Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1893-11-30

@AeRChtCab &C u ~ DOlSltT up
its "mixing" proposition, quotes from
the free trade Chicago Tribune. This
paper has the faculty of opposingp pro-
lection until just before election when
1t embraces the issue heartily. A few
days since it contained "A lengthy edi-
torial on the recent elections and per-
formed the remarkable feat of avoid
ing the use of the word protection"
once. A ~professed Republican paper
that can do this should go over to
the enemy. 1t is dishonest and I'M
reliable, and quite competent and
willing to promulgate false doctrines.
The Tribune takes the ground that
our manufacturers are denied access
to the foreign woods which they need
to mix with the home grown, and not
being able to get those woods at
reasonable rates they have to blend
the American fieeces with cotton and
other substitutes, etc., etc. The whole
argument is a pure makeshift, the last
prop of the free traders. Are there no
other woods to be admitted except
those wanted for blending with the
domestic woods? Does not free wool
include wool from everywhere? Is
there not plenty OF wool from other
countries that compares with ours in
grade? Is the price going to advance
when the bulk of the foreign wool is
going to be added to the domestic
product? The Tribune thinks the re-
moval of the wool duties would
prove a blessing to manufacturer,
woolgrower and consumer" Thefact
is only a few manufacturers on the
Atlantic seaboard want free wool,
The National association has declared
against it in no uncertain
The former manufacture Il fine line Of
wooden goods for the aristocracy and
would willingly see a great industry
paralyzed if it would enable them to
get some of the finer grades of Aus
t~ralian woods a little cheaper.
And hen again there is no certainty
of the masses realizing any great ad
vantage by free wool. The manufac
turer, the wholesale and retail dealers
are most liable to reap the benefit
Ordinary clothing is nearly as CHEAP
here as it is in England, while the mar
who makes the clothing is far better
paid. 1t is claimed ongood authority
that the removal of the wool duty
will not reduce the price of the work
ingman's suit of clothes more thar
about one dollar, while it will have
the effect of closing many wooden mills
Gripping the woolgrowing industry anG
throwing thousands out OF employ
ment. Nearly one-third of all the
wool grown IN the world is consumed
in the United States, and in no coun
try are woolens worn SO largely 10y
laboring men as in this.
If we have free wool we must have
wooden clothing duty free. But vii
this not in a measure destroy oul
wooden manufacturing and result il
free trade wages, rendering operatives
less aole TO purchase!
The fact is the mixing argument is
an absurdity. The fine woods of this
country are good enough for Ameri
cans. The best Ohio woods and the
finer grades OF western are but slightly
inferior to the Australian woods, anG
it was only recently that Judge Law
ramon acSarta1 chat 1r nro,nAr hraaa
ing and under favorable conditions
America could raise as fine woods al
Australia.
Remove the duty and there will b.
no linking" with the product o
cheap labor, cheap range and CHEAP
transportation, to speak of. Foreign
woods will take the place of the do
nestle product or the latter must fall
to it's price, and every Democratic
woolgrower in Montana knows it.
If the editor of the Independent
thinks there have been no conversions
among Democratic woolgrowers since
last June it is mistaken. At the late
woolgrowers' convention held in Great
Falls to take some action on this
question, a committee, two of which
were Democrats, one of whom volun.
teered to go to Washington to oppose
free wool, if advisable, drafted the fol,
lowing resolution:
Resolved, That any unfavorable
legislation in the immediate future
would intensity the present ~deplorable
condition Of our business, and we
therefore ask our representative in
congress to use his best endeavors to
prevent placing wool on the free list,
The authors of the above are not
tied to Grover Cleveland. They saw
a great industry suddenly paralyzed
and good men financially distressed i
not permanently crippled; they saw
towns and cities in a mantle of gloon
and property of all kinds depreciatt
one-hall in value. As one is reported
saying, eff this is the effect of free
wool l want none of it," He knew
that all woods must be purchased or
a free trade basis; he also knew that
w~oolgrowing was the chief mainte
nance of a number of towns in Men
tana.
The editor of the Independent, how
ever, true to the Bourbcnism of his
party, ''forgets nothing and learns
nothing new" and prefers to serve his
master instead of the interests o
Montana.
STATE OF ONO, Cry OF ToLEDo,ls
i. Lucas COUNTY.
Frank J. Cheney makes oath, that he il
thu senior partner of the firm OF +. j