The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1888-04-04
five hundred make seamless hosiery.

sands of these machines are shipped to
Europe and that every seamless stocking
made in Europe is either made on an
American machine or slight modifica-
tion Of that machine.
Attention was then called to a state
ment of the leading journal Of Rhode Is
land in which it was claimed that the
United States was not and never could be
great wool producing country. Here
again was sample of the false statements
which are used by the advocates OF free
wool. The fact is that the United States
is the second largest wool producing
country in the world. Australia grows
453,OOO,OOO pounds; this country 308,00O,-
900 pounds, while the Argentine Repub-
lie comes third with 284,OO0,OOO pounds.
The paper clearly pointed out that it
was wages that caused the difference in
cost of clothing in America and in Eu-
rope.
Would Mr.. Mills or any one else explain
how $50 or $40 suit of clothes which
would have four pounds Of secured wool
in it valued at s. could be made for half
the money with free wool, or even If the
wool was given to the manufacturer for
nothing. Even if free wool should lower
the price an amount equal to the tariff
tax, ten dollar suit of clothes would on
" secure benefit Of about ten cents,
while forty dollar suit would cost but
10 cents less.
Attention was called to the fact that
free traders claim that our high tariff tax
is a war measure This is another Of the
false claims upon which they base their
arguments for a repeal. The Morrill, tariff
bill, under which the wool industry has
grown to such magnificent proportions
was signed by President Buchanan, on
March Sd, 1861; before gun was fired,
and when many people believed there
would be no war and when Senator Sew
ard said that the war could not last over
ninety days at the outside.
After general discussion of the matter,
which was very animated, committee on
resolutions, consisting Of J. E. Bower, F.
G. Poole, A. c. johnson and T.. W. Peck,
was appointed, which was instructed to
embody the matter discussed into series
Of resolutions and report in the evening.
The following resolutions were reported
and unanimously adopted:
IT, IL Ia fo
of Representatives of the United States:
WHEREAS, The price of wool is regulat-
ed by the amount produced. and,
WHEREAS. The United States is the
second largest wool producing nation in
the world, growing as it does one sixth Of
the total clip; and
WHEREAS It is not the price of wool,
but the cost Of labor in manufacturing,
that enters materially into the cost of
clothing; and,
WHEREAS, Labor, transportation and
all costs for living and conducting busi-
ness are higher in this country than
abroad; and,
WHEREAS, Tt is fact that Montana
wool grown on a few sheep kept for NUT
ton in Canada, just north Of the 10th par
allel, sells for s cents less than it does just
south Of that line; and,
WHEREAS, Wool cannot be grown in
Montana at price any lower than that
now ruling. Therefore, be it
ResolUed, That we, the wool growers of
Montana, in convention assembled, do
hereby give it as our unanimous opinion
that the removal of the tariff tax will de-
stroy the industry of wool growing in the
United States, while it will secure no ben
eft to the purchaser of clothing; that af-
ter this industry has been destroyed and
the United States removed as a competi-
tor the price of wool will advance until
the consumer will pay more for his wool
than he does to-day, and that if wool
growing should cease in this country and
the appliances and stock now existing be
disposed Of the price Of wool would have
to be at least 80 per cent. higher than it
is to-day before it would be profitable to
again secure the necessary plant to con-
duct the business.
Res0lued That while competition with
in our borders in growing and manufac-
turing wool has been sufficient under our
tariff to give the consumer clothing at
the very lowest price at which it could be
produced in this country with the high
price paid to labor, still the cost of cloth
ing is less than that which will rule if this
work is given over to foreign nations.
ResoIued, That we hereby denounce
that system of legislation, even in COM
mittee, which will not allow those best
qualified to instruct any opportunity to
state the probable effect of contemplated
legislation affecting the industries in
which said parties are employed.
BY order of the association.
j. E. BOWER, President.
l. w. PECK, Secretary.
The Importance of the wool industry, as
we'll as all others Of the territory Of hav-
ing the Missouri river improved was dis
oussed thoroughly. Capt. Sears, govern
ment engineer in charge Of work on the
upper Missouri, called attention in his
last report to the fact that all work done
on the upper river is permanent on ac-
count of the hard bottom OF the river.
The following paper concerning the i'm
portance Of this work to Montana inter
ests was read by L. w Peck, secretary: |