The Dalles times-mountaineer. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1882-1904, 1893-09-16
OBJECT LESSONS.

1t is not necessary for protectionists
to present arguments in favor OF the
economic policy they support. Since
the Inauguration of Mr.. President and
the Democratic control of both
branches of congress wonderful
changes have taken place because the
shadow of free-trade has fallen upon
American industries. This was an
ticipated by Republicans, and they
warned the people of the disastrous re.
suits of the operation of the Chicago
platform upon the growth and pros
perity Of the country. Inspiration
could not have foretold events more
truthfully. Before six months had
elapsed from the 4th of March the
nation was passing through the worst
financial crisis that had been exper-
fenced in its history. Factories closed
and all departments of trade seemed
paralyzed. The streets of our larger
cities were thronged by thousands of
unemployed wage-earners who were
clanoring for bread, and the NEST con-
servative citizens stood aghast at the
terrible financial depression. While
on the Pacific coast our laborers are
not so dependent upon manufacturing
industries for employment, the stagna-
tion in the market for raw material
has caused great losses to farmers and
Hock-owners.
The wool industry is one of the
principal factors of prosperity in East
ern Oregon, and this has sent little, if
any. money in circulation during the
present season. Every year there is
handled about 100000 pounds of
wool in The Dalles, direct from the
producers, and last year this brought
16 cents. Very few sales have been
made this year, and the highest price
offered has been 10 cents. This makes
a loss to the usual annual circulating
medium of 100000 in this city alone,
and perhaps In the Inland Empire it
will reach 81, 100000.
But Oregon ls not the only loser in
this regard, and Chicago exchange
says: "The price of wool in Montana
Is 6 to cents per pound; the price in
Chicago on Tuesday was a. to l6
cents per pound for fine, and l3 to ID
for coarse. The average price of fine
wool was 33 cents and for coarse 81 |
cents during the year 1891, and 30 for
fine and 20 for coarse during 1892. So
that there is remarkable falling off
In the price of the raw material. The
Montana price, to Z cents, is far be-
low the lowest duty, l / cents, levied
on imported wool by the Mckinley
law. So that in the present juncture
sfree wool could not mean cheaper
WOOL" And here Is the way it works
in Pennsylvania: "'Nice, straight
spring lambs are reported as selling in
Washington county. Pennsylvania x
which has been a great sheep and wool
district-at 80 to 95 cents per head;
year ago they sold at 80. Good 2-year-
old ewes were sold at $1.20, year
ago they brought from $3.50 to $3."
Ohio, Texas, California and other
states must be placed in this list, and
their losses will be larger than the
others.
This cheap,r raw material benefits no
one except the manufacturer, for
clothes cannot be purchased any
cheaper than they could 3 year ago,
and lsborers have less money with
which to purchase them. The ques-
ton so often asked, Does protection
protect2 has been fully answered in
dozen different ways. and the people
have object lessons that they will not
easily forget