The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1906-09-26
WOOL GROWERS SHOULD ORGANIZE.

The hockmasters Of northern Mon
tana who are alive to their own in
terests, should take part in the effor
to form a state organization by which
it is proposed to benefit every Mon
tana citizen who is engaged in the
wool growing industry. Similar eff
forts, with somewhat Indifferent cue
cess, have been made in the past, bu,
from lack OF proper interest and sup.
port by those directly affected the or.
CARNATIONS have practically existed
only in name. The proposition now
in view is one which contemplate
tangible results to those who will helm
themselves by cooperating with each
other.
The wool season of 1906 developed a
situation which convinced impartial
observers that eastern wool dealers
had an understanding among them.
selves to secure the Montana wool
clip at a figure considerably below its
market value. During the latter part
OF the season this understanding or
combination vas glaringly manifest.
With no change in eastern market
conditions, and no apparent cause ex.
cept an agreement among themselves,
the eastern dealers who are operating
IN Montana markets reduced their
bids considerably below the prices
ruling prior to that time, and refrained
from competing for the clips that we're
on the market. The owners of the
wool were practically at the mercy of
the allegedlcombine, being unable to
ship to any house that was not q
party to the scheme, and we're almost
compelled to accept prices which they
believed toibe below what their clips
we're worth.
In order to provide a remedy for
this unsatisfactory state OF aft airs,
and to enable Montana wool growers
to help themselves in other ways, Gov.
ernor Tooleihas called a meeting OF
those interested, to be held in Helena
on October ; and three succeeding
days. The governors proclamation
is Ia part as follows:
TO the Woolgrowers OF the State OF
Montana:
Whereas, The National Woolgrow.
ers' association, after careful investi.
cation and consideration of the con.
ditions existing in the wool market in
Montana and elsewhere, is firmly of
the opinion that the fOckmasters OF
the state OF Montana could have re.
ceived from one to three cents more
per pound for their wool for the pres.
ent year If they had been organized
into a strong state association, citing
the fact that Wyoming lockmasters
with such an organization received
prices In most cases equal to those
paid for Montana wool, a condition
which never existed before: and
Whereas, 1t is believe ed that with
such a strong state association afili.
ated with the National association the
llockmasters Of Montana would pos
sess a strength that they do not now
possess, by which they could demand
and obtain the full market value for
their wool: and
Whereas, The Hon. Il. c.. Power,
j. +. Bower, John I. Murphy, \. J..
Davidson, \. X. Prescott, Henry Sic.
ben, Louis Hoffman, ID. \. G.. Flow.
erree, Lewis Penwell and y. b. Hol-
ter, representative woolgrowers of the
state of Montana, have bv petition
represented to me the foregoing facts
supplemental to and in aid of the sug.
gestion OF the National Woolgrowers'
association, and further have request.
ed me to call a general meeting OF the
woolgrowers of the state Of Montana,
to be held in the city of Helena on the
sd day OF October, 1906, and to con-
tinue in session for the period OF four
days, for the purpose of considering
the a~dvsiability of organizing the
woolgrowers of said state into an az.
ISOLATION.
Now, therefore in consideration of
such request of said association aud
upon the petition aforesaid, |, j. X.
Toole, governor of the state of Mon.
tana, do hereby call q mass meeting
or convention of the woolgrowers and
tlOckmasters of this state. To he held
at the Unitarian hall in the city of
Helena aforesaid for the purposes
aforesaid on the Sd, 4th. 9TH and 9TH
OF October, 1906.
Every citizen of the state of Mon.
tana owning sheep or engaged in the
wool business is hereby declared to be