Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1894-06-29
day, prices on wool are still weaker and
sheep sell at from 81 to sl.5O a head.
T1np6or tho proGtohlo oond;+;oro pro

Uunder the profitable conditions pre-
vailinx prior to 1898, Notwithstanding
the decline in the price of wool all over
the world,such was the business judg-
ment OF North Dakotans, and such were
the favorable natural conditions for the
sheep industry, that, starting with less
than 100000 sheep in 1883, we had nearly
100000 when the Chicago platform was
elected in 1892, and yet Mr.. Roach says,
with protected wool, it has not been
possible to subserve the industry in our
state, or any other, for years past"
There must be some motive in voting
for free wool. It seems strange that
even a United States senator will vote
for free wool to enhance its value against
the protests of his constituents, and the
sheep raisers Of the whole country, or,
if, as he says, the price goes down under
protective duties, and that is the very
thing his party wants-cheap clothes for
the poor man-why he does not let it
alone. There is an inconsistency about
this thing that is monumental.
Then again, why are sheep SO sensitive
to the raising and lowering of tariff
duties?
Under the low tariff of 1916, the sheep
industry gained only 3H per cent. be-
tween 1850 and 1860, while under high
tariff the same industry gained a. per
cent. between 1870 and 1880. In 1860
at the beginning of adequate protection
the country produced only 6O,3OO,000
pounds Of wool, while in 1884, after
twenty-four years of protection, the
country produced $50, 100000 pounds.
In 1883, protection was reduced, and
within two years our hocks fell off nearly
100000 head, and the country lost not
less than s50,0O0,000 by the experiment.
The sure prospect of adequate protec-
ton followed the election Of 1883, and
it's timely c~onsummation "a republican
characteristic caused the focks to in
crease 3,75O,OOO within the two years fol-
lowing, while the equally sure prospect
of free wool-sometim e-following the
election of 1892 has depleted our focks as
rapidly as trains can carry them to the
lcha1bles, and has given the whole bust
less a tint decidedly blue.
The Hocks increase under protection
as rapidly as they decrease under low
tariff, and the consensus of opinion
among sheep owners is, that with free
wool the industry is destroyed. It has
been crippled already more than $780,
100000, and whether only crippled or
absolutely destroyed, it remains yet to
be demonstrated who has protted by it's
injury or final destruction.
If there are two things above all others
the people of North Dakota demand it is
free sugar and protected wool. The
natural conditions are excellent for
sheep raising; while the wool, like our
wheat, generally slips out between the
visits of the assessor, yet the sheep re-
main and are taxed for the support of the
state. The state is in need of millions of
sheep, and millions of wealth would
bless their keepers. The sheep men of
the state demand protection for wool at
the hands of their public servants, or at
least an honest effort on their part to
secure it. They don't care a straw for
democratic theory if it destroys their
business.
The wool industry of Australia, New
Zealand and the Argentine Republic is
conducted SO cheaply, and their freight
rates to New York are so low, that with
out protection we, who handle a pitch
fork six out of the twelve months, cannot
compete with them with profit. They
can raise and transport their wool so
cheaply that we can enjoy the benefit of
10 cents additional per pound on what we
raise without p%erceptibly enhancing the
price of a suit of clothes, all things else
considered, while we cannot grow wool
and pay freight and other charges and
lay it down in the eastern cities for 9
cents a pound. Australia can, so can
the Argentine Republic, and compelling
us to compete tor sales at that price,
through free trade, for our own good, is
rather hard to understand. We have
grave doubts whether free traders are
our friends.
Protection has been the mainstay of
the sheep raiser. Free wool will ruin
the industry. OF this I have no doubt,
and I base my belief on the history Of
the past, and outlook from the present.
Democracy will find that taxed sugar
and free wool will prove a heavy load to
carry when the day Of reckoning comes.
I do not think we would differ much
on the question of silver. The repub-
lican party is always sound on the fnan-
cial question. With bimetalism-plenty
of it, n dollar just as good and no
better than another-a dollar rendered
in payment of debt just as dear and
no dearer than the one borrowed, and
one dollar, whether paper or metal, to
cancel any debt that another will, is