The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-01-02
TARIFF BILL THE
PRINCIPAL TOPIC
To Be Discussed at the Meet
ing of National Wool
Growers Assoc.
(American News Service)


Portland, Ore, Jan. 1.-The tariff.
and particularly that part pertaining
to the wool industry. schedule X, will
be the prime subject for discussion at
the convention of the National Wool
Growers association, January to Z.
In this instance the agitation Is not
for a tariff cut but for maintenance
Of the present high rates on wool. the
sheep growers claiming that any
downward revision of the tariff will
cause the ruin of a profitable indus
try in the United States and a per.
sonal loss of millions of dollars to the
members of the association.
II Is felt by the wool men that their
side of the case has never. been pre-.
scented to the public fairly and they
charge that as the agitation that has
arisen against them is due to the eff
forts of political muckrakers and mud
singers. They point to a letter from
Secretary of Agriculture Wilson, ia
George s. Walker of the Wool Grower
association as indicative of the impor
lance with which the wool industry OF
the United States is viewed in ofiicial
circles. Secretary Wilson says in
part:
~ do not think it would be wise to
have legislation by congress detrimen
tai to the wool interests OF the coun
try. The development Of the sheer
industry should be encouraged, not re
tarded."
Secretary Walker states that every
effort will be made to perfect a means
OF bringing the wool situation before
the nation in its true light. He says;
THE newspapers of the countr,
have been Rlled with misrepresenta
tons of the wool schedule ever since
the enactment of the Payne-Aldricf
law and to date the wool growers have
been the patient sufferers, making lit
tie or no effort to correct the enron
eous ideas entertained by the mass
The tariff in operation at the presen
time is the same law that has been IL
effect since 1897. The fact is tina
this tariff enters into the cost of cloth
ing to such small extent as to be o
little consequence. While the presen
tariff of IL and IL cents a pound OF
wool of the first and second quality il
absolutely necessary to save the sheer
and wool industry from humiliation
the producers of wool and mutton ar,
not obtaining the profits generally &C
credited to them. The prices of WOO
today to the consumer are lower thar
for five or six years"
Efforts will be made TO secure tn,
attendance of men high in official lif
in Washington that they may becom
familiar with the growers side of tn
question.
In addition to the all absorbing tor
ic of discussion the convention will o,
fer TO the delegates a program of er
tertainment and education which vii
make IL a memorable event in shee
and wool growers circles. Addresse
upon everything pertaining to tn
sheep industry will be delivered b
men prominent in the live stock world
A sheep show, the most extensive e,
err held. will attract prize entrant
from all over the United States, an
for the first time in the history @
wool growers conventions there wi
be held. simultaneously with the shee
exhibition goat show.
II is expected that the conventio
will attract 5000 delegates and tina
concerted action to insure the prote,
ton OF wool interests in Washington
will take place.