Fergus County argus., 1892-10-13
PE0N
Democrats Claim the Wool Business
Is Too Prosperous and Free
Trade is Necessary.
Montana Mullet Heads Who Borrow
Trouble---A Vote TO Glut
the Wool Market.


The United States in thirteen years,
1870 to 1888, increased its consump-
ton of wool 20 per cent. whileits pop
citation increased about 10 per cent.
The consumption of domestic and for
eign woolin the United States increased
from Il 900, 900 pounds in 1850, and
only SO 5000 in 1850, to $50, ,OOO,-
600 in 1882, or more than 500 per
cent. England increased its consump-
ton only g per cent. in the thirteen
years, not keeping pace with her growth
and population.
The production OF all Europe is not
now materially greater than it was in
1850, although it increased steadily
down to the year 1870. Since then
under the competition of Australian
and South American wool the Euro
pean wool product has declined 25 per
cent. and stands where it did iorty
years ago. The increased production
per capita OF population in the United
States was from 1 9-10poundsin in 1850
to $40 pounds in 1880. The value
per capita OF population increasing
from S5.11 in 1850 to $3.50 in 1850.
The value OF imports per capita for
the same period decreased from S1.35
to 20 cents. In 1883 the Democrats
reduced the wool tariff of 1867 and the
disastrous results which followed are
I. L. 1
in the sheep and woolindustry at that
time. At the close OF 1887 the num-
Der of sheep in the United States had
diminished o,SO0,00O. Under the tar
i'll of 1867 the number of sheep in the
United States increased from %, 300
600 to 81, 4,626,626 in 1854. At that
rate of increase there should have been
a furt her increase OF 5000, 600 at the
close of 1887 instead OF the loss named
! which really amounts to 12,OOO,OOO,
which at 50 so per head is S30,OOO,-
600. In 1888 the number OF sheep had
diminished from 81, ,62G, ,62G in 1854
to 42. 600, 600, loss OF 12,026, ,626.
| During the same time the wool product
decreased 100000 pounds valued
at not less than S23, 100000. In1SSS
the pl lotectionists swept the country
and IN two years under the promise of
| an increased tariff, which was faith
| fully fulfilled, the number of sheep in
| the United States increased from A.
| 6OO,OOO to $3.50 900. Everybody
in Montana knows how the sheep in
! dustry has prospered here since the
enactment OF the Mckinley law. 1t Is
no argument against protection that
prices have declined. They have de
clined all over the world. But what
ever the decline the price of "American
secured woods" says Justice Bateman
&, Co. .'were nearly always double the
cost of corresponding foreign grades
| in free trade London" With free
trade the London price would be the
| American price. Under the reduced
tariff in 1883 our wool growers could
not compete with the cheap woods OF
| Australia and the Argentine Republic
American woods were driven out of a
market glutted with these cheaply-
raised foreign woods. American wooden
mills closed while those of Great Brit
ain ran full blast to supply the United
States with woolens, which under pro
lection they could have supplied them
selves, while the foreign manufacturers
enriched themselves at the expense OF
our wool grower, sheep shearer, sheep
herder, and all laborers on the sheep
ranch and all the people in the towns
benefited by the prosperity OF the
sheep industry. So disastrous was
the reduction OF the wool tariffin 1888,
the Democrats of Ohio in 1884 de-
manded in their platform that con-
gress restore the wool tariff of 1867,
but the free trade Democrats being in
the majority turned deaf ear to
/
the world, and one which any body but
n blind man ought to comprehend at
first sight is that a glutted market is
poor market and it is Incompetent
sible how any man in Montana
whether he be Republican or Democrat
or populist, sheep shearer, sheep herdei
or laborer on the sheep ranch or any
merchant or laborer in the towns to
which the prosperity of the sheer
? ranch is tributary can 90 deliberately
to the polls and vote to glut their mar
ket again. This is no idle talk for ",
know what the Democratic party has
, done and by its recent action what il
proposes to do again. \ man who
! votes the Democratic ticket this yea
! simply votes for free wool and for th,
, free admission of all the cheaply RAISED
woods of the world to glut our market
Z 1t is strange that any man out o
D party pride or fear OF being called .
a turncoat should be too cowardly tC
( vote for what he knows to be his owl
. interests. Let the voter stop and al
! himself what benefit he ever receive
from politics except what comes o
! supporting the party which support
the consU tuition and the laws OF tn
Il country, whose freedom he eenioys an,
X whose public policy puts money in hi
: pocket wherewith to enjoy it. Wis
: men change their political action TO
, reasons Sut no amount OF good reas
/ oning induces a fool to change. q
: course we have no reference to tn
|. chronic Office seeker and political shy
ster, who for revenue only, is a reput
e lican to-day and a democrat to-moI
, row, who has his sails spread forever
h poll, ical wind that blows, who is eve
t, walking up and down between theline
;, OF the two parties with his lightnin
ls rod up SO that he can convenient
u shift to whichever side political light
e ming is most likely to strike him, VIII
4 if he is not already getting his sust'
,e nance from an official teat is rootin
id around the sow-belly of public pap fo
he one, and who if he cannot ''catch on
% emerges from among the jostlers fo
OIL teSts with face long enough to ea
oates out of a churn, and at ono
a. climbs the heights of his political fanc
I. to overlook new fields of glory in I'll
opposite party. where he can be a
lowed to sacrifice himself upon its of
cial altar at once. This demagogr
of cares not whether wool goes up {
down. 1t is the ups and downs of c