, 1908-01-03
NEED PURE
WOOL LAWS
COUNTRY SHOULD HAVE REGU
LATIoNS FOR PRODUCT SIM
LIAR TO FOOD LAWS.
John Hill Of Wool Department of Elk
pertinent Station Has Timely sug-
mans Reminder as Suggestion to
Wool Growers Association.

partment of the experiment station,
has the following interesting and time
ly article in the current number of the
Ranchman's Reminder, just mailed,
under the caption, "A Suggestion for
the Wool Growers Association" which
seems TO voice the sentiment of a NUN
Der of sheepmen and other stockmen
in this section. Mr.. Hill is well in
formed as to the qualities of wool, be-
ing in charge of the securing plant at
the experiment station and familiar
with wool generally.
Will Propose Legislation.
The Wyoming wool growers will soon
meet in their annual convention. One Of
the objects of this meeting is to propose
legislation that will make wool produc-
ton profitable. Some of the laws ia
vored by sheep owners are apt to be
opposed by men who are not directly
interested in the sheep business. The
cattleman and the shecpman do not al
ways agree as to what is best for the
welfare of the state. The railroad man
is inclined to think that a higher price
for wool means nothing to him except a
higher price for his wife's new cloak;
if not a higher price, more shoddy,
cattleman, and the railroad man all
agree: they do not like shoddy. In
other words, they want honest textiles.
Therefore, if the Wool Growers Asso-
citation should advise the passage Of a
law which would control the sale OF
fabrics in much the same way that the
sale Of food is now controlled, they
would have the hearty support of at
least ninety-nine per cent of the citizens
of Wyoming.
Would Prevent Misrepresentation.
Such a law would not need to pro-
hibit the sale of cloth made from shoddy
or from cotton and wool mixed with
shoddy, any more than our food law
prevents the sale of syrups made of glu-
cOse or glucose compounds but it should
not allow any cloth to be sold for pure
wool that is not pure wool, and should
require a label on each piece Of goods
giving the guaranteed composition OF the
same. Then the person who wanted
pure wool, pure silk, or pure linen could
buy it, just as it is now possible to buy
pure maple syrup. Under such a law the
man who wants a cheap blanket TO last
him a couple of weeks on a fishing trip
could get n made from shoddy and
pay a shoddy price for it, but the pros
pector who wants a blanket that will
last for years would be saved the risk Of
paying a pure wool price for a blanket
that is only half wool. The housewife
could buy napkins made of pure linen
or linen and cotton, whichever suits her
the best, but she would not have to be a
textile expert to keep from buying the
latter when she wants the former. In
short, merchants would have to sell their
goods for what they are, and not for
what they seem to be.
Sheepmen Should Take Lead.
The sheepmen are the ones who should
urge the passage of a textile law, for
they would be doubly benefited by it.
First, they would be protected from
fraud along with all other Wyoming con
sumers. This alone is enough to make
the law we'll worth while. Second, the
decreased use Of shoddy and cotton and
the increased use of wool that would be
sure to follow its enforcement would
tend to raise the price OF wool. The
advance would probably not be very
great at first, for the amount of cloth
consumed in Wyoming is relatively
small, but with such a law in successful
operation in this state, it would only be
a short time until nearly all the other
states would have similar ones, a condi-
ton which would be certain to cause 4
marked increase in wool prices; and,
leading in the production of wool, Wyo-
ming would be benefited more than any
other state.
Eastern States Afraid.
Some OF the eastern states would long
ago have enacted laws like the one pro-
posed, but they were afraid OF hurting
their manufacturing interests. Wyoming
has nothing of this sort to fear; but, on
the other hand, if textile fabrics were
honestly sold it would be possible for
small mills to start up within the state
for the purpose of supplying the local
trade with blankets and other heavy
goods made from native wool. This can
not be done under the present conditions,
because it is impossible to compete in
price with the shoddy mixtures from
other sattes. There is lot a single honest
person in the state whose business would
be hurt in the least by a good textile
law, unless there are two or three rag
pickers, and they might be pensioned il
they couldn't find other jobs.
Good OverbaIances Cost.
The cost of making the law effective
would be small compared with the good
that would be derived from it. Our state