La Junta tribune., 1911-07-29
:. T. w.ss.r o,.eu..e. Woo, Tariff.

There seems to be wide diversi.
~ OF opinion as to whether the tar.
III on wool and wooden goods is LEGAL
lied robbery Of the whole people for
the good and welfare ofthe wooden
trust, or vital adjunct to the
success of one Of our infant indus.
tries. II appears that very small
proportion Of the people OF the Unit.
ed States are engaged In sheep rails
Ing. while nearly all OF the people are
consumers and users OF wool and
WOODEN goods. and why should all the
people be taxed for the benefit
OF few. We import nearly as
much wool as we raise, and
why should We tax all OF
the people for the benefit OF the
manufacturers. or woolen trust? 1t
Is not often that you find sheep
man who is opposed to tariff on
wool-all the traffic will bear. In
most instances. but In last weeks
Issue of the Bent County Democrat.
one of the leading sheep men OF the
Arkansas Valley. Mr.. +. 7. Webber,
who has been engaged In the busi-
ness for years. discusses the tariff on
wool and proceeds to demonstrate
that II Is one Of the greatest burdens
that has ever been inflicted upon the
American people. III is herewith pre-.
sented for the prayerful considera-
ton OF our high-tariff republican
readers:
"As the people OF Bent county are
largely interested in sheep raising,
and AS the tariff on wool and wooden
goods will occupy the attention OF
congress until the question is set
tied in an equitable manner. dis
cussion of this question seems oppor.
tune at this time.
u think 1t is safe to assert that
In the past sheep raisers have view.
ed the tariff question largely from a
selfish standpoint. taking IL for
granted that a duty on any product is
bound to enhance the value of the
product TO the producer. That this
viewpoint is erroneous the prices re-
ceired for wool for the past twenty
years will demonstrate
'The industry has had its periods
OF prosperity and adversely under
the Influence of factors wholly for
eign to the tariff. Fifty years ago.
during the civil war period. the de-
cadence OF the cotton industry drove
capital into wool manufacturing. As
the cotton industry was re-established
the wool industry declined regardless
OF the tariff of 1867. As land has
Increased In value the wool raising
Industry has been more and more
confined to the sparsely settled and
dry sections OF our country. this In
spite of the efforts of old line re-
publicans to protect the industry by
custom duties.
THAT they have abnormally pro.
tected wool. schedule X is AN cvi.
dence No amount OF tariff In.
crease could further expand the wool
industry. for as you Increase the duty
ON wool. cotton comes more and more
into comp tltion and causes more
restricted use of wool
In 1910 We imported 26i 900 900
pounds Of wool This was within
60, 100000 pounds OF the amount we
produced Why should We tax Il
product OF which We import nearly
AS much AS We produce? Standpatt.rs
viii say In the interest of our
manufacture but the man OF ordln.
AIRY Intelligence sees NJ once that the
burden OF the tax falls upon the
shoulders OF the masses AS consumers
An kind Of manufacturing In this
country has been protected 10 an
extent tha, has become almost un-
bcarable to the great majority of the
people. The American wooden trust
through the lniquitios Of schedule X
aud their control Of the machinery
used IN their Industry. have placed n
greater burden upon the American
people than that which caused the
revolt OF the American colonies"