The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1894-04-19

In the Ochoco Review of March oath,
I saw an article headed "Who is to
Blame," signed ''Mr. b. 1t seems an
article came out in the Oregonian speak
ing of some wool grower of Crook county
declaring his intention of leaving the
democratic party on account of the "pro-
posed change in the wool tariff. His
reasons for change of politics of course
is that his business will be made. un-
profitable" He does not know any
thing of that mans business, but he
does know ''some men have gone in to the
sheep business in such shape they
could never have made it profitable,
tariff or no tariff. Granting such to be
the case in some respects, it will not
apply to all. He further states ssthe
man who few years ago bought sheep,
agreeing to pay 81 head, had no show
to pay out, no matter what price they
got for WOOL There I disagree with
him very emphatically. What I have
to say in reply is what know from per-
sonal experience, not from what someone
has told me, or what 1 have learned or
read in some paper or perhaps some
other unreliable source. Ten years ago
this fall we bought sheep, all ewes, and
gave So head for them. Three years
later we bought something near 800
more and gave So head for them.
Five years after the first lot bought we
had our sheep paid for, also more than
l 900 head of sheep and some extra
money to spend. The last three years
we made sales of sheep to the amount of
from 100 to 300 year. In that time
the price of wool was from l6 to % cents
and mutton was $3.50 to $500 ready sale
and caeh. Can't you Mr.. B., when you
think of the good times we had under a
high tariff? But we and our sheep in
terests are paralyzed under the pros
pective passage of the Wilson bill.
Does your heart throb tattoo because
of the. good times in store for us when
we have free wool?
| Would we, could we make the same
venture in the sheep business with the
tariff off, or with only the prospect of
having the tariff off our wool and NUT
ton but $1.1216 with the wool on their
backs as we could with high protec-
ton and mutton from $3.50 to $3.50. Be-
sides these you had your wool with
which to pay your expenses, and your
mutton clear gain. Glorious days that
were, and will not return as long as the
un-American bomb in the shape of the
Wilson bill, hangs over the heads of a
deluded people. No, we could not give
81 80 a head without interest if we have
no protection for our wool and our sheen
interests. Sir, to you who have had
good sense to see (which side your bread
is buttered on,' let me extend my right
hand of fellowship in the cause of pro-
lection for our sheep industry.
| Mr.. B. also says he "imagines it is a
class of sheepmen who are deserting the
democrats" The class that have paid
too much for their sheep. Sir, it is the
class that has an interest for themselves,
their fellow sheepmen and for their
country. know men who have been
staunch democrats who curse the Wilson
bill and everyone who are making an
effort to pass it. He also SAYS, ..as a
rule they tsheepmen) don't believe the
tariff ever added one cent to the price of
wool, but rather 1t caused it to be
lower" Then why (please explain if
you can) just as soon as wool was tam
pered with, and free trade men were in
power, just that soon the price of wool
fell to cents and to nothing? We ret