Arizona republican., 1900-10-06
OREGON ALL RIGHT
All Conditions in the State
 Favor Republicans.
Effects of Good Crops-Protection an Issue - Unpopularity of Demo cratic Programme - Immediate Profits of Expansion.

 ticket by a liberal majority. The demo- crats admit the loss of the state, and the republicans are expecting a heav- fer vote for -Presidena Mckinley than was given him in 1896. Having held her state and congressional elections, the only question of interest in the po- litical field is that Senator McBride's term expires the 4th of next March, and when the legislature meets next winter in will either re-elect Mcbride OF choose some one else for the position. Senator Mcbride is a candidate for re- election, but is not the strongest can didate in the field T. w. Corbett ap- pears to be in the lead, though eX- Senator John Mitchell also desires to return to Washington.
 Out of the total of 95,OOO votes given the national tickets in 1896 President Mckinley received a plurality of 2.117. This would make it appear that Oregon was close state, but the republicans have very good ground for the belief that the republican majority will be very much larger this year in the gen erally prosperous condition of the state and the apparent widespread sat isfaction which prevails under the present foreign policy of the national administration. There is general lack of interest in politics, but this seems due more to a belief that the results of the November election are a fore gone conclusion than to any real in difference to the issues at stake. The agricultural. live stock and lumber in- terests of Oregon arc most prosperous. and this is believed to Ebe due more to national policies than to any chance of the seasons. The people of Oregon are eXpansionists, and if the issue was in their opinion, in danger of being close ly contested they would become thor oughly aroused and make a strong fight for what they consider a national policy of great benefit 10 the entire Pa cific coast.
 The protection issue is very much alive in Oregon, on account of the heavy wool and lumber industries. The sheepmen four years ago were getting from cents to s cents a pound for their wool, and had a very slow market a that; they are now getting IA cents to T. cents a pound. with ready sale, and the price of sheep has risen pro- portionately. Situated so close to the great forests of the British-American coast, the duty of g a thousand feet on lumber enables the Puget Sound lumberman to do business on a better margin of profit than he would were he not thus protected.
 The wheat crop this year has been exceptionally good, and prices have ad- vanced over those which have prevailed for some time past: 1899 wheat selling for 63' cerYts a bushel, and the wheat Of the new crop bringing 90 cents, which is considered very good price. This increase in price is due to the greater demand for export, which de mand is believed by the people tO spring from the present aggressive for eign policy of the republican party.
 There has been considerable discus sion among the Oregon farmers re- gently as to the cost of raising a bush el of wheat in this state. While all such estimates can be only approXi- mate, owing to varying soils and con- ditions, they are interesting as show ing the difference in the cost of opera ting farm on the Pacific coast as com pared with the cost of such operation in the middle west. It may be said also that this comparison will apply to nearly every other industry as well as that of farming.
 It has been estimated that an aver age yield of wheat in Kansas coasts the farmer from p tO 30 cents a bushel tO put it on the market. The Oregon farmers estimate it costs them very little less than 45 cents a bushel to raise their wheat, and that at the prices which prevail there is little or no profit in the business. The OregoT wheat raiser cannot send his product cast of the Rockies, for he meets there the competition of the great wheat fields of the middle west. after having paid the heavy transit charges across the mountain divisions of the tranS-cOn- tincntaI roads. His only market is that afforded by the export trade from the Pacific ports. in addition to such local consumption as there is. As a conse- quence, the price of wheat on the Pacific coast is. never as high as it is east of the mountains, and ac- cording to the statement of the Oregon farmers it costs more to produce it.
 In speaking of the necessities of the grain interests of the Pacific coast s. Osborne, one of the largest wheat raiS- CTS of the Palouse country, said today: When the interstate commerce com mission met to inquire into the farmers complaint against an eastern freight rate Of $l4 d ton on wheat it was proved that grain even under the most favor able conditions could not be raised in Oregon for less than 45c bushel. The wheat raisers of various districts hay ing no chance to make a comparison gave these figures to the members of the commission and convinced them that the farmers could not ship east so long as the freight was $14 a ton
 With rate of 9 cents a bushel to Chicago or Duluth. which the Walla Walla chamber of commerce asked of the Northern Pacific, the farmers could sell at profit by receiving 75 cents per bushel in either of those markets. With the present rae of 90 cents per bushel to those points and the cost of 40 cents for raising the grain, it means $1 per bushel before a profit can be realized
 The farmers as well as the mer- chants who have profited by the in-