Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-01-07
The WOOlgrOwerS.

The National Woolgrowcrs' ASSOC
citation met ut the Ebbitt House.
Washington, ID. g.. December Isis,
bill agreed upon by the association
in December lS9J. same approved 10y
the Farmers National Congress at
Indianapolis, November 10, 1886, and
by the Ohio State Grange at Belle
fontaine, December 10. 1896. Thecom-
mittee of ways ana means, of the
House OF Representatives at Wash
ington, will formulate a tariff bill at
the present session. to he submitted
to an extra session of congress, soon
after March, 1897.
Yesterday was the day set by the
committee to hear representatives of
the woolgrowing industry and it is
hoped their grievances We're presented
in such a manner as to have weight
with u majority of the committee.
the presence and active participation
of Judge Lawrence Of Ohio. who lis
reliable authority on all matters per-
tanning to the industry, giving assur-
ance that such will he the ease. How
ever. the real fight to secure Just and
adequate protection will come when
the hill gets before congress and the
wool schedule is taken up for consid-
Grafton. Heretofore the blunt of the
battle has been left to n few repre-
sentative men of the middle states.
whose knowledge and influence can
not lie questioned but who were too
few i'm numbers to give proper en-
preston to the requirements of the
industry. This should not occur
again. The far west is vitality inter
cstcl in this matter. Montana has
become the leading w~oolgrowing
dustry has suffered untold injury 10y
free wool" Growers have held on
to their ilocks i'm the hope thai there
would he II change ion the better
under "A Republican administration.
and although there was ground for
this hope they should he up and
doing to- secure Just recognition. as
Il number of eastern papers are nj
ready opposing the proposed new
wool tariff.
There are n certain class of mann
facturcrs on the eastern coast dealing
largely in Australian woods, who will
oppose any duty, or favor one that
would prove Of no benefit to the
| ,.-..l. -.r .f xn,.ti.. rrI.ir in
iuence must be offset by n strong
| and vigorous contest from wool
growers generally. There must he
numerical as well as individual press,
IRE brought to bear upon congress,
There is power i'll numbers on ques-
lions of this kind, and it should he
manifested by petition if impracti.
cable by any other method.
Judge Lawrence. who is president
of the National Woolgrower's =
citation. i'm n recent letter, says
There is a strange misapprehensioT
as to the wool tariff. The Mckinley
wool tariff of $3.50 will not answer
the purpose now because ID tn,
! NbIlu NooI haNt w
since $50 and more protection il
needed now. and % because of de
fects i'm the Mckinley law. which
were ~engrafted on it against tn,
wishes Of woolgrowers. The Nc
Kinley bill as reported tocongress 10y
him was much better thar the bill al
passed. Some Eastern manufacture
ers got it changed so az to impair il,
usefulness. \ new bill must remed,
the defects"
In an article entitled THE Tariff
Duty on Wool" % he found else
where, Judge Lawrence gives tn
amount Of duty ON wool agreed upoI
by the different associations havin;
the matter under consideration ans
which would undoubtedly he salts
factory To the west, viz: TN merin,
wool and woods of mutton breeds %
sheep. unwashe,! l. cents n pound
on other woods = cents n pound
double duty on all il washed: treble
il secured. Australian woods ant
similar woods of light ~shrinkage IL
securing az shorn i'm nativecondition
shall in any other than ordinary con
dition of whole fleece. he subject Il
double duty.
Mr.. Lawrence shows how wool
growers were tempted to vote fol