Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1908-08-15

from the effects of which it has been
years in recovering.
The reports of the United States Ag-
ricultural Department give the total
number of sheep in this country in
1898 as 47,273,553. In 1897 under the
whitening effects of the free wool pro-
vision of the Wilson law the number
had fallen to 36,S1S,64S, which is the
smallest number Of sheep this coun
try has had since 1878. The blow CIV
en- the sheep industry in this coun-
try in the three years of the Wilson
tariff law was one that could not be
recovered from in one year or a decade.
ago, and not till 1906 did the country
get back the number of sheep it had at
the time OF the passage of that meas
| ure AS we have stated, the number
of sheep in this country in 1897 when
the Dngley tariff law was passed, was
6,S1S,6i3 In 1898 they had increased
to 81. 656, $3.50: in 1899 they had increas
| ed to 39,114, 453; in 1900 to 41,SS3,065; in
1906 tthe latest figures we have at
hand complied by the chief of the
United States bureau of statistics) to
5O.s31 ,619
This is Il gain of 13,S12,976 sheep in
this country since the Dingley tariff,
with its protection to American
wool went into effect, and yet
Mr.. McGilicuddy pretends to find
nothing Ito stimulate wool growing
| and sheep raising in that measure
1t is scarcely probable. however. that
his fel,cw-c citizens in the Second Con-
gressional District the sheep
raieers-who still retain lively recol-
! lection of the conditions that prevail
ed under the free wool provisions of
the Wilson law-will be SO blind. They
at last will recall the fact that wool
was not only free under the Wilson
tariff law, but also not from it in the
market.
AS We have stated, unwashed wool
was selling in the Boston market dur
ing the last year of the Wilson free
trade law at from to II cents a
pound. The market reports of the
Democratic Boston Globe for August
IL, 1905 show that unwashed wool was
selling in that city on that date at
from 10 to q cents. Commenting up
on these prices the Globe says:
The demand for fleeces, particularly
for a blCOds, continues and d large
and satisfactory business has been
done during the week. The demand is
rather unusual, all conditions conSid-
cred, as practically everything of merit
in the market has been picked land
there is a feeling of optimism with an
expressed belief that higher prices Will
follow. In quarters, everything is IN
demand Missouri sells for % cents.
Michigan for "a to % cents and Ohio for
% to 26 cents, with the latter price well
esta blished.
1t is evident that Mr.. McGllicuddy
can look for no assistance from this
great Democratic newspaper in his far
fetched attempt to deceive his hearer,
into believing that the Dingley law
has done nothing "to stimulate wool
growing and sheep raising"
The United States agricultural de-
partment reported in 1900. when the
Dingley law had been in force less than
three years, that the value of sheep,
from the time it went into effect, was
"nearIy doubled" And yet Mr.. Nc
Gillicuddy shows that there were less
sheep in Maine in that year than in
1890. Does Mr.. McGillicuddy honestly
believe, and will he seriously contend
that it was this doubling up in value
under the Dngley tariff law that was
responsible for such decrease?
The United States agricultural de-
partment gives the selling price of u1-
washed wool in 1896 as from
6 to Il cents a pound-when, of course.
there was any market at all for it. The
Democratic Boston Globe of Aug. IA,
1905 says that such wool was selling in
that city on that date at from 10 to q
cents pound with an expressed be-
lief that higher prices will follow"
Does Mr.. D. J. McGilicuddy honest
ly believe and will he seriously assert
that it is the more than doubling Of
the price of wool under the Dingley
tariff law that is the cause of reducing
the number of sheep in Maine?
Will he solemnly contend that the
number of sheep in Maine will be in
creased by a return to a tariff law pro-
viding for free wool as did the Wilson
tariff law?
We think not.
Still Mr.. Bryan believes in free wooi
and the Democratic party is commit
ted to it.