The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-04-08
FOR FREE WOOL.

The subjoined letter from Hon. John
A. Woodson, OF White Sulphur Springs,
| will be read with great interest by the
who does not seek to hide his identity
under an anonymous name, is one Of the
representative men Of the northwest in
his business. He has been actively en-
gagged in wool growing for several years,
has made a careful study Of it in all it's
branches, and is qualified to speak from
a practical standpoint. His value as a
citizen has often been recognized by
election to important offices, and during
the last few sessions of the legislature
his usefulness as a representative was
fully proved on many occasions.
Mr.. Woodson writes: ~ s"" +
To the Editor of The INDEPENDENT: I
am in favor of free wool, and will give you
my reasons for being so, trusting that ny
brother woolgrowers holding other views
upon a subject SO important to us all may
at least accord me the right to express an
honest opinion. since we are equally inter-
ested in a proper solution of this great
question.
We often hear the question asked, "Can
we in Montana grow wool in competition
with Australian OF course I will confess
that I do not think we can, for very many
reasons. But the more important
question to us presents itself,
d our Montana woods come in competi-
tion directly with those of Australia OF any
other foreign country?" And is it not a
fact that our woods occupy a class to them
selves? But owing to their peculiar quail
iy they are not often worked by them
selves, and then they are desirable for the
reason that they are to be mixed
with Australian woods, thereby giving
the manufacturer a quality Of cloth very
being the case, what advantage to us is a
high duty on woods needed to mix with
ours? 1t seems plain that if the cloth
maker is compelled to pay 30 much for
foreign wool by reason of high tariff he
will buy our woods at a correspondingly re-
duced price in order to make a cloth at a
price which will not be too high and beyond
the reach Of the average purchaser. The
price of wool, like that of all other COM
modities, is governed by supply and de-
mand. We find that a high tariff has cur
tailed the demand for domestic woods.
First, by putting foreign WOODS out of the
reach of many manufacturers, thusly oaus-
ing many Of their spindles to stop; secondly,
by stimulating the manufacture and sale
of ehoddy goods which do not require any
of our wool in their makeup.
Shoddy cloths, a poor substitute for
,vcnlap u1pIu nra Aro6jnn Aha corptrr ,r3
these goods in many eases take the place with
tho masses of all wool goods. People buy
them because they seem cheap in compar-
lson with better goods. This substitute,
poor as it la, lessons the demand for wool,
as the demand is limited for honest
goods made of wool.
The healthy competition which we once
had has passed away, aud high tariff on our
woods" is undoubtedly the cause. After
ten years Of experience in wool growing in
Montana we find wool reduced in price at
least 81 per cent, having fallen 20 per cent
since the passage of that wonderful Nc
kinley bill which was to benefit us 30 very
much.
We do not produce as much wool as
we did six or eight years ago. Our p%opula-
tlon has greatly Increased, and naturally
the demand for our woods should increase
also; but by reason of too high tariff our
manufacturers have been compelled to re-
duce their output OF woolens. Our impor-
tat'on OF woolen goods in 1890 represented
14O,0OO,O0O pounds of secured wool.
With free raw wool we could ourselves
manufacture these goods, which would re-
qnire almost 100000 pounds OF domestic
WOOL III addition to what is already used,
True, We might import raw wool, bnt 70,
every additional pound of foreign wool on,
manufacturers would need a pound of do.
mestlc wool to mix with it. Free wool
would enable our manufacturer to make
cloth cheaper. people would buy more
freely. shoddy would be driven from tho
markets, competition in the manufacture
, OF good honest WOODEN goods be stimulated
4 and we would not only have an improved
l home market. but we would be enabled 10