Youths..... and This is 21.8 cents for labor 51 cents for stock for every dollar's worth of goods. The cost of materials includes the wool imported and produced by our woolgrowers. (See Senate Mis. Doc. No. 35, Fiftythird Congress, second session, pp. 103-105.) The secretary of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers says: We have in this country enough woolen machinery to manufacture all the woolen goods our people can consume. But we have no use for it under the present tariff. (See Quarterly Bulletin of the association, September, 1896. Boston.) masters Number of men employed a Number of sheep and food Amount paid in wages. Value of services of flock masters Cost of washing and shearing sheep... Total amount paid for labor. 50, 000, 000 5, 000, 000 80, 000, 000 Here is capital invested $520,000,000, giving partial employment to more than 1,000,000 people, with wages and value of services $80,000,000, and with a total product in 1892 of $110,000,000. And this, under "the most ample protection," can be much more than doubled, and even then not supply the whole American demand. (See Senate Mis. Doc. No. 35, Fifty-third Congress, second session, p. 5; Mis. Doc. No. 77, same Congress and session, p. 44.) The value of the wool clip is estimated from the following, taken from the December 1, 1896, wool circular of Justice, Bateman & Co.: And the Secretary of the National Association of Wool Manufacturers, in the September, 1896, bulletin of the association, says: In the bulletin of this association appear the monthly quotations of the prices of 60 different varieties and growths of domestic wools in the Boston markets. Taking these quotations by groups, as they are there arranged, and comparing the prices in April, 1890, with the prices in April, 1896, we have the following results, by groups: The average decline in the whole group is 42 per cent. No other commodity, raw or manufactured, has suffered a decline in value which approximates this. Its extent and significance may be shown in the specific case of Ohio XX wool. It has dropped in value, in the face of equal competition, from 29 cents in 1892 to 183 cents per pound in 1896. The 1892 price on the scoured basis was about 28 cents above the value per scoured pound of the London price of the corresponding grade of Australian wool, while the 1896 price is about 4 cents below the London scoured price of the like grade of Australian wool. This drop of 42 per cent in value represents the loss to the farmer from the repeal of the duty fixed by the McKinley act. It is not in any sense due to a general decline in the world's wool markets; for a comparison of the London prices of various grades of wool, at the same dates, shows an average advance of about 9 per cent in 1896 as compared with 1892. ALLIED INDUSTRIES. Woolgrowing and wool manufacturing are allied industries. The American wool manufacturers furnish to our woolgrowers their only available market for wool. The WOOLGROWERS STAND READY FOR CONFERENCE WITH THE WOOL MANUFACTURERS to CONSIDER THE MUTUAL INTERESTS of BOTH; to aid in securing "the most ample protection" for both. They are ready to aid in securing for all industries protective benefits equal to those asked for their own industry, and to this end they invite the cooperation of all engaged in other industries, the wool manufacturers especially included (see Senate Doc. No. 17, Fifty-fourth Congress, first session, Chap. IV, pp. 129-134; Senate Mis. Doc. No. 35, Fifty-third Congress, second session, p. 227). SINCERE RESPECT FOR OPINIONS OF OTHERS-NO DISCOURTESY INTENDED. It is deemed proper to say that nothing herein, or in the MEMORIAL or CHAPTERS appended, or footnotes, is intended to reflect on the good faith, honesty of purpose, or courtesy of those entertaining different views or purposes. If any section of the country or locality of interests is referred to, it is only to describe existing conditions. No one will more earnestly condemn any sectional feeling than the writer of this. No personal disrespect is felt or intended to be cast against any of the many persons referred to. THE RESULTS OF AMERICAN ENTERPRISE AND LEGISLATION. Edward Atkinson, one of the best informed men in the country, has made an estimate of the annual productions of the various countries, as follows: United States: Population approximately 70,000,000-producing Great Britain and Ireland: Population approximately 40,000,000- Total production.. These are approximate estimates only, which may serve to give a slight comprehension of the problem. Let it be assumed that one-fourth of this product is consumed where it is produced, without purchase or sale.. Remainder... He significantly remarks that without doubt $15, 750, 000, 000 6, 800, 000, 000 8, 000, 000, 000 6, 000, 000, 000 36, 550, 000, 000 9, 137, 500, 000 27, 412, 500, 000 in the transformation of the ores into mechanism and tools, of the timber into buildings, furniture, etc., of the grain into bread, dairy products, and meats, and of the fibers into clothing, not less than three times this vast sum of $27,412,500,000, or the incomprehensible amount of $82,237,500,000 of property has passed from man to man. RESOLUTIONS OF THE FARMERS' CONGRESS. Resolutions adopted at the session of the congress at Indianapolis accompany the memorial. On some of these there were differences of opinion by members of the congress. COMMITTEE TO PRESENT THE MEMORIAL AND RESOLUTIONS TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES. On the last day of the session of the Farmers' National Congress the following committee was appointed to present to Congress the memorial of the Farmers' Congress under course of preparation: Messrs. B. F. Clayton, of Iowa; T. J. Clardy, of Kentucky; W. B. Powell, of Pennsylvania, and William Lawrence, of Ohio. THIS INTRODUCTION. This INTRODUCTION and the footnotes appended to the memorial have been prepared since the Farmers' National Congress adjourned. They are deemed appropriate by way of illustrations, and as supporting the views and purposes of the MEMORIAL. NO PARTY POLITICS IN THE MEMORIAL. The only purpose of this INTRODUCTION of the memorial, and the notes thereto is to secure to farmers equally with others the full benefit of the political policy settled for a time by the recent Presidential election. If the Democratic party had been successful, the Farmers' National Congress would have acquiesced, and would have presented to the Congress of the United States a MEMORIAL asking for benefits equally for farmers with those engaged in other industries under the Democratic policy. CHAPTER I. A MEMORIAL TO THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, ADOPTED BY THE SIXTEENTH ANNUAL SESSION OF THE FARMERS' NATIONAL CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES, HELD AT INDIANAPOLIS, IND., NOVEMBER 10-13, 1896. SYNOPSIS OF THE MEMORIAL. I. ADDRESS OF HON. B. F. CLAYTON, PRESIDENT. 1. Imports of farm products. 2. Exports of farm products. 3. Protective duties asked for... II. CONSIDERATIONS IN FAVOR OF PROTECTION FOR AGRICULTURE PECU- III. FARM PRODUCTS ON WHICH PROHIBITORY DUTIES ARE ASKED. 1. Nineteen products specified... 2. Considerations as to cotton, footnote 2. 20 21 21 Bounties, etc. IV. THE WOOL INDUSTRY. 24 1. Effect of tariff legislation.. 2. Effect of tariff on prices of wools, footnote 6; and see introduc- 25 V. DEFECTS IN THE WOOL TARIFF ACT OF 1890.. 1. The "skirting clause"-Its effect. See footnotes 7, 12, 16; see 2. American wool growers can supply all needed wools, footnote 8. VI. THE RATES OF PROTECTIVE DUTIES ASKED FOR... 18 19 24 63 28 28 30 30 VII. EXTRA SESSION OF CONGRESS. 3. Footnote 9, subdivision 9, shows the necessity for an increase 1. Reasons in support of it, footnote 10.. 31, 68 2. A solution of the mode of dealing with the wool tariff by the VIII. THE DINGLEY TARIFF BILL-Objection to it... I. It will only give to merino wool a protective benefit of about 2.6 1. Six reasons given in footnote 11 2. A threatened danger, footnote 11.. 3. The measure of protection suggested by Justice Bateman IX. AD VALOREM DUTIES INSUFFICIENT.. 1. Discussed, footnote 11a; see also Chapter II, post 2. Third-class wools used to manufacture clothing goods, footnote 11a X. FOUR AMENDMENTS TO THE DINGLEY BILL ASKED FOR.. I.-"That the 'skirting clause' of the act of 1890 shall not apply to it. II.—Strike out the pledge thereon that it shall continue in operation until August 1, 1898' III. That the duties on woolen rags, shoddy, mungo, flocks, noils, wastes, and other adulterants be made prohibitory.. IV. That wool and wool manufactures shall not remain in bond warehouses more than 10 days"... 36 S. Doc. 17- -2 17 |