The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1888-02-10
Is IT NOT WORTH wa1LEs

Some two weeks ago We published = com
munication from Mr.. Phil. E.. Evans suggest
ing to Montana woolgrowersthe a~dvisability
of holding . convention to protest against
the reduction Of the tariff on wool. Nj.
Evans wrote also to others-Mr. Peck, Of tho
Wool Gro,per, and Sutherlin Bros, OF the
MISUNDERSTANDING their cooperation In
the movement. In the issue of the Husband
man, Feb. 22d, the editor says he not only
suggested such action in his paper but wrote
private letters to wool growers on the sub
ject and was discouraged in the movement
by them. They claimed that at this partic-
nlar time the attention Of wool growers Is
demanded at home, and they could not afford
to be absent from their flocks attending the
convention. Mr.. Evans thinks, aud we con-
cur, that the excuse given is insufficient.
There is not one 1iockmastes, or owner, in
ten 10 Montana that has not herdersto whom
he entrusts the care Of bis flocks for longer
time than he.need be absent at the conven.
ton. aud there is not likely to be any great
emergency At this time requiring their pres
ence with their 1ockA Beside, if the tariff
on wool is repealed, the focks will hardly
be worth herding. To those who do not
think is an important matter to sheep owners
we commend the following, which puts the
case clearly:
BosroN. Feb. 3.--The Commercial Bul-
letin has collected from the wool growers in
all parts of the country statistics showing
the cost Of tie growing Of and raising .
pound of American wool. In summing up
the result the Bulletin will say to- morrow
editorially:
American fine wool costs the grower, with
out his own profit or freight to the mill,
from one to FIVE cents more for secured Z
pound, according to grade, b the cores.
ponding grade Of free foreign wool would
cost American manufacturer at his mill.
Medium wool similarly costs the grower
from one to three cents more for secured
than foreign import woods would cost manu-.
facturers. The prediction is that the removal
of the duty on combing or clothing woods
would destroy the raising of Merino woods
in this country, but that in our states, as in
Canada to-day, sheep might be grown, not
for wool, but for mutton, and as the MeIino
sheep does not make good mutton the down
or cots void sheep would take their place.
If any Of our Montana wool growers think
they can raise sheep proftably for the NUT
ton alone, then they are not impressed with
the danger Of the present situation as are
those who feel that they must grow their
wool At a profit or their investment is .
losing one. The purpose Of the proposed
convention is to protest against the removal
of the tariff and request Delegate Toole to
act in harmony with those who are opposing
the reduction. At the present time he has
no expression from Montana more authorita'
tive than what he sees in the newspapers,
unless some grower, here and there, has
written him personally, and these, in the
absence Of any representations from an in.
terest he knows is organized and able to
make its protest vigorously and unitedlY il
it were so disposed, he would not be likely
to heed as he would a firm declaration from
the Association of what they require at bis
hands in the emergency. We noticed q day
or two ago from Texas a telegram that Mr.
Mills. who is one Of the strongest advocates
of the repeal, is denounced %throughou,
Texas for having betrayed his trust, and that
. delegation has been sent to Washington tc
represent the true interests of the growers
of that state. If he, knowing the course he
is pursuing is opposed to the sentiment Of
his constituents, goes against it, it need moi
be wondered at if Delegate Toole, unin'
structed, should fail to oppose a measure
which, on general principles, bis party is
making an issue Of. It behooves those who
wish 10 see him use what influence a delegate
has in the right direction, to manifest theil
wishes to him and the Congress of The
United States without delay. If they do moi
and the tariff is repealed, they should there
after hold their peace. Montana is accred'
tied with 1,OOO,00 0 Of the 5000, 600 sheep il
the q. S. 1t is certainly an interest worth
nrnt nrtinC