Fergus County argus., 1902-07-30
SENATOR elRsoN,s STAND.

Judging fromathe Tribune's account
the woolgrowers had a most interest.
ing and profitable meeting in the
Falls last week. Several valuable ad-
dresses were made and papers read.
The banquet at the Park hotel, in
honor of Governor Toole and Hon.
George II. Maxwell, executive chair.
man of the National Irrigation associ-
alton. was an event which those who
were fortunate enough to be present
will not soon forget. There must GER
tainly have been good things to eat
and drink judging from the replies
made to the toasts.
One address, that OF Senator Paris
Gibson, will be read with interest by
all woolgrowers. Mr.. Gibson, who
was received with cheers when he
arose, said he had devoted half his
life time to the manufacture of wool.
ems or the raising of wool. When
he came to Montana, almost a quar-.
ter Of century ago, there were few
men engaged in the woolgrowing bus
mess. They included F. ID. Cooper.
George ID. Patterson. Robert Blank.
enbaker and a Mr.. Mcdonald. The
Judith Basin had not. a herd of sheep
within IT, Not more than ten were
engaged in the business In all North
ern Montana, which is now the great
est woolproducing section of the new
world. The wool grown in this Sec
ton Is OF the highest character known
on the continent. The woods of Ohio
may be equal to 1t. but they are GER
tainly not superior. The industry in
this state has assumed immense pro-
portions. II needs the fostering care
of every man, "and so far as | am
able. by my vote and my small infiu
ence in the congress OF the United
States, | will stand up forever for
the woolgrowing industry. was
elected as a Democrat. am Demo-
crat. But the tariff question of today
is not the tariff question Of 40. 80 or
90 years ago. General Hancock's dec
laration that the tariff Is local ques.
tion will perpetuate his name, and /,
as a representative of Montana, could
not stand up in my seat and vote
against the wool interests. No man
can make me believe that the United
States Steel corporation needs protec,
tion. | honestly believe that the best
interests of our country would be
greatly subserved If the tariff were
removed from steel and iron products,
but | wish to say that every locality
has its men who will favor protection
of some interests and free trade in
others.
THE wool growing industry of Mon
tana needs protection today because
IL stands just where it did 30 years
ago. The wages of men in the busi-
ness are the same now as they were
then, and If ii was necessary to pro-
tect the wool industry 80 years ago
ii is necessary to protect that indus
try today. Its status has not chang.
ed. Conditions concerning manufac-
lures have greatly changed. No 9th.
er nation can compete with the Unit.
ed States in manufactures. While
would advocate free trade so far as
the manufacturing interests of the
country are concerned. would advo-
cate protection for the wool growing
industry of the plains"
Anyone who knows Senator Gibson
knows that he will do just what he
says he will. The ARGUS. as well as
others. have not agreed with Mr.. Glib.
son In all of his views regarding the
public land policy. but no one has
doubted his sincerity or devotion to
the cause of irrigation and the wei.
fare of the state. His remarks. quot
ed above. show that he is firm In his
loyalty to the wool growing industry
of this state. In view OF the declara-
tion made above to stand by the wool
growers. many will join us In return
ing the compliment he paid President
Roosevelt and say II we must have
a Democratic senator from Northern
Montana Senator Gibson nils the bill
as satisfactorily as any man who
could be named.
However. by the time Mr.. Gibson's
term expires. II not before. Montana