The Forrest City times., 1891-07-17
ABOUT WOOL.
FALL OF PRICES FRlCHTENS
 THE M'kINLEYITES.

 A "Distinguished Congressman" Gets .
 Letter-Low Prices of Wool Hurting the
 G. 0. P.-sharp Words of . Protection
 Paper-Wool Tarin Matters" Crassly
 Ignorant"
 The fact that wool prices are SO much lower now than before McKinley's in creased wool duties took effect is alarm ing the souls of the faithful. "A Western man who is interested in wool" has recently written . letter on the subject to "a distinguished Western Congressman who helped to frame the present tariff law"-evidently Hon. Julius c. Burrows of Michigan. The writer calls attention to the marked decline in prices, and says "they bid fair to touch . lower level than at any time under MT. Cleveland's administration, or even whom the Mills bill was pending" Prices have dropped still lower since this was written.
 The effect of this upon the g. O D., as the writer points out, is rather dis couraging. "it is so contrary to general expectation" he says, "and SO damaging to all argument or effort in favor of pro- lection, that the friends of protection, and those who have advocated that side of the issue before the farmers may be considered well nigh dumfounded at the situation" He further says: "There has been nothing in the long fight of protection vs free trade, or tariff for revenue only, that has been so promi nent an issue for years, that is likely to be as effective weapon for free trade to use as this"
 This letter has been commented upon in the papers, and that sturdy exponent AF 1g II Bulletin, has been moved to admit that "the Mckinley wool schedule is the great piece of botch work which has given the opponents of protection their strongest argument against the tariff" This wool s hedule, the Bulletin says, was framed by men grossly and crassIy ignorant of the ordinary conditions of the market, and indeed of everything except the belief Of the ignorant that legislation is cure for every i'll
 Alas! that is all very hard on the good Mckinley.
 Our Western Congressman was not able to answer the letter Quoted it pre- sented too grave problem to his "crass- ly ignorant" mind and hence he sent it to prominent firm of protectonist wool dealers in Philadelphia In its answer, tiito III III Iaii ehc Nuiti oii hiiC ic- cline of prices of Australian wool in out side markets But this explanation will not hold water.
 The B,dteta admits that Australian wool has declined abroad. and that the English manufacturers are pay ing loss for it to day than a year ago." But that decline has had nothing to do with tho fall of American wool prices, for this eminent commercial journal says: Our buyers are paying the same that they paid year ago (for Australian wool, and the additional duty of q cent pound on grease wool makes the secured cost to the American mill of Australian combing about 2 cents pound moro than q year since (s0's quality merino were IS cents then and are so cents nowA, while Ohio NN fleece costs in the grease cents and secured 6 cents pound less than at that time"
 Ohio wool" says the Bulletin, "is a slowly vanishing industry, The Ohio farmer finds that other crops pay him better"
 But what are tho Ohio political shep- herds to do when their occupation is gone? They will be of all mon most miserable when they must "cease from troubling and the weary public is at rest