, 1906-01-24

tlOn ana an eHOI iuOuS nCTedS IN Lne
consumption of mutton, the increase
in consumption, figured from the
western markets named, being six and
one-half times as great in sixteen years
as the increase in the population in
twenty-five years.
Is there any reason for the increase
in the price of wool, and If so, what?
The average consumption of wool in
the United States from 1898 to 1905
inclusive has been AGA, 900 900 pounds,
and u production for the same period
has averaged less than 300, 900, 900
punds.
Imports of manufactured woods:
In 1904, s17.77S,7 SS. This is the for
eign value, on which there was paid a
duty of s16,329,0 34. or so per cent. The
average duty on raw WOO of all classes
is 1854 per cent-92 per cent of protec-
ton for the manufacturer, 46 per cent
of protection for the sheep men.
Imports of shoddy and all wool adul-
terants:
In 1884, last year of Mckinley tariff,
l43,O02 pounds, valued at SAT, 522; in
1897, last yea of Wilson tariff, 49,
S12,732 pounds, valued at $685., 65S;
in 1904, under Dingley tariff, 21S, 61S
pounds, valued at $52,6 1t
would take 34S years of importation
under the Mckinley tariff to equal the
importations of shoddy during the last
year of the Wilson tariff.
Under the present tariff the importa-
ton of shoddy in 1904 would take 22S
years to equal the importations of the
last year under the Wilson tariff.
Imports of wool: In 1894, last year
of the Mckinley tariff, 55,152, 55S
pounds; in 1897, last year of Wilson
tariff. 350,S52,026 pounds; in 1904, un.
der Dingley tariff, 173, 742, 1874 pounds.
Value Of wool manufactures import
ed: In 1894, last year of Mckinley
tariff, $19,439,3 1872; in 1897, last year of
Wilson tariff, $49,162, 1892; in 1904, un.
der Dingley tariff, $17,773, 1888. The
imports of manufactured wool was
nearly three times as much the last
year OF the Wilson tariff than it is now
under the present tariff.
Exports of wool manufactures: In
1894, last year of Mckinley tariff,
$773,S67; in 1897, last year of Wilson
tariff, S947, sos; in 1904, under Dinglev
tariff, SI9S793
l think it is now patent to everyone
why wool should be worth more now
than in the period from 1s97-the last
year of the Wilson tariff-until the
present time.
In the last year of the Wilson tariff
there was imported into the United
States, in round numbers, 40 COO, 900
pounds of shoddy, $50, 1000, 900 pounds
of wool, an amount larger thar the
largest clip ever produced in the unit
ed States, and as if this were not
enough to wreck prices We imported
In the same year $49, 900, 900 worth of
manufactured wool. With shoddy, wool
and wool manufactures imported this
year, added to the years clip, glutted
the market with wool, and this is not
all, but increased importations during
the continuance of the Wilson tariff,
added to the already overstocked mar
ket.
We have here a condition Of in
creased supplies out Of all proportion
to the increase in consumption, conse-
quently a lowering of prices. 1t has
taken years to use UP this immense sur
plus, and as it has disappeared the
price of wool has increased.
The amount of wool on hand in the
United States at the close of 1903 was
the lowest in the past ten years, with
the exception of last year, when it
reached the low point of 53,000,0 C0
pounds, now at the close of 1905 it is
sc, 900, 900 pounds, an increase over last
year of 43, 900, 900 pounds.
The imports in 1905 were 249,00 900
pounds, an increase of 600
pounds over the previous year, and yet
the stock on hand increased only 49,
100000 pounds. 1t would appear that
we consumed 5000, 900 pounds more
wool in 1905 than we did in 1904, or the
produce of nearly five million head of
sheep.
We have heard a great deal of late of
reciprocity. AS lear as / can figure it,
some of the advocates of reciprocity
want free raw material. What is raw
material? The raw material of the
farmer and the stock nan in the pro-
duction of wool are the air, the water
and the grasses that grow without cul-
|tivation, and the sheep that converts
them into wool. These that We call
raw materials are the finished products
OIL God Himself. The wool as now pro
duced is the best effort that the energy
and brains of the husbandman has built
up in the centuries that are past. This
wool is his finished and complete pro-
duct. This in turn becomes the raw
material of the securing mills, the
S CURED wool being their finished pro-
duct. The secured wool becomes the
raw material of the spinner, the yarn
being his finished product. The yarn
becomes the raw material of the weay-
er, the cloth being his finished product.
The cloth in turn becomes the raw ma
lterial of the tailor, his finished product
being the complete suit of clothes, all
the processes from air, water, and food
tending to this end. Where does the
material entering into the finished suit
cease to be raw material. and where
does it become the finished product?
If you are to protect it, where will you
protect it, and where put it on the free
list l am in favor of reciprocity, but
II went to know who re~ciprocates, and
-ylnt h. Il, f,pfp, IN rnpinrnPntn Az