Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1912-01-16
MISUNDERSTANDING OREGON

For several months the Nationa
Mohair Growers association has beer
engaged in a fight in congress to pre.
serve the duty on Mohair and one OF
the principal objections to overcome
mas been the education of congress
slonal representatives upon the i'm
portanee of the industry in this
country Congressman and senators
from the Middle West and from
states in which the Mohair industry
mas no eXponents, were not expected
to keep themselves informed on the
subject, but it was of course taken
for granted that those from Oregon
should at least be familiar with the
industry and ready to fight for its
perpetuation Therefore, when Judee
j. b. McCarty of Texas, called upon
senator George E. Chamberlain. in
washington the other day for the
purpose of enlisting the senator's
support in the fight, he was amazed
at the ignorance displayed by Ore
CONS junior senator. TO quote from
of Oregon:
with reference to your man
Chamberlain, Will say that upon
receipt of your letter | at once call
ed upon him. l was astonished
at the great fund of misnforma-
ton stored in his head. He SEEM
ed to treat the subject as being of
very little Importance. In fact he
started out by saying that there
was very few Angoras In Oregon
ana what few were there were not
used for the purpose of growing
Oh mohair' that mohair was a sec
ondary consideration, and that they
We're used as 'scavengers
and this from a man who has
liVed Tor many years in this state and
served In the capacity of chief exec
utiVe until an accident called him 70
service in Washington!
Senator Chamberlain declares ac- /
eording to the above report, that the =
production Of mohair in Oregon is
OF secondary Importance. in connect "
ION with goat breeding and yet the u
records show that the annual sale Of y
this commodity in the state averages
more than 10000 pounds. That the
animals are employed in clearing b.
waste land Is true, but 1t is only an p,
incident in their propagation From r
pamphlet devoted to the Angora st
ioat and Mohair industry of the Pa tn
'ihe Northwest, we find the folIowinp sit
which is respectfully referred to Or hi
'gon's junior senator: w
"Angora hushandry in Orepor ge
now ranks well in Importance with tin
the live stock pursuits of the state tn
oregon Is second. II not first in fo
number of Angora goats and nro- int
uueVoh OF mohair in the United ms
states the annual clip from its thi
nocks of angoras running in vaue
wen toward $50.0OO.0O, while the
value of their yearly increase an yot
proNimates $4O0,OOO.0O. More than ma
half million dollars of new I,
wealth is added annually IN the sta
leld OF Oregon farms from Angora lin,
'oats Oregon mohair ranks with the
ne best in the Eastern markets less
ma commands the highest market trp
rice" ~
- 5,''''s incredible that repre- way
ntative from this state In tbe ssr
OF the United States. should make ,
declaration which so conclusivelv
oNs his Ignorance Of conditions
q should administer SO rorcIble "a
mock az one Of the chief indus az.
's OF his own state. He lived M ,lis. -
'any FOR many years. was povernor ''''
the state with his home in salem. ~
"o'h OF these cities he resided al 90
81 IN the very center OF the mo M,
= industry. and Yet he refers In an -.
ustrE that produces more than "a Il y.
million dollars in wealth app,,-
to Oregon farmers. as of litra -
'ortance.
'eat breeders IN Turkey and soptb m
iea have placed the han on ev- ot n
lStien 81 animals 90 the F-nitea Mulb
les other countries. however a., l-add
suher the same embargo ana ed "a
Is may stin be exported In CO. ents,
" and elsewhere. but ys,t.., Monr
eF doesn't look good. and rrow- aay'
20 this country must depend nm tn
their own resources - - and
on and extension of ~ - and {
That Is one Of the reasons whv
kF""ers want the duty on mo-
maintained and why they want "
sfesated from the wool schea- teach
with which Il is now eombirss this G
lere ever was an infant tps,s- ties 4
that needed protection "a is This
me of the senators declares that IL j
'niy uses of the aneoras IN his Ia car
= .'A' = seaNengers' For S.