Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1902-02-12
The Meeting of the Pacific Northwest
Woolgrowers' Association Was
Well Attended.
MANY WARM DISCUSSIONS
Resolutions Adopted in Regard to the
Manufacture and Sale of oleo
and Shoddy.

The fifth annual session of the Pa
cific Northwest Woolgrowers' associ-
alton convened at Helena on Feb. 4th.
There were 800 people present when
the meeting was called to order, and
the address of welcome by Governor
Toole was the most interesting fea-
ture OF the day.
President T. c. Power, in his an.
nual address, said the first thing of vi
ia! Importance to the woolgrowers was
organization. He said that now each
state acts blindly and every county
and community does the same. Or
ganization, he said, would result in
giving to every wool man the infor.
nation he needs to conduct his bust
ness successfully. The greatest bene-
fit from organization. he said, would
be derived in marketing wool. Mar
ket conditions could be investigated
and the results disseminated.
THE dealers soliciting consign.
ments from the grower" said Mr..
Power. "are doing business on the
growers capital. The consignee takes
no chances, makes no investment, but
realizes handsomely on the invest.
ment of others. When consignments
are large a forced market, lower
prices and a depressed condition OF
the wool market follows.
Should the grower refuse to con
sign his wool the dealer would be
obliged to purchase from him direct
or go out of business. That this meth
cd would result largely in favor of the
grower is shown by the disposition OF
the clips of 1900 and 1901"
President Power said that he ia
vored a closer organization because
such one could handle the output ol
the growers, sustain a weak market
and carry 1t until prices are better
He quoted the copper, sugar, tobacco
and other staples as examples of his
idea for the woolgrowers to follow.
Secretary j. w. Bailey, in his an
nual report, also called attention tc
the necessity of closer organization
and work as an organized body. He
advocated the woolgrowers indorsine
the Grosvenor shoddy bill and carry
ing the contest for pure woolen goods
stamped shoddy ones, along the same
lines as the dairy men in their fighi
for the oleomargarine law. At the
session this afternoon and evening
several interesting papers were read
State Labor Commissioner ]. A. Fer
guson spoke on "The Possibilities o.
Woolen Manufactures in the North
west" and Prof. Emil Starr delivered
al illustrated lecture on "SheeI
Scab."
President Power named as the ex
ecutive committee ]. E. Hickock o
Utah, R. C. Judson of Oregon, G. s
Blythe of Washington, P. B. Moss o
Montana and Joseph Cans Of Wyom
ing. The committee on resolutions 4
composed of r. c. Judson, r. A. Sci
way, H. H. Nelson, William Lindsa.
and ]. d. Holiday.
What They Did Wednesday.
The meeting condemned shodd.
and passed resolutions warmly sur
porting oleo. Charles F. Martins ad
dress on the pure Wool" bill was ez
tremely interesting. He gave q his
tory of the bill and said that after be
ing framed 1t was passed upon b.
Judge William Springer and approves
by the National Livestock convention
"The presentation and introduction
OF this measure" said Mr.. Martin
mas aroused and antagonized tn
manufacturers, who are now usin
from rs to IS per cent shoddy In mai
ing wooden goods. They held a NEE
ing recently to make determine
fight against the passage Of this bill
They have combined and are jgoing
fight 1t to a finish. They claim ths
the tax can never be collected wit
which to pay the inspector. but 1t ca
be and will be when the bill become
a law. there is no doubt about that.
$50 far as this association is col
cerned ii must take part in the figf
and not only pass resolutions bt
send men to Washington to look afte
their interests. | want to say in thi
connection that II the measure doe
not pass at this session of congres
the fight will be continued In the mel
until 1t is put through.
81 see in an editorial In a mornin
paper that suggests that II we wal
the use of shoddy stopped we shoul
take the duty off wool. Yes, we wi
do that, II we want to ruin the wo'
industry. We tried it several yea
ago and only got or 8 cents for II
wool. do not see where taking Il
duty of would do us any good.
"A bill was introduced into congrei
to have the tax removed from hid'