Protectionists Die Hard.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXI, Issue 6901, 13 February 1894, Page 3

Protectionists Die Hard.

A convention of wool men was held m New York on January 10, when the Wilson Tariff Bill was denounced. A protest was forwarded to President Cleveland, m which it was declared that the conference represented the wool-growing industry of the United States, m which 5,000,000,000d0l of capital had been invested. They protested against a measure which threatened to destroy the larger part of this capital, and to leave the condition of the remainder uncertain ; that the wool and woollen Bchedules of the Wilson Bill are so drawn as to entail on all American manufacturers a maximum of loss and embarrassment, and to offer to foreign competitors possession of the American market at a minimum ; that the Tariff Bill is the sole cause of prolonging the existing business depression ; that the proposed rates of duty are insufficient, without accompanying specific duties, to equalise the S resent differences between the foreign and omestic cost of production. The protest concludes thus : — " We appeal to the patriotism of the American Congress to prevent the consummation of this national misfortune, and we appeal to our fellow-citizens m every walk of life to second our protest against this legislative act of extirpation." At a meeting of about 3,000- workmen m New York on January 22 the following resolution waß passed : — " Resolved, irrespecof party affiliation, and m mass meeting assembled, representing 600,000 operatives m. every branch of industry, we do earnestly protest against passage of the Wilson Bill, or any measure of the same character, or of any legislation which shall dwarf the established industries of the country." The question of the unemployed is becoming a troublesome factor m the body politic of the United States, and the cry for " Work or bread is being heard m every quarter.