The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-01-18
RANDOM POLITICAL NOTES.


It is to be noted that among the
classes OF producers IN the country
clamorlng for restoration OF the Nc
KInley dulles are the wool growers. II
Is presumed that the wool growers
know what they want, and know the
effect the new tarlff has had on their
industry better than any one else. and
when they meet In convention and de-
aounee free wool US destructive OF this
great American interest, and demand
restoration OF protection, they know
what they are doing. In the face OF
these present demands from the Inter-
est presumed to know It's own wants,
the Wheeling Register, the Dmocrntic
organ for the cuckoos heEeaboats, had
a remarkable editorial on Thursday. II
was an echo OF similar article that
appeared IN the Pittsburgh Post the
day previous, and was based on a pur-
chase of wool made in Washington
county, Pa, recently, In which Hork-
helmer Brothers. OF Wheeling, paid 20
cents per pound for fine quality Of
wool. On the strength of this fact the
Register betrays It's Ignorance or It's
demagogy In the following language:
American wooi-growerS may thank
their stars that the Wilson bill was
passed in time and the wool and wooden
Industries relieved from the burdens OF
McKInleyIsm. The wool-grow-
crs OF this section, including Western
Pennsylvania and Eastern Ohio. can
appreciate this fact. Wool that under
the Mckinley bill sold as low as II and
u cents Is now bringing 20 cents. A
Wheeling firm recently bought $4,000
pounds ut the latter price In Claysville.
Pa. and about the same time o similar
~ k.ssF 4
cd by the same firm In Ohio"
II would be welcome news to the wool
growers, could It be shown that the new
tariff hns resulted In revlving the wool
growing Industry. but such Is not the
case. The error the Register makes,
either Intentionally or through igner-
ance, is one that Il steadily pursued
during the last campaign. II neglects
to tell Its readers the exact facts and
Ignores the claSslncltlons Of woods. But
such Journalism does not deceive the
farmers who are engaged in wool grow
Ing. They know all about the tricks
OF the Register. In regard TO this par
ticaiar case. the following paragraph
from the Pittsburgh Commercial Ga
zette, throws a flood OF light on the
Registers attentpt 20 deceive readers
who are not posted:
"As to the particular transaction
above noted, the following telegram
from Washington, Pa, published in az
evening contemporary, challenges the
accuracy OF the statement 50 far as
prices under the Mckinley act are con-
cerned:
Il. ". Jones, OF this place. the lead
ing wool buyer OF Washington county.
was concerned in the purchase OF 10000
pounds OF Washington county wool al
20 cents per pound. Mr., Jones says the
above article Is misleading. US In 1891
and 1893, under the Mckinley bill, he
purchased the same grade OF wool for
30 cents"
essary.
But there Is another phase OF the
question, one which Democratic papers
steadily avoid discussing in their eff
fort 10 bolster Up the Wilson bill among
the farmers. They seem to ignore the
fact that the Wilson bill, II 1t really
does benefit the wool grower IN the
manner claimed by the Register. knocks
out completely the Democratic theory
OF the tarift and the Democratic con-
tertIon for free raw materials, The
sole argument OF the free traders was
that the manufacturers should have
their raw materials CHEAP. Now We
find the Register claiming that the re-
suit IS lust the contrary. It IS true that
the free traders urge that with wool on
the free list our manufacturers are able
30 get their foreign woods with which
10 mix with domeStlcs much cheaper;
that this boon increases the demand for
American wool and forces up the price.
This is poor logic. and every wool grow
er knows that It Is buncombe. The cf-
feet OF free wool has been the entry Of
cheap foreign woods to compete with
the American product. and not TO slim
uIate American wool growing. The
American wool grower knows what he
Is about when he demands that the In
Justice done him by tho Democratic
tariff law be corrected, He isn't fool
enough 10 ask for n change back to the
old order OF things Ii. as the Register
contends, he Is so much better off under
present conditions.
Since Mr.. Eil;ins entered the senate
and came so rapidly to the front as n
leader and q forcef9l speaker. he Is
being much discussed by the Washing
ton correspondents, not only as presI-
dentIal possibility. but In other ways
his splendid social qualities, his prac-
tlcal business methods, his strong per-
enalLsy, his frankness in dealing with
public questions. his literary attain
merts, his home lie, his exemplary
habits, his versatility. all come In for q
share OF attention. Speaking OF Mr..
Elkins's versatility, Joe Howard, the
well known New York Journalist. re-