Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1888-10-25

A Woolgrowsr Gives has visws on fres
Wool.-.Its Effect on the Wool
Industry.

Industry.
Permit n few views on the free wool que~-
ton. Let well enough alone with the pres
ent tariff ON wool. is. I grant. expedient
from "a western standpoint. Its better
price since the enact ment of the Mills bill
by the house of representatives may he at
tributed to the senates position regarding
nj also to better business hopes and conf
dence in trade. stimulated by advanced
and profitable prices for cereals in foreign
and home markets. How may the Ameri-
can woolgrOwer compete without protec-
tion thaving no advantages IN to land over
other stockgrowers in the United States)
with countries having immense, sparsely
occupied ranges. serf. peon, native and
cheap labor, often pittances for wages.
warm and favorable climates for growth of
wor' no winter expenses, and whose prod
ucts come at les freight into our markets
than his own, whose standard of brees,ing
is equal, if not superior. Australians hesi-
tate not to import our finest rams, and in
their own country pay rs high as 600
guineas 5000 for an animal. South
America is importing our best strains, and
through unequalrl resources for wool pro-
duction and cheap sheep can make our
prices iu the event 81 free wool.
Nearly unanimous protest from wool
growers -Democrats and Republicans alike
has arisen from Maine to California. from
Texas to Montana. Having II large and
increasing home market, VIZ export very
few wooden goods. However, the American
manufacturer may, by sections '"l? to 22
Of the Revised Statutes Of the United states.
import foreign wool for manufac-
ture at ~ per cent rebate Of tarin
duty, provided export Of product of such
wools is made. Under existing tariff ON
ma nufacture goods aud on woods corrected
our manufactured importations, Judging
FROM the past, would decrease. The i'm
portation free of duty for carpet making of
low woods, the like of which is not produced
in the United States, might De Of advantage
to the consumer and manufacturer and
not detrimental to the American grower,
but to introduce dut y free the better grades
Of foreign fleece, competing directly with
our hest product. with foreign duties favor
ing ma nufactures under the Mills bill less
than at present. would he "a double hard
ship to the grower.
We are fast producing the styles 81 FOR
eign woods needed. \ encouragement III
this direction will render ms more depend
ent on foreigners, who will in time largely
m"nopolize the product and make our peo'
pie pay corrcspondingly.
The line woods ior mix xing. consumers ought
to he willing to pay for. getting well paid
in diffusion Of capital in American wool
growing, the ies-ening product Of fire for
eiyn woods needed for mixture by better
ment of increased American production. D.,
| the friction IL the price of competition IN
der the tariff 10y production.
| Br,s ~erc made to the government fol
four-pound blankets sor the army "a, 80
cents within the foreign cost on board ship
vet our Democratic government, with
surplus IN the treasury, preferred the Tor
eign.
Under the tariff Of i>d1 wool production
va. nearly doubled IN the United states
prices of wool were stable no Of sheep IL
United States about doubled, production
Of wool per head nearly doubled. vain"
Of manufactured products increased IRON
Sl,1 900, 600 in 1870 tn S265, 5,ooo,oOo il
1850. Imports of wool and wooden eo"d
were restricted and cost prices were iessene'
To the consumer being in lss2 hut it'll
more than at present. Under the tariif r.
duction of 1SS3 importations oi wool am
woolen goods amounted To more tina
lIO. 600, 600 pounds in 1881, 80 and =
over those Of 1850. 81 and 81. Late
years of comparison will show further IL
crease. Government report figurcs.) Will
domestic wool production has decrease
from :.OD, ,OO,, ,OOO ~ $50 900, ,NW p"nn'l
and the number IL sheep 6,W"," 900 hea'
and the price of Ohio wool over 22 per cen
aud other woods cOrrespondingly, our MAI
ufacturers pay less in wages and prodn'
over Si2 .O,W. 900 less product value tha
. in ISSO In view oi these facts, was II ~.
reasonable that manufacturer and grow
ers wished and prayed for by petiti"" r.
turn to such bcneicicnt tariff to all roI
cernsl.
The Mills hill give. the growers Tree wo''
free trade. and uanuistct ure, ,ieci ere'i pr
lection. The result can but be-in the ligl
of the above results of tariff reduction
, waste of capital. distress OF labor ami
source of weakness to our STABILITY as
nation.
In the light of the prophecies al our e
. tended foreign trade. with free wool ~
> decreased protection beyond the preset
. wool duty favsring our manufacturers,
!, gittering hut iliusive prospect seeminsl
. may We ask how with free cotton Ia .,
& domestic supply produced at home) We
4 not supply our markets. instead there Is
i increasing importation to them.
= With the best machinery and most e
u merit labor in the world and free hides.
u export less than 2 per cent of the man
fact ured products of leather. Consumers p'
nearly the same prices as then Tor boo
N iAs il m