The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-07-20
HOW IT WAS PLANNED TO MAKE
THE CONSUMER PAY THE
WOOL MEN KNEW.
A HUNCH ON COTTON, TOO
Even Before the Election the West.
ern Wool Growers and the Eastern
Manufacturers Entered Into a
Price Agreement.

W n WIN ~ lh 30 - hl'h'lN Nohds
that an agreement was reached at
u conference held in Chicago. October
10, 1905. between Eastern wool manu-.
facturcrs and Western wool growers
that the Diuglcy rates on wool shouiu
De maintained in the tariff revision.
At the conference a resolution was
adopted that "lu the coming revision
of the tariff the present dut5es, both
on wool and wooden goods. be main
tanned without reduction"
William Whitcman of Boston, prcsi.
dent OF the National Association OF
Wool Manufacturers. and f. W.
Gooding OF Shoshonc. Idaho. presi.
dent of the Nat onal Wool Growers
Association. were the leaders in the
conference Other Western men pres.
cnt were G.. ;. Walker of Cheyenne.
Wyo ". 5. Anderson of Boise City.
Idaho. and Thomas Austin Of Salt
Lake City, Utah
How confident the men who put up
the deal 70 make the man in the
street pay S22 for his SIS suit OF
clothes were that the deal would 20
through is shown in recent events.
While the man who voted u.,,
fan perhaps after deep considcrat on
of tariff problems, believed he still
had a chance 10 get an SIS suit
for SIS. Mr. Whitman. who ~.s
chairman Of that Chicago conference,
was planning enormous developments
Of his woolen mill properties and
the wool growers OF the west were
already advancing the price of wool,
in absolute confidence that the Ding.
ley wool rates. which are almost pro
hibitvc of importation, would be re-.
tanned
Mr. Whitman's big Arlington mills
were already capitalized at mill on
dollars. and, although congress was
supposed 10 De- debating the wool and
other schedules with the apparent
possibility of reducing the duties 20
point that might seriously affect
the wool manufacturers in this coun.
try Mr. Whitman put out an addi.
tional issue OF > million dollars in
stock last April
That stock, presumably with the
assurance OF Mr. Whitman that the
old wool tariff schedule would stand.
was eagerly taken al par by the
Arlington stockholders al the rate
of one share Of the now stock for
three shares Of the old. which was
then and Is still au0cd az Sl4O 20
Sl45 a share A. the same time the
rights TO buy the new stock were
sold n the Boston market at S2i 10
So share.
Mr. Whitman displayed the same
confidence that the co,toa schcuui,
would no, Dee seriously utcrfered
with when, iu the latter part OF
June hc organized the Nashaweua
Mills az New Bedford. with a capl.
tai stock OF u million dollars
That stock was sold through Brown
Brothers a Co, OF Boston a. about
sos a share
Aud about the same time. when
the tariff ON wool was supposed to
be subject to material reduction.
the price OF the raw mWerial began
to advance, 10 the great JOY of the
western partners. i'm the Chicago deal.
the sheep raiscrs.
Mr.. Whitman is quoted i'm an in
teryiew in the World as saying
That the conference was held and
the fact that the two factors In the
wool Industry the growers and ,he
manufacturers, were united 10 retain
the existing wool schedule is the
proudest Achievements Of my life.
II had confidence that the present
congress would not materially reduce
the duties on wool and wooden goods
o. would not have brauChed ont
largely In business | may be- un--
taken, no man is infallible, but |
was correct IN my forecast "a TO
what former congresses would do.
and believe I am right In my opin-
ion As 10 what will be the final re.
suit OF this tariff debate.
AS a matter OF fact, this entire
discussion is unnecessary and absurd.
It's only effect has been 20 hold
back the development OF business
for months. and when 4 is all over
you viii see that we shall have prar.
ucally the same tariff We have had
the last twelve years"
4 section Of the wool manufactur
ers, those who make a speciality OF