, 1901-01-18

are not Increasing Jul wool clip, while
the clip of the world at large is rapidly
increasing; that sheep are decreasing
in all but thirteen western mountain
states; that the farmers of the east,
middle west and south s%tubbornly re-
fuse to increase their flocks or interest
themselves in sheep, notwithstanding
the enactment of the Dingley- tariff;
and that, finally, an examination and
analysis does not warrant the cohclu-
sion that we will ever at Aaysfuture
time, even under favorable legislation,
produce as much as we consume, and
thus through an abundance of supply,
reduce domestic prices to the level fix.
ed in foreign wool countries.
To each and all of these contentious
| dissent.
AS to the first, the tariff on wool is a
mooted question, I answer it is not,
and it will be SO only when you, the
manufacturers, cause it through some
contention, like your second, that there
should be no tariff on third or some 9th
err class of wool.
AS to shoddy and substitute fibres,
I cannot assent to your contention, be.
cause, (a) such substitution is more
INDUCED in and growing faster in other
countries than ours; and (D) the use
of shoddy and substitute led us a mer.
ry chase through our free wool period,
you, the manufacturers, reporting that
because of the reduction of tariff OF
cloth, cheaper, foreign, substitute fibre
and shoddy goods forced you to great
er use of the aforesaid substitutes and
deliberations
implacable and l~ongstanding contro-
vercy exists between the cattle and
sheep men, with Forestry Association
encouragement, let it give no one I'M
easiness. 1t may seem formidable
when viewed from a distance, but &C.
casional individual quarrels between
Ndlllt dlu SItSp llCu oNel lhS luhES
rights amount in the aggregate to but
very little. AS to Forestry entangle-
ments, it win soon be learned that
western sheep. like eastern, will refuse
to climb 'he pines, cedars and spruces
of the Ct Try, and that they will not
devour either the bark, cones or need
les Of coniferious forest growth.
When practical representatives Of
the government lay out proper forest
reserves instead of accepting the ad-
vice of volunteer foresters 80 expert
that, while ensconced in Pullman sleep
ers, they can lay out the confines of
forest reserves upon the mountain topg
hundreds Of miles away, then it will be
found that there is room for abundant
forests and forestry, as well as for the
flockmasters and his sheep.
Now, as to the fifth contention, I
submit that we have not had forty
years of uninterrupted high tarin-less
than three years referred to-because
in that period of time we have had
several changes, one very harmful re-
duction-that of 1SS3-which suited
neither you nor us; then some three
years Of Mills bill fright; and finally
three years of utter destruction and
desolation to sheepgrowers under the
Wilson-G orman outrage. And here
let me say that more distress can be
wrought upon the focks of the DUN
try In a few short months than a long
terms Of years can overcome or o r
rect. The hod-carrier tolls long and
hard to reach the top OF the building
with his burden: but it only takes a
second to hurl him back to the pave
ment from whence he came, If a mis-
step is taken or the assassin's bludg-
con is applied.
Meeting the sixth contention, permit
me to turn to the figures Of your as
ISOLATION. lately published. Is the
wool supply of the world increasing
faster than that of the United States?
You tell us that the worlds gain In
the last year was 3,2S5,46S pounds. You
then show that there was an increase
in the United States Of 16,423,200
pounds, SO as a matter Of fact, accept
ing your figures as correct, the United
States gained nearly sixteen and Q
half million of pounds. while all the
world outside of the United States put
together, gained nothing, but lost, in
stead, over thirteen millions! So l de-
clare that heat won in favor Of the I'm
tied States against the world. And
the reverse of your contention is true;
the wool clip Of the United States does
increase; that of the balance Of the
world does not.
Against the contention that sheep
decrease In the more thickly settled
portions Of the country, and only in
crease where they have free, public
lands upon which to Craze, 1 find that,
with few exceptions, the greater the
increase in population in a state the
faster the increase in sheep and wool.
7 know that this may strike you at q
new and perhaps startling theory, but
you cannot doubt me, because I am
using. first, your own figures publish
ed under your authority; second.
those of the census of the United
States; and third, the figures Of the