The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1913-11-06
SHEEP INDUSTRY IN
OREGON IS DOOMED
New Tariff Law Detri-
mental Says President of
National Woolgrowers
Association.

In an interview in the Oregon
ian of Sunday, Frank j. Hagen
barth, President of the National
Woolgrowers' Association, states
that the new tariff law will force
many sheepmen out Of business,
without benefitting the consumer,
and this will be especially hard
on Oregon sheepmen.
The new bill plays directly
into the hands of large combina-
tions of capital. 1t hits the pro-
ducer, but the profit goes to the
middle man." he declared. 1t
is a matter of general knowledge
that there is now a loss of from
rs to 80 per cent on wool. Ore
gon is hit harder than most of
the other states, because she
raises merino sheep, which can
not profitably be converted into
mutton, for which there is a good
price.
THE probable effect can be de-
duced from the fact that other
states are going out of the sheep
business, despite the fact that
they can produce mutton.
i spent large part Of last
Winter in Washington working
for the wool growers. It was a
most discouraging business and |
left in disgust. Lane and Cham
berlain, the two Oregon Senators,
are Democrats, and they voted
for free wool, despite their con-
victions to the contrary. Cham
berlain suffers from lack of
spine. He has no moral courage,
although he means well. Lane is
a joke. He is incompetent to
analyze the situation and see
what relation the tariff bears to
wool. The people of Oregon will
stultify themselves if they send |
these two men back to Congress.
'Poindexter, of Washington, |
voted for free wool out of pique.
He did not favor it but voted for
it to be against the Republicans.
The question did not resolve itself |
into a discussion of the merits of
the wool, lumber and sugar-beet
question. 1t was a lineup of the
manufacturing East against the
West, New Jersey re-
ceiving protection on 88 per cent
Of its products, against 9per cent
in Arizona.
From now on America will
send increasing millions abroad
for wool. The cost at home will
oe too high for profitable produc-
ton. This loss will not be made
Up by any corresponding benefit
o the consumer. The middle
nan will absorb all the difference.
The consumer will be no better
)ff than he is now, and millions
If dollars will go out of circula-
ion throughout the entire West.
st S an established fact, " said
Mr.. Hagenbarth, that blue SER
yes-one of the most staple arti-
les of men and women's wear
ire quoted at higher prices than
n 1911, when there was no
hought of free wool. This takes l
III the wind out of the reformers'
ails.
las to free meats, it was called
o the attention of the finance
ommittee and the President that
he bill, as originally written,
ontained provision on free I
heats, but carried a duty on live /
attic. Free cattle, especially a
ounger breeding stock, and a r
uty on meat was advocated.
his policy was to encourage the i
and fattening of beef in /
he United States and thus make S
broader market for our hay and
rain; also to increase the meat t
lpply, which was at a low ebb,
n account of the prevailing prices
the last decade.
"The bill has prevented invest
lentin breeding stock bythought-
III growers. il
THE governments policy is +
laying directly into the hands of =
ne trusts and large combinations =
capital, for the minute an ami II
lal is converted into meat, it can T
e bought up and held in storage
a thing impossible in the case
livestock scattered all over the
A small trader cannot N
ford to buy meat by the ship h
'ad in Australia, and he will be N
nable to compete with a trust N