The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-16

| fluCh. SIItl III LA0HCpOlt tdtlOAi 1ollO w
a different law from the shrinkage o1
values in produce We are we'll situated
as a territory to handle transportation
matters with the aid of our magnificent
waterway which connects with a dozen
railroads. Transportation is an absolute
necessity to us, and the companies are
not conducting business for the fun of it
any more than we are. They pool upon
| prices and are pooled to-day in the mat
| ter of rates on Montana woods. Depend
| upon it, We shall get left If we do not
pool also and give ourpatronage to those
who will treat us the best. In this age
| nearly every large interest is acting un-
| der some pool arrangement. Individ-
| uals have ceased to fight their battles as
individuals, but act and are power as
corporations, companies or associations.
Gigantic organizations in the way OF
transportation companies, boards OF
trade, manufacturers, ETC, have succeed
ed in getting the best OF the producers
of the country, and while the latter can
never from the nature Of things hope to
secure that perfect combination Of effort
enjoyed by the former, still he can do
nothing to check their inroads more eff
fectually than to act through as perfect
reorganization as he is capable of form
ing.
Organized effort is the order of the
age, and self-preservation demands that
we should fight with the improved arms
of modern warfare.
While the transportation company is
an absolute necessity the middle man is
a necessary evil We would like to
trade with the manufacturer directly,
but experience has shown this to be i'm
practicable We must then by constant
study and by information gained by our
combined experiences find out that
method best calculated to get our woods
into the manufacturers hands so they
may net us the highest price possible,
and then secure the aid of those parties
who treat us with justice and fairness.
In short recognize our friends, be they
true friends or friends from policy.
Now, that we may handle these and
many other problems in the best man
ner, I have a couple Of suggestions to
present for your consideration. The
first is in regard to the association and
the second to publishing quarterly
pamphlet Or periodical.
In travelling over the territory you
will hear us spoken of as the Fort Ben
ton association. A complete organiza-
ton of the wool growers of the territory
has not yet been effected. There are in
addition to this association, the Custer
county, Lower Judith, Meagher county,
and southern Montana associations.
While these associations can handle
matters of local interest perfectly, they
can act together but imperfectly in mat
ters where the united action of all is
necessary, To be a power in influencing
territorial or national legislation in Sc
curing the enforcement of health laws
and in becoming acquainted with others
wants and views we should all act under
central organization. To accomplish
this purpose would recommend send
ing requests to each Of these organiza-
tons to send a delegate or delegates to
Helena next September, during fair
week, for the purpose Of completing a
territorial association. All the members
of the local associations should as such
be members Of the central association.
[ would also recommend sending re-
quests to the growers of the Deer Lodge
valley and Of Missoula and other Sec
tions where local organizations do not
now exist, calling upon them to form
associations and to send delegates to
Helena at the appointed time. Member
ship fees should be divided, part going
to pay the running expenses of the local
association and part to pay the expenses
Of the central organization. When the
central organization is formed it should
be known as 1.-THE Montana Wool
Growers Association = and this branch
should take a new name and become the
Northern Montana association, perhaps.
The other matter which / have to sug-
gest, and upon which would like to
get the views Of the members of the as
sociation, is that of publishing regular
quarterly periodical to take the place of
our annual bulletin. Such proposition
was made to me by publishing house
in this city, and it was thought that if
the association sanctioned such ven
ture, giving it its support at the start,
that it would prove a success. Such an
engine would be power greater than
any other we could devise in advancing
the interests of wool growers throughout
the territory.
A regular periodical, through the col
umns Of which controversies could be
carried on in regard to matters pertain
ing to our business, would certainly be
q power for our good. Growers could
be kept posted upon the markets relas-
ing to wool, sheep, ranch property, etc.,
in regard to sales and exchanges, the
merits and demerits5 Of dealers and
companies. legislative
matters and laws affecting our industry,
and in short, we should have place
where we could freely and fully-With-
out fear or favor-keep each other post
ed upon the acts of ourselves and. Others.
1t would save the association the eX-
pense of publishing its transactions and
such other matters as it may have to
to the WooI-groWing pub
lie. The publishers ask no support
from the Wool-groWers only SO far as
they may see fit to give it in the way of
any advertising they may have and in a
hc.1a,. .iratin To j, A n