The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1894-02-03
AN ADDRESS TO CONGRESS.
The Chief Executive Of Idaho Makes o" Appeal
to the Common Sense, Justice and
Patriotism Of the Naiionsl Leg
ieIature.

GENTLEMEN-The state of Idaho,
vast in resources and possibilities, hav-
ing already felt the damaging influence
of legislation unfriendly to silver, now
contemplates with alarm the efforts Of
the majority in Congress to pass what
is known as the "Wilson Bill" Al
though the representatives of the great
manufacturing districts of the east and
south viewed with complacency the de-
struction of the silver mining interests
of the west. apparently unmoved by the
sufferings of the wives and children of
the thousands of miners thrown out of
employment. untouched by silent tun-
nels, noiseless mills and deserted cabins,
yet the people of the state of Idaho in
this hour of present and impending
disaster are moved with profound sOr-
row by the daily recitals of the suffer
ings of the unemployed in the manu-
featuring cities east of the Mississippi
river. Leaving the responsibility of re-
lieving the distress of those unfOr-
tunate people, to those whose methods
imposed their present condition upon
them, desire to direct your attention
to the industries of the young state OF
Idaho, and briefly recite to you the
probable results to them, of the pro-
posed tariff legislation. Our principal
products, ranking in Importance in the
order named are, gold, silver, lead,
wool, wheat, fruit, tiax-seed, horses and
cattle. Our first product, gold, will no
doubt be increased in out put for with
diminished wages, many placers can be
worked, that under the former scale of
wages. remained untouched. Regard
ing our second resource. silver, Con-
gress has already destroyed that indus
try, giving in it's place promise of the
immediate restoration of prosperity,
which has, however only been verified
by the establishment of ''soup houses"
and additional work for our sheriff's
and their deputies. The Wilson bill,
if it become law, will close all of our
lead mines, until the necessities of the
miners compel them to accept wages
the same, or less, than the poems of
Mexico are now paid. Before Congress
adopts legislation calculated to degrade
Americas working men to this level
wisdom would seem to dictate that the
members should pause and reflect as to
the consequences liable to ensIe. Our
\fourth industry, wool, cannot be sue
cASsfully maintained in competition
with the Australian product. The
manager of the New South Wales ex-
hibit, \at the Columbian Exposition,
boldly displayed a sign as follows: I'VE
can raise wool for six cents pound"
beneath which was the pertinent in
quiry; "What can you raise it for?' the
\ panagemenf>of the Exposition caused
his sign to be removed, stating that
1t was politics. and that no politics
Gould be allowed, on the grounds"
Idaho cannot meet this kind of COM
petition and maintain the dignity of
the American laborer Our fifth in
dustry, wheat growing, is SO depressed
that the farmers who are engaged in it
are on the verge of bankruptcy;
whether the claim that the price of
wheat has been influenced by the price
of silver, be admitted by any consider.
able number of people or not, the fact
remains, that aided and abetted by
those high in place in this government,
English agents have been able to pur-
chase silver in this country to be used
in buying wheat in India, at prices
which mean ruin to the silver miners,
and destruction to the farmers who
have been obliged to sell in competi-
ton with wheat thus purchased; it is
your duty to determine the relief to be
afforded Our sixth industry, fruit grow
ing, although yet in it's infancy, has as
sumed such proportions and attained
(such degree Of success as to challange
'the admiration of all who are interested
in this important factor in the econ
Omy of the farm. At the recent horti-
cultural exhibit at the Worlds Fair,
Idaho carried off first prizes for the
best exhibit f|two of the most import
ant products of the orchard; apples and
prunes. BY the passage of the Wilson
bill, this industry will be crippled if not
destroyed. The culture Of flax seed,
which ranks seventh among our in
dustries, cannot be continued under
the provisions of the Wilson bill.
The protective tariff, which has not
been less than 25 cents per bushel since
the culture of that staple was begun on