Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1904-02-03
Protection Run Mad.

The Wool Growers Association has
just held its annual convention and the
members seem at n loss to understand
the depressed condition of their busl-
ness and, like other petted monopolists,
are begging more fatherly assistance
from Uncle Sam. They have resolved
to ask the department of the interior
to issue equal quantities of mutton and
beef to the Indians and the army, rs
further stimulant to the sheep in
dustry.
These wool pap-suckers are monopo-
lists and not farmers. Most of them
never see the sheep they own. They
appropriate the use of the Government
lands, driving off would-be settlers Who
would interfere with their free pas
ture. Not content with a protection
duty of about 100 per cent on wool,
they now cry for more aid to protect
their languishing monopoly. They ask
Uncle Sam to force their mutton down
the Threats of the Indians and the SOL
diers, whether the mutton is palata-
BILE or not. There Is vast differen-
ence In mutton; that from the South
down or Cotswold sheep being of SUI
perior texture and favor and that from
the pure blood Merlno almost UNBEATABLE
lit being stringy and of a disagree
able and strong flavor. What the
white men of the cities refuses, is to
be forced on the Indians and soldiers.
All for the further protection and nd
vantage of the few millionaire sheep
men of the plains. Could any greater
absurdity be attempted In the inter-
est Of pampered "infant industry?'
We might as well force this Indians
and soldiers to eat the carcasses of
the skunks and foxes, which are now
wasted by the proprietors of the skunk
and fox farms that enterprising Yam
KEGS have established in the wilds of
Maine.
On the same day that the press dis
patches announced the meeting of the
Wool Growers Association, there ap-
peared an interview with leading
citizen of Wyoming which shows that
protection does not always protect, al
though It most certainly EFFORTS from
the general public: with a tariff on
wool that equals II cents a pound, our
sheep raisers are getting oily ID cents
per pound, anG hardly that" said eX-
Governor Osborne, of Wyoming, at the
New Willard. The sheep, If sent to
market, bring very poor price for
mutton, though Eastern consumers
have to pay tariff that is simply exor.
bitant. But while the sheep raisels
are feeling depression in the value
Of their product, everything they have
to procure in the way of ranch sup.
plies has gone up fully SO 1-3 per cent
The burlap, the paint, the Irvine has
advanced Il third and over, and the ba-
con bought by wholesale for the EN-
ployes is 10 cents per pound, as against
cents few years ago."
No one can know better than Gov.
ernor Osborne the true facts about
the sheep industry of the Northwest
and yet 10 hear Republican Congress.
| men talk and to read Republican news
papers all is prosperity as the glorious
results of the protective tariff.
High trust prices and protection fol
trusts and favored industries, is now
to be supplemented by forcing oul
wards. to consume what is otherwise
unsuitable. Too much brooding ovel
protection has made these millionaire
sheep ranchers mad Thank goodness
they are all Republicans.