Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-07-20
HILGER HEARD FROM.

hlLUEh HEARD fhUM.
Mr.. Hilger occupies a quarter of a
column in his organ, the Mud Geyser,
to ventilate his views. As Mr.. Hilger
anticipates becoming a beneficiary at
the hands of the present administra-
ton, he now holds different views than
those entertained under Cleveland's
first term. Then he was conspicuous
for his opposition to Cleveland and his
policy and ut a meeting of woolgrow-
ers in Lewistown was the leading spirit,
if not the author, of II set of resolutions
passed ~denouncing the free wool propo-
sitiou. 1t was suggested hat the resp
lutions be mailed to Joseph X. Toole,
then delegate in congress from this
state. Mr.. Hilger opposed; he thought
delays were dangerous and proposed
that they be SEN by telegraph and in
sisted upon it. A messenger was
ssnt to Fort Miginnis and the
action of the meeting and, we believe,
the resolutions dispatched to Mr.. Toole,
the cost being in the neighborhood of
$1,000. Mr.. Hilger has undergone a
change since then, but Grover Cleve-
land and his policy have not. They
are just as dangerous to the woolgrow-
ing interests as ever.
When Mr.. Hilgcr attributes the pres
ent condition OF the wool market "al-
most entirely and alone to the silver
situation" he exhibits great ignorance
or i%nsincerity, and takes issue with the
leading Democratic papers of the east.
And we would respectfully call atten-
ton of the silver miners of this section
to the cause to which Mr.. Hilger at
tributes the stagnation in the wool
market. Will Mr.. Hilger explain why
it is that there is n coed cash market
for beef and mutton. Should not the
money stringency also affect these
prices as well? What is the testimony
of gentlemen who have recently re-
turned from the railroad? Eastern
buyers say that up to last fall wooden
manufacturers were never in a more
prosperous condition, mills were run.
ming to full capacity and during the
past winter the supply was being rap
idly exhausted. There vas every
promise of Il large demand for Ameri-
con woods at prices ranging from six
teen TO eighteen cents Il pound. How
changed the situation. Manufacturers
are moving cautiously. To stock up
with wool at protected prices, when
there is a promise of free wool, means
ruin and the manufacturers have sense
enough to see it. An eastern publIca-
ton devoted to the wooden interests
recently stated that eff it could be
definitely known that the present law
would not be disturbed, wool would
advance very decidedly"
Mr.. Hilger a y the present clip
will be manufactured and disposed of
before any tariff bill can be passed"
John G. Carlisle says "a free wool bill
will be passed within six months after
the assembling of congress" So, the
immense product of American wool
could all be manufactured into cloth
ing and the clothing disposed of be-
fore the Democratic congress could
pass Il free wool bill. Here, mad
v~ertently, is II remarkable tribute to
the capacity of American mills or an
admission Of Democratic stupidity and
cowardice. How absurd to think that
the manufactured goods could be dis
year.
But Mr.. Hilger does not want to dis
cuss the tariff. Neither do the orators
or organs of Democracy, generally.
They are having an object lesson now
hat is as plain as the MONDAY sur.
1t is not necessary to argue. Let us
Just wait and watch developments. Ii
there is anything the Democracy is
silent on it is the tariff. They bring up
| silver, one of Montana's chief products,
and lay all the present ills at its door.
But the country will find that it is not
silver that has brought distress if the
Democracy carries out its free trade
policy.
Mr.. Hilger is apprehensive lest We
shall II some woolgrowers to stam-
pede and give their clips away. Don't
be alarmed, David. Our woolgrowers,
AS a class, are intelligent. They dem
onstrated that by their votes last fall.
They knew what the effect would be,
when you were combating their opin-
ions. Mr.. Hilger says "by the grace
of God and the intelligence of a large
majority of sixty millions Of people,
Grover Cleveland will continue I o be
president for over three years to come"
And apparently the only sad feature
in it is that Dawes tenure of office is not
coeval with Growers. But We object to
the sacriligious use of the name of the
deity in connection with Grover. Let
us paraphrase the quotation into some
thing more truthful: "By the machi-
nations of the devil and demsgogues and