley traiff had brought about 40-cent
wool and $l.25 wheat, and the prices
could never go below this mark so long
as the Republican party was in power
and the people OF this dictrict elected
him as its Representative to Congress.
1t was their duty to do so, as he under
sood the ms and outs by reason OF hav-
ing served two terms. and could ma
terially aid in all legislation the party
may desire to 'perpetuate" this admin
istration.
/ desire, Mr. Editor, TO state
there never has been high protective
tariff instituted by this country, but
what injured the prices of wool. The tar
if of 1912 reduced the price TO cents
per pound, and everything else in pro-
portion. The tariff of 1916, called the
Walker tariff-the nearest free trade
tariff we have ever had-gave wool an
upward tendency that ran it up to bet
ter prices. and they were maintained
longer than has been the case before or
since under any tariff. This tariff was
in existence until 1867, when the Nor
rell tariff was enacted. This had the eff
feet of demoralizing the wool trade and
prices receded. The farmer became dis
couraged, and, to get rid OF his sheep,
he pelted them. Millions were sent TO
the other side In this way. This tarlf
was passed almost exclusively to main
tain the high price of wool that had
been obtained in 1865, 1866 and 1867,
but it was a failure. 1t was a revival of
the old theory of the tariff OF 1872, that
brought such distress and almost ruin
ed the nation. The Monnell tariff was
virtually in force until in 1892, when the
! Mckinley tariff was enacted, and under
which wool constantly receded until in
June, 1898, 1t sold at II cents per
pound, lower than it had been for
fifty years. The Wilson tariff was pass
ed in November, 1898, and wool adj
vanced, although it was placed on the
free list, Immediately after its passage
TO Is cents per pound and it never came
below that price. In 1896 Mckinley was
elected, and in 1897 the Dingley bill
was enacted. Wool, advanced in price in
1898 and 1899; so did wheat, and this
caused Dovener to become hilarious
and court the friendship of the sheep.
and the farmer who believed all he said
to be true. There was the evidence.
Wool was 40 cents and wheat $125 and
these prices existed under the Dingley
bill. The Dingley bill is yet in force,
and he is a member of Congress, and
Mckinley President, yet wool is in the
hands of the producer all over this dis
trict, and everywhere in this county
where it is produced, and there are no
buyers, and it can't be sold at any
price. Nobody wants it. In whose face,
Captain, is that sheep frowning now?
My opinion is it has turned the tail
end to you men who believe the tariff
raises the price OF wool or grain. 1t
never has, never will, never can. The
present state of the wool market and
grain market proves it. If it had the
power in 1898 and 1899 to raise the
price of these commodities, why does
it not maintain them now, as you prom
ised it would in that Western speech?
Supply and demand regulate the prices,
Mr.. Dovener, and you cant controvert
the facts. A high protective tariff Gre
ates state of affairs that is conducive
to capitalists, for it provides the means
for forming combinations to sell wind
and water that produce enormous
profits without rendering an equiva-
lent for the same and creates just such
state OF affairs among the working
people as is found in the coal pits of
Pennsylvania to-day and in the Deer
ing Harvester Company of Chicago. 1t
fosters the rich mans interests who
desires to form a trust out of little
capital and then initiate it with wind
TONS 1t enables this capitalist to con-
troll the market for his products, raise
the price of his goods and pay divi-
dend of per cent on the inflated stock
and thus give it market value. This is
how he gets something for nothing and
is enabled TO skin the people without a
knife. Havemeyer says the Dingley
bill is the mother of trusts" and
Hanna says there are no trusts, but
! 'perpetuate" this administration SO
we can maintain this legitimate BUSH
ness. And Doyener says Il am with
Hanna on trusts, but the only way
have to be elected to Congress again is
to fool the people. Hoodwink them.
They are opposed to trusts, but they
will vote for me il | can make them
believe they are fooling somebody else.
That is the way ii is done; make them
believe we are working to their inter-
ests with the laboring man and con-
sumner, who in turn we must induce TO
believe the higher tariff the more work
they will get, and the lower Will be the
goods they consume. This causes b. y.
! Doyener to soliloquise: Il have devil
OF road to travel this time Have
meyer Is in the sugar business and will
make S50,000,0G0, sugar retailing at s
cents per pound. Bread and meat GO