Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1892-08-11
A LIE REFUTED.
A Musselshell Woolgrower Heard From on
the Wool Question.
Folsom. Mont. Aupust G. 1882

FOLSOM, Mont, August 6, 1892.
EDnoR ARGUS: Please state in your
paper that the report that every wool
grower on the MussellshelI rega riless Of pol
itirs will this year vote for Grover Cleve-
land for president" is "A base fabrication
without the slightest foundation in fact-in
short IA dirty campaign lie.
have personally talked with a goodly
number of Mussellshell woolgrowers and
have not heard "A single one express his iA-
tention of voting for Cleveland, on the con
trary they recognize in Cleveland their
and free trade generally.
There are but two Democraetic wool
growers on the Mussellshell or on the
south side OF the Snowies that have ever
met; doubtless there may be Others, but
like black sheep in the band they are con-
spicuous 10y contrast, with the great ma
iority.
The further statement that wool WAS
worth from = tn 23 cents per pound under
Cleveland's 5 administration, and only l : to
~ cents under Harrison's is misleading to
say the least.
At the commencement OF Cleveland = term
wool Was bringing good price and it CON
tinued to do SO until the spring OF 1856,
when it fell very rapidly till about the first
OF June, when u reaction set in, and by the
time Montana woods arrived at the rail.
road they found anxious buyers waiting to
get them and on the strength of "A rising
market willing to pay bic prices That
year Slayton Bros wool sold for - cents
which it has not done since.
In 1855 wool WAS the dull.st ! ever ex-
perienced and most growers were Obliged to
ship. La August before the Mills hill Was
killed it reached the lowest figures Tor many
years, much lower on most grades than it
is today, and this was in the last year OF
Cleyeland's administration.
As soon as it seen that no change
would be made ia the Ia riff W ool again went
up tn IA profits bile figure, where it remained
with some fluctuations till last season
when IA decline set in, which ! am satisfied
will not change until it is known that Ben.
iamin Harrison is elected president.
Wool like wheat and other non-perish-
aUe drtities rs usei Dy sTtculaIpfs lhe
world over, and it WAS speculation that
caused the high prices realized in 1856 and
not anything Mr.. Cleveland had done.
| Aside from that the prices under Harri
son have compared favorably with thos,
under Cleveland. Stringency in the none,
market also has "A depressing tendency AN,
il world wide. An eastern commission
man told me this summer that mild win
ters had had a great deal To do with tn
dull wool market, manufacturers havin
on hand large quantities of wooden good
are not in IA hurry To buy more wool.
Now in conclusion ] want 20 ask is the ,
any sane man in Montana or elsewber
that can by any process of reasoning max
himself believe that by the wiping out c
the tariff as recommended by Grover Cleyt
land the price Of American wool would b
advanced; that direct competition wit
foreign wool that is now selling for severa
cents less than ours would increase tn
price Of ours. 1t is folly on the face OF
and Democrats know it.
| Brother woolgrowers, don't neglect I
vote this fall (as you often do) but GO t
the polls and let Montana's first presider
tial vote be cast on the side Of protectio
to her leading industries.
DANIEL w. SLAyToN.