The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-06-04
FALSE FRIENDS OF THE SHEEP
Unaerhand Efforts to Defeat the Pro-
posed Wool Tariff.


WASHINGTON, June 3.-Persons who,
while processing to be in favor OF the tar
if bill. and particularly anxious to have
the wool duties made right. have been seek
ing TO impress the country with the utter
failure of the senate amendments to fur
nish adequate protection. Such objectors
are really paving the way to justify the
action they contemplate taking 10 defeat
the bill completely by asking exorbitant
rates 1t Is fortunate for the wool grow
ers. and all persons interested In the wool
industry. that Senator Kyle. OF South Da-
kota. and Senator Jones. Of Nevada. have
firmly announced their intention to sup-
port the bill, as their votes added 10 the
Republicans make a clear majority.
Those who deserted the Republican party
last fan. while claiming to be protection
lists and alleging that they are anxious the
bill should pass. are making such excessive
demands as will In their opinion assist in
defeating the wool schedule altogether. or
in getting II 50 badly confused that the
wool grower VIII be left dependent upon
luck rather than systematic legislation. A
pretty game of politics is being played.
The real work in the interest of wool Is
being done by the Republicans who stood
by the party in the West last fall, and are
now calling upon their colleagues in com
mittee and in caucus to deal fairly by the
wool interest. The disposition 10 respond
is no doubt that the wool schedule as II
passe the senate viii be the best tho
country has ever known. The work in be-
half of the wool schedule viii all be done
before the matter Is taken up for discus
sion in the senate. The Republican sena-
tors who are doing the work will not CON-
srme time in making long speeches They
are laboriously endeavoring 10 have the
schedules agreed upon, while leaving the
speechmaking to those who are working
for cheap political capital on the outside.
The real interests of the wool grower seem
paramount, as the Republican members ex-
pect the results to be their best vindlca-
tiop- The bill. as the Republican caucus
Will finally agree upon II. will change the
existing schedule so as to read as follows:
ION third class or carpet wools, cents
per pound, on all such wool not higher
than cents per pound in value.
''First-ciass wool in the grease VIII De ~
least cents per pound.
''Second-ciasS and Skirted nrst-ctass, AZ
least 10 cents per pound.
The second-class wool Is that which
comes i'm competition with the Montana
woods and viii result in getting. after the
bill gets into operation and the present sur
plus In the warehouses shall have been
worked of. between Is and 70 cents per
pound for Montana wool.
1t Is believed By the friends OF the wool
growers that these conservative figures
Will be permanent and yet amply profec-
tive. Senator Warren, OF Wyoming, wao
owns in that state one Of the largest nocks
in she United States. expresses himself as
we'll 50 listed with the bill with the changes
as suggested. Senator's Skcup. or idano;
Wilson, OF Washington. Carter. OF Mon
sana. and fIansnrough. OF North Dakota.
have been in constant conference and have
been unfirlng In their efforts 10 unite the
Republicans in favor of adequate and reas-
onahte rates There Is no doubt they havo
practically succeeded
They expect more trouble In the senate
and house from the efforts OF faise frisnas
who Will seek to make the rates extrava-
CANT in order to beat them. than they have
TO fear from the Democrats who WILL Try
10 reduce wool to the free list. Great ef-
forts have been made by pretended friends
OF wool TO get up bitter controversy be-
tween the wcoi growers and the wooien
rzssactisrers IN the apparent hope tina.
II these TWO interests could oe divided ana
made hostile 10 each other. the wooleD
schedule would fan. The parties seeking
this end seem 10 have no higher purpose
than the complete destruction OF the little
remnant Of the Republican party remain
ing su the Western wool growing states
The scheme viii scarcely succeed They
sexrn to believe that IL ;he wooa scaeauis
fasts 10 give reasonable protection TO the
wool men ali the wool growers VIII
aeser. the Republican standard and follow
the secedeTs.
T-.,s Democratic. on the other hand. are
consistent syas and are making square
fight In behalf o. their principles Tne
ro,sallsss are taxing little OF no interest IN
me tariff hill apparently following Segls-
enr AfssrYs suggestion ina. no obstruction
would ae Offered by the PopilisiA