The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-02-19
FREE WOOL FOR'MoNTANA.

eAN SAoo IN 4ASIAllA!Cy bIA LlSttIl
higher prices for his product. Let IL
examine this assumption for a momen
and see if it is true. 1t may first be as
serted that during the last democrati
administration, while Grover CLEVELAND
was president, Montana woods sold a
much higher prices than at any tim.
since, and the figures here given will b.
fresh In the memories Of the woolgrow
ers themselves. In 1856 Montana wools
sold in the then territory at from % t,
20 cents per pound, ranging during the
greater part Of the season at about q
cents for the best clips. In 1887 az
high as 2l1a cents was paid, and little
wool, if any, was bought under 20 cents
In 1883 sheepmen were d~emoralized a,
the prospect of the Mills bill which
they wrongly imagined would be disas-
trous to their interests in the early part
OF the season were eager sellers at a low
price. But those who consigned their
woods netted that year not less than 20
cents. These were all democratic years.
In 1889 the bulk of Montana clips was
consigned and the average return was
not over Is cents. In 1890 the average
price was not owe II cents, and during
1881 those who net over l6 cents on con-
signments will be few and fortunate.
These last three years are under a re-
publican administration, the year 1891
being under the operation Of the McKin-
10y NH which 1rnc $o I> on M, ~
elevate the price Of wool. It docs not
appear from these figures that the re-
publican party has created any great
benefits for the wo%oigrowers, nor can it
be honestly claimed that the democratic
party is to be credited with the higher
prices prevailing during its administra-
ton, although these prices certainly
prevailed.
1t is about time for the woolgrowers
to understand that the price of wool is
not governed by the action Of political
parties SO much as by the universal laws
of supply and demand, which governs
the price Of ali great staples Of COM
merce. The steady decline IN the value
OF wool is due mainly to the increasing
importatlons OF Australian woods owing
to their relative %cheapness and superior
quality. These importations have in
creased in the face of the higher duties
of the Mckinley bill. Values are
influenced by the fact that the United
States has no export trade of wooden
goods and that the domestic
demand does not keep pace with
the domestic supplies and the
increased importations. Foreign woods
being relatively cheaper there
is every year a decreasing demand for
the domestic product. The Montana
wool grower will bear witness to the
fact that the price of wool languishes
under the present system of protection
and he must prepare himself to under
stand that the only remedy for this lies
IN free wool. With the admission of the
free raw material into the United States
our manufacturers would be able to
compete successfully with England in
the foreign markets of the world and a
steady demand would be created for our
domestic woods. To-day our exports of
woolens mount to nothing and it is
Idle nonsense tosuppose that withour un-
equalled ingenuity in machinery and the
superior skill of our workmen we could
not successfully contend with England
IN foreign markets could we obtain the
raw material on equal terms. Our re-
publican contemporaries have INDUCED
in a great deal OF claptrap about the
panper labor of England. which is a
bugbear used to frighten the ignorant
into voting for the blessed republican
system Of protection. This is simply an
insult to the intelligence of the Ameri-
can people. AS a matter of fact the
wages OF the operative OF Bradford,
England, are as high as those Of the
operative of Lowell. Mass. Certainly
the Bradford man is as we'll housed, as
wei! fed and better clothed than his
American prototype and deposits as
much money in tho local savings bank,
And these We take it are the true tests
OF the relative value of wages. Mis-
statements about the pnuper labor of
England are constantly ratified off with
out any well defined knowledge on the
SUBJECT.
Those who know anything about wool
know that Of all II domestic woods the
Montana f1eece is most peculiarly
adapted for mixture with Australian
wool; and consequently with free wool
from that country and a large export
trade for American woolens there should
DE a demand for our wool which WOOL
growers would not be able to supnlv
ms would mean a higher aud steady
price. The fluctuations and tho con
slant trend to lower values that exist
to-day would be removed and the slun-
bers OF tho Montana wool growers would
be untroubled with uncertainty as to
what his wool would bring. This un-
certainty will never be- removed until
Tree wool gives HIM that steady demand
for his product for admixture with the
Kindred woods Of Australia.
Whatever may be the case with the
rest OF tho country he has nothing to
fear from free Australian wool. On the
contrary II he examines the question he
will find it bis best friend.