The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-07-16
THE FLOCK MASTERS,
Second Annual Meeting of the
Montana Wool Grow
ers' Association.
The Report Of the Secretary Of the
Montana Wool Growers
Association.
Annual Meeting of the Montana Wool
I Growers Association.

Fhe annual session of the Montana
Wool Growers association convened
thursday at the headquarters of the as
coclation at 2:30 O'Clock .. H., the off,
GERS and large number OF growers be-
ing in attendance. Among those pres
pnt we noticed o. q. Cooper, L. w.
Peck, George Patterson, Chas. Richter,
R, :. Ball, e. Z. Scoffin, John Hay, G..
:. Gibson, L. T.. Collins, Sam Kohlberg,
G, G. Griffith, Edmund Ingersoll, Chas.
Spencer, J. II. Rice, M. j. Leaning, w.
4, Edgar, Jack Waite, Jos. McCuaig,
]. J. Woods, Mr.. Gildardt, Alexander
Begg, H. NJ. Martin, Lyon Bros, and
many others whose names we did not
get. The attendance is good and the
session promises to be an interesting
! and important one. The association
| numbers some seventy mem bers and is
in a tiourishing condition. -,---~n--~~~
President 0. G.. Cooper called the
meeting to order, stating briefly its OBJ
iect The secretary, l.. w. Peck, then
read his
ANNUAL REPORT.
Mr.. President and Gentlemen-Short-
w after the last meeting of the associa-
ton your secretary made quite an ex-
tended trip among the sheep breeders,
wool dealers and manufacturers of the
east. Some of the impressions gained
by this trip were laid before you in the
bulletin issued this spring.
OF this bulletin, issued under the di-
rection Of the executive committee, there
were 700 copies published. 500 of which
have been distributed among the men,
bers of the association, other wool grow
ers of the territory, and among parties
east where it was believed to be good
policy to advertise our woods. The eX-
pense of publication was tWo-thirds met
by advertising and the remainder by
the sale of copies and membership fees.
1t has been quite evident from notices
received from various quarters that it
has partially accomplished q purpose,
which, if followed up, will largely aid
us in perfecting our organization, i'll dis
tributlng information, securing protec-
ton, national, terri sorial and local, TO
our industry, and in drawing that atten-
ton to the merits OF our woods that will
obtain for them every cent that the
market will afford.
On the first of May last the executive
committee held meeting to consider
the matter of sending a representative
from this territory to the National Wool
Growers convention to De held at Chi
cago on the 10Th of that month. A con-
yention had already been held at Den
YER of wool growers from most OF the
western states and territories, at which
the tariff question had been discussed
in a vigorous manner. A delegation
with instructions had been appointed
from this western convention TO take
part in the national convention. Great
efforts were being made on the part Of
the national association to secure a full
representation at the national conven-
ton, and letters had been received from
other parts of the territory which advo-
Gated sending delegate to this conven-
ton. Having in view the necessity Of
doing all In their power to secure such
legislation as would relieve the depress-
ed condition of the wool market, and
believing that the opportunity was
good one to draw attention to and also
to advertise Montana woods, the COM
mittee decided to send the secretary of
the association upon the understanding
that he would bear all expenses aside
rom those of travelling to Chicago and
lack. For this purpose 5000 was voted
and allowed.
You are already familiar, / presume,
with what transpired at this conven-
ton. Two hundred and twenty dele
gates from twenty states and territories
We're present, representing the vast in
dustry of wool growing in this country.
The meetings were enthusiastic and
united to degree never before witnessed
IN the history of wool growing in the
United States. The feeling prevailed
throughout the organization that it was
The duty of the government to protect
completely an industry at once SO inn
portant to our national wealth and af-
lnecting SO many of our people. 1t was
lelt that through home competition we
should soon be selling woods as cheap as
II Is possible to produce them in this
country, and that those sections that are
obliged to GO out of the business should
pe driven out by home and not by for
eign competition. The platform adopt
ed sets forth the magnitude of the busl-
ness and the tremendous loss to the in
uustry -S16, 900, 600 sustained IN one
year by the reduction of the tariff by
the act of 1883. Resolutions were then
adopted looking to complete organiza-
Lon of the wool growers and sheep
breeders of the country, that they may
pe power able to secure restoration
vi The tariff act Of 1867; to work Tor the
party that shall declare itself in favor OF
such restoration TO favor system Of
economic legislation calculated to foster
ana develop our home industries; repu-
uiating the doctrine of free trade, and
calling attention to the ''long continued,
palpable and systematic undervaluation