The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1892-04-09
Mr.. DiDgley, of Maine, Tells the Story of
the Sheepless She p!,e-d.

From Mr.. bingley's speech as re-
ported III the Congressional Record: |
have witnessed the Sig. BlItz trick of
breaking an egg in the presence Of an
audience when, after asking the audi
ence whether they would like to see a
robin or a black bird emerge from it,
Just as the audience indicated, whether
robin or blackblrd, so 1t came forth.
But in the case Of the Blitz trick the
robin and the blackbird We're concealed
in the Signor's sleeve. They We're both
there. But in the trick which the
Democratic members OF the Ways and
Means Committee are trying to play, we
have the same pound OF wool, IN the
same condition, at the same hour de-
cline ! | cents when turned to the con-
sumer and advance II cents when turned
TO the wool grower. Applause on the
Republican side.
Now, this beats Sig. Blitz's trick.
Why, gentlemen, there was dlstIn-
guished cx-member of this house, who
partici pated in the tariff discussion of
1883. who came into the district which
! have the honor to represent IN the
last presidential campaign, Immediately
after the discussion of the Mills bill.
The first night he addressed a large au
iience of laborers and employees of
manufacturing establishments IN one OF
the cities III my district. lie talked
very largely about wool. He asserted
positively, and proved it, that If wool
should be placed on the free list 1t
would decline 10 cents a pound, and
this decline would reduce the price OF
woolen cloth at least 10 cents a pound;
that this would make the manufacturer
more prosperous and give the laborer
larger WAGES,
Unfortunately the same gentleman
was billed the next night at an agr1cul-
tural town in my district, and the most
important farm product OF the town was
wool He was informed OF this fact,
and coached before he opened his
speech. He proceeded to announce
that he was friend Of the farmer-a
great friend of the farmer. In fact, that
lie was a farmer himself; and that he
kept sheep, too. and that he wanted to
tell his audience of farmers, as q farmer,
lust what tree wood would do.
So he proceeded to present the stock
arguments repeated in the majority re,
port. He said Gentlemen, put wool
on the free list and the demand for
wool will be increased so much that the
price Will be even higher than under
projections" and SO on. He made q
very taking speech until, at the close, a
gentleman in the audience who had
heard him the night before at the man
utacturing city in my district, exposed
the trick.
1t is needless TO say that the orator
was not billed for another appointment
in the state which | have the honor 10
represent in part. and ever since that
time he has been known IN that section
as The Sheepless Shepherd. laugh
ter
Now, gentlemen on the other side, II
YOU propose to 90 into the next cam
paign and tell your farmer constituents
that the putting Of wool upon the lree
list will even raise the price OF wool,
advise Won 10 be careful and send some
other speaker to manufacturing towns
where il is necessary 10 proclaim that
free wool means cheaper wool and
cheaper clothing; and TO take partcu-
lar care that no listener at one meeting
shall be present at another meeting.
Laughter.
Sir. you cannot make the double.
headed plan work. The placing of wool
upon the free list will DO one OF three
things: il will either reduce the price
paid to The American farmer for his
wool, or il will leave the price the same
as il is now. or it wilIincrease II. Now,
which norm of the trllemma are YOU
nroposing to take? | notice that the
majority Oft the Democratic members OF
the committee on ways and means have
decided to take passage IN both boats
IN arJer Ia hp safe. Laughter.