The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-07-09
WOODEN GOODS SITUATION.
The wool growers of Montana. though

IN the aggregate do not produce m
sixteenth of the wool consumed in tn,
United States. are vitally interested il
the wooden goods situation as the price
OF their product depends solely upon it
Many of them have learned while Others
, have not the cause or cause which de
press the price of the staple. They see
+ the market price of woods lower thar
ever before. They were assured a high
protective wool tariff would keep out the
foreign article and stiffen the price OF
their own. The promise is not fulfilled
We have the high protective tariff; for
eign woods still come in under it and the
price of the home grown product is still
at bottom figures.
AS has been stated some of the wool
growers understand the cause and Others
do not. 1t is to tie latter class this
article is directed. They are wondering
how it comes to pass that with a high
tariff upon foreign woods their W is
overlooked in the market and goes beg
ging at bottom prices. A recent issue of
the American Cotton and Wool Reporter,
speaking of the wooden goods situation,
thus sizes it up:
There is a greater weakness and de
preston in trade in mems wear woolens
than in any other branch of the wooden
industry. There is weakness in other
branches, the carpet industry and also in
the wool hosiery industry, for instance.
attributable largely, no doubt.to overcom-
petition resulting more from excess of
production than under consumption; but
when we come to apply these causes in
explanation of the depression in the
wooden industry. it must be admitted
that they fall short of being complete.
That there is an OverprOductiOn of mems
wear woolens might be inferred from the
slack condition of manufacturers mani
Tested the greater portion of the year,
1t will be noticed that the Reporter,
while noting the weakness in the wooden
industry. is not quite sure of the cause
as it affects its several branches. In one
branch it ascribes it to 'over competi
ton resulting from excess of production
than under consumption" but when it
m to applying these causes in ex-
PLANTATION of the depression in the whole
wooden business it confesses they fall far
shor of being complete. This is not
satisfactory to the wool grower The
Reporter is far from being clear.
Excess of production means an over
stocked market d supply beyond the
demand. Now the question arises why
should We have an overstOcked market.
The nswer is because we can't 90 20 a
foreign market with our wooden pro-
ducts. and therefore we must consume
them, or, failing in this. they lie as dead
stock on hand. depressing prices. closing
mills and locking out workmen.
Why can not we 90 to a foreign mar.
ket: Simply because we can not com
pete with wooden manufactures of other
countries, Why can not We compete
with them! Because u tariff laws
compel the payment of duties upon for
woods which manufacturers
must have to make salable goods. Free
wool countries pay no such duties.
Therefore their manufacturers shut out
ours in foreign markets. We impose a
tariff upon their manufactures and in
turn shut them out of our markets.
Hence we must consume our wOolens or
them to rot upon our hands. We
nave built a tariff wall around the coun-
try and can not get out with our wooden
manufactures. That is one reason why
our wooden industry is depressed and
wool men find a depressed market for
heir products.
There is still another cause operating
20 depress the wool market. Mr.. Nc
kinley's tariff started nearly 100 mills
grinding out shoddy. Last year they
produced %l54.0O0,OOO pounds Of the
This shoddy takes the place
of 1~J4.OOO,OOO pounds of secured
grown wool. Long Australian
wool is used to hold the villainous stuff
together. and it goes upon the market
AS ''woolen' goods. 1t is manufactured
NV h'Sh "CoI uiu olu dt TIuICulOuSly
figures as AL WOOL clothing. and
republican papers point to it's low price
As evidence that the tariff has lowered
price of one of the prime necessaries
Of life.
And in view Of the fact that the Nc
tariff depresses the wooden indus
Try and as a consequence depresses the
price of our home grown woods. we find
1 few sheep-growers shouting for Har-
and a high tariff. If these men
would seriously and conscientiously
study the subject and talk and vote upon
the line Of their interests, they would
quickly change front and instead OF
the republican grindstone to
the knife which is raised over
heir own heads, they would unite with
he democratic party in its mission to
elevate tbp condition of tho Iohor;nr