The Weiser signal. [volume] (Weiser, Idaho) 1890-1904, 1896-09-17

stay of the country. We acknowl-
edge the fact Of some beef and pork
being shipped, but the receipts from
these have been small in comparison
with mutton and wool. For these
two commodities alone several hun
dred thousand dollars was brought
into the arid west last season, and
this money went into the different
branches of industry and trade, pre-
serving and stimulating each. The
farmer was enabled to sell his hay,
labor found employment and the
merchant sold his goods. Without
this money the people would have
been distressed beyond description or
comparison. Confronted with this
fact, would any sane person deny the
wool growers such protection as is
necessary to sustain and prosper the
industry? We think not. When we
find a man enthusiastic in the silver
cause it does not follow that he is
unfrendIy to the wool growing inter-
est. No doubt he would vote for q
tariff on wool if he were in a position
to do so. We naturally expect of
any silver senator or congressman to
defend, advocate and vote for the
best interests of any and all western
productions.
Now let us look at the other side
of the question. Our country is in
fearful straits financially. The con-
traction of the currency in behalf of
the money and security owners is
reducing gradually all values (wool
as welD, depriving labor of employ
ment and rapidly confiscating prop
erty. Silver has been demonetized
with no other purpose than to make
money dear and products cheap.
Every ounce of silver that can be
produced is needed to supply the
demand for money. In Idaho alone
there are extensive silver mines
which, in our opinion, Providence
has placed here as the chief resource
in support of a population in this
otherwise limited section of country.
The resources of the range are IN
comparable with the mines. We do
not suppose that one-tenth of these
mines have been discovered and GER
tainly none have been exhausted.
Here is employment for thousands,
if not millions, of men. Here they
will consume the products of the
farm, eat the beef and mutton from
the range and wear out the wool. We
may reasonably look forward TO the
time when the waters of our streams
will drive the machinery to make the
wool into suitable fabrics for our use,
| thus furnishing much employment
and saving the wool grower and the
consumer the present heavy costs oil
transportation to eastern manufac-
turers and back again. Think again
for moment. Here in our vallies
multitudes of boys are growing W
who, within very few years, will
demand of society employment fol
acquiring an honest livelihood Mus
they 90 TO the populated east,
which is now showing its surplus
upon us, or rush to these hills for 9
job of sheep herding, the only EN-
ployment to be had?
In view of these facts as thus
merely outlined, there is food fol-
thought and ample cause for consid
crate action in behalf of our mutua
interests. And after due considera
tlpn we do not think there are any
who will in any way support men fol
the national Legislature who are no
friends to protection Of the wool in
dustry and advocates of silver coin
age, even without the cooperation o.
European nations. Il. L. SHEARER.