The Butte inter mountain., 1902-02-05
FACTS FOR wOOlGROwfRS


The Inter Mountain, as a republican
newspaper welded to the doctrine of
protection and proud of its benefcent
results in all the wool growing states,
extends greeting to the gathering OF
woolgrowers in Montana's capital city.
They rank among the heavy producers
of the state and are conspicuous upon
the roll of It's taxpayers. They are men
OF intelligence and require no informa-
ton as to the causes which have con-
tributed to their prosperity. 1t must be
patent to each of them that the great
industry they have built up in Montana,
and which brings to the state nearly
S., 900. 900 a year for wool alone, owes its
development to the policy of protection
indorsed at the last national election by
the American people, for though Mon
tana made a mis-step I'm that contest
and went on record in favor of free trade
and low wages, the national congress is
republican by a sufficient majority to
insure continued profits for the men
who raise sheep. They owe their pros
perity to the republicans of other states,
not being numerous enough in their own
state to contribute to the general result.
1t Is hoped, to guard against possible dis
aster TO sheep husbandry in the future.
that the sheepmen will pledge themselves
hereafter to renewed exertions on be-
half of rpublican policies for nothing
ig rls.t, tI,a,, tI.t 4
policy means death and destruction to
the wool interests whenever that party
has the power to execute its will. AT
present the orators and organs of de-
mocracy are very quiet on the subject
of a wool tariff. Except by innuendo
they no longer denounce protection of
wool as a fraud. Abandoning all pre-
tense OF argument, they are seeking now
to defeat the protective policy by stir
ring up dissension In the republican
ranks In the hope of thus preventing re-
publican success, and so bringing about
free trade through republican apathy
at the polls. Surely sensible republ-
cans are not likely to allow that dodge
to succeed, To the average woolgrower
1T makes little difference whether the
Smiths or the Browns hold the Offices so
long as they are honestly elected and
support measures to protect wool. If the
cunning devices of democracy succeed,
however the only natural result to be
expected will be 7-cent wool. That Is
what followed democratic success be-
fore; that is what will follow 1t again.
Every woolgrower should be a republi-
can in his own interest. for Montana
may some day have only itself to blame
should disaster overtake the wool in
terest Of the nation.
The wool industry, under the protec-
tive system, has long ago attained an
| Importance which justifies national en-
| couragement, and 1T Is still growing.
| The worlds production in 1900 was
| 2,092, 1888, ,0l3 pounds, of which the United
States produced 2SS636, ,621. On January
| 1, 1891, the sheep in the United States
numbered 41.SS3,065. having a total value
OF $122, 2,665,913.
As an evidence OF the increase of sheep
| values under protection 1t may be stated
that the average price per head in 1886
was $l.70; in 1897, $l.S2: in 1898, $2.46;
in 1899, $275, and in 1900, $2.93. This in
crease has been partly because of in
creased wool profits and partly because
OF prevailing prosperity which has re-
suited In a greater demand for market
able sheep. OF the total production and
imports last year, amounting Jointly to
44,555,O76 pounds, 436642,519 pounds were
retained for home consumption, while
the total exports were only about S,000,.
900 pounds.
These figures in brief give an idea o.
the Importance of sheep husbandry II
the United States, and the fact that ou
own peerless Montana heads the list o
states in wool production should give t.
the men now gathered at Helena add
tional cause for rejoicing.