, 1906-10-12
IS IT ROBBERY?

In the matter of n tarin tax upon
wool the democratic Cheyenne Leader
has thrown of the revision" mask
der the caption, is 1t Robbery or Not?'
the Leader says:
THE tariff on wool is lie per pound
Either this tariff adds lie TO the
normal price OF wool. or it does not.
'1f this tariff adds IL cents to the
price of wool it is n robbery to that
extent on $4,000 Of the people of Wyo-
ming who are not engaged in the sheep
business, but who have TO pay so much
more for all wooden goods, such as un-
derwear, socks, shirts, dress goods,
blankets. carpets, furnishings, etc.
IF Il does not add to the price Of
wool and its manufactures, then the
tariff is of no account TO anybody.
THE wool barons of wyoming are
making from 80 to 100 per cent an
nually.
do they need government aid?
Must they have these forced contribu-
lions of the people of this state or of
the United States in order to struggle
along and continue the business of
herding sheep over the free, public do.
main?
IF this tariff robbery is to be the
policy of our government, why not ex-
tend its beneficent' principles to other
occupations?"
The question is a pertinent one at
the present time, and looking through
any but free trade yes the concession
must be made that the benefcent prin-
ciples of the protective policy are ex-
tended to other occupations in Wyo-
ming. The wool men of Wyoming ship
approximately thirty million pounds.
AT twenty cents, they receive a return
of six million dollars, or sixty dollars
per capita for every person in the state.
Suppose each individual in the state
used ten pounds of wool per annum,
and that is an extremely high estimate,
the cost would be two dollars. And
suppose that free trade would cut the
price in two-and 1t would-each in
dividual would save one dollar per an
num-, but the state as n whole would
lose three million dollars or thirty dol
lars per capita. Would it be good
sense to sacrifice thirty dollars for the
purpose of saving one?
1t cannot be charged that the sheep
men of Wyoming are the only ones
who are benefited by this vast sum of
money coming into the state. They
are heavy taxpayers. The schools,
churches, societies and all the middle
men of the state receive a portion of
tie profits. The sheepman's money
goes into the arteries of trade just as
certainly as the wages of the railroad
man, the miner or the farmer. When
It once gets within the boundaries OF
the state We all get a share of it. The
balance Of trade is now SO much in
favor of Wyoming that prosperity
reigns everywhere. Thousands of our
citizens are accommodating comfortable
fortunes through many industries.
If Uncle Ichabod of the Leader will
take his pencil and figure out for the
people just how they are to be benefit
ed through his strange theories of
finance, they will certainly be Obliged
Tell them just how they are to make a
gain by throwing away the profits OF
this great industry, which now EN-
ploys thousands of men at high wages
and which promises to grow tenfold
If democratic free traders are not per- |
mitted to handle the reins of govern.
ment.
Honest, now, Uncle, would you be
willing to sacrifice thirty dollars for
the sake of saving one? That is just
what you are asking the people of Wy |
Omiug to do