, 1901-01-18

the daylight and warmth of a correct
Industrial policy would only come soon
enough. Therefore, their interests was
identical with that of the growers,
and so, notwithstanding the unpreced-
ented and Incompatible distress, a
large number of the ranch woolgrow-
ers was carried safely through. Were
their losses heavy? Yes. l saw, but
a few days ago, q journal entry which
l have, to my sorrow, often seen be-
fore, on the books Of a certain con.
cern Of sh~eepgrowers, where in n
entry there is carried to profit and loss,
six hundred and fifty-eight thousand
and some odd dollars as the net loss
on one flock or ownership during three
of those terrible years.
No sooner was a change of policy an
nounced than sheep business in the
west and east became popular and
fairly renumerative. New men en-
barked in the business. Many cattle
and horsemen changed their interests
to sheepgrowing, and it is no longer
questionable or improper to look a
sheep in the face, or when shearing
him to commence at the head instead
of the tail.
But it is not all beer and skittles"
this raising of sheep and wool in the
far west. even under the most favor
able circumstances, and | say unhesi-
tatingly, that it is one of the most try
ing and hazardous vocations known
among the Observation-Disclosures
dustries of life. With sheep growing
on the plains, focks will continue to
be swept away by disease, drought,
billiards. and accidents, but more will
take their places, and with adequate,
reposeful protection, the business will
continue to increase and improve. We
are going to grow for you better wool
and more of it; and if you cooperate
with us we hope and believe that the
time WILSON come when we will grow
as much wool as you consume-a sur
plus of some sorts and a shortage of
others, perhaps, but a equilibrium
that will greatly simplify many vexa-
tious tariff problems.
Mr.. Chairman, the experiences of a
ranch woolgrower are many-includ-
ing those with his friends and allies,
the wool manufacturers, past and pres
emit as are his expectations for the fu-
ture. maintain that both interests
should always be harmonious in sus-
tanning and protecting both industries.
Therefore, and with this end in view,
I am going to review very briefly some
events and venture a few predictions,
all based upon our-the ranch WOOL
growers'-experiences and upon statis-
tics which you-the wooden manufac-
turers-will hardly question.
Congress, through the Dingley Bill,
gave you practically the degree and
extent Of protection you asked for-if
not SO in every case l do not recall any
notable exceptions-the idea prevail
ing, with me and others, that compe-
tition would protect consumers. The
woolgrowers received a measure of pro-
lection, not as large as at previous
times enjoyed. and not as symmetrical
and uniform as the protection afforded
r. m or,Ifo ntIvrnro And Uhi1n WnN1 10
now dragging at the bottom Of the
market, and clathes not selling as rap
idly as desired, We with you, hopeful
Of the future, are fairly progressive.
Doubtless there are manufacturers
who desire free, or modified tariff
on wool, just as there are sheepmen
who deem the present tariff not an adj
equate one; but certain it is that no
wool manufacturer wants the tariff re-
moved from his products Of wool and
no wool grower wants free wool.
Wool is raw material for the manu-
facturer Just as cloth is raw material
for the tailor-no more and no less.
Wool is the finished product of the
wool grower, exactly as cloth is the
finished product of the manufacturer,
however, because a much shorter time
Is necessary to produce his finished
product than the grower requires to
produce his. This general proposition
must be fully accorded and recognized
by both factors in the problem, If the
result is to be ucces for either. I'VE
must hang together or we will be hang.
ed separately"
A Word Of Warning.
Under the abnormal conditions fol.
lowing the restoration of tariff. and
the tremendous inportations incident
thereto, while the Dingley Bill was
pending, feelings of unrest crept in
among certain Of you and among some
he bigger than a mans hand, we should
tt Ike note Of 1t II we would have repose.
To manufacturers who desire to reopen
the questions involved in Schedule X,
my advice would be Don't; and my
advice to sheepmen and woolgrowers
likewise inclined, is watt. New
problems and new resources have ma
terialized In the recent past, vastly
o numerou and sweeping in effect
than in INV othop u{mi1or Iou0fh NJ f{mo
within our remembrance. Then let us