The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1921-06-17
THE WOOL INDUSTRY

IL w" iNSbNi VI yin 4 itS
National Bank of Boston, giving an
account of industrial conditions, con-
tains this remark in discussing the
wool situation, "The probable effect
of the emergency tariff appears to
have been fairly well discounted and
no change of any moment in the mar
ket is expected" The information is
also given that heavy foreign buying
has been already done on American
account and there have been heavy
i~mportations of clothing woods.
This statement emphasizes the in
jury done to the American wool in
dustry by the Democratic free trade
policy. 1t is estimated that there is
now on hand in the wooden stocks of
the world a quantity amounting to
nearly a two years normal supply.
Naturally when there is a prospect of
the reenactment of a protective tariff
law wool users make large importa-
lions of foreign woods which they can
buy for less than the cost of produc-
ton in the United States.
The Democratic party enacted the
law of 1918 over the protest of Re-
publicans. 1t enacted the law over the
protest of American wool growers.
During the war which acted as an en-
barge on importations and created
an abnormal market for wool pro-
ducts, the American producer felt no
injury because of the lack of protec-
ton on his product. But since the
Armistice was signed and the enor-
nous demand for wool for war pur-
poses ended, all of the cheap wool pro-
ducing countries have been shipping
their surplus to the United States thus
not only cutting the price the Amer
lean producer could receive but de-
priving him ever of the opportunity
to sell his wool at any price.
The Democratic party not only de-
prived the American farmer of the
advantage of an import tax on wool
but when the war was over and it was
apparent that there would be a flood
of importations the majority of Demo-
Gratis in Congress opposed the emer-
gency tariff bill and President Wilson
vetoed that measure thus p~ostponing
the time when a measure of protec-
ton should be restored.
1t is admitted by all that the emer-
gency tariff law is not a scientific
tariff measure. 1t does not attempt
to establihs the system of protection
necessary for the upbuilding of all
American industry. 1t is merely an
attempt to secure at an early date
protection for that industry-agricul-
ture-which vas the first to suffe,
the reaction from war conditions anC
which will probably be found to suf.
fer the most severely. The news from
Boston contains the information thai
"Thus far very little wool has beer
pouSLI - tHe west. Inc DuyllS ma
Deen oone largely in Australia anC
South America while the Western
American wool grower, or his banker
holds the American product in a ware
house and creditors are cons. s"nntly
unable to collect the obligations due
them from the grower of American
wool.
All of this presents a deplorable sit.
uation. What is true of the wool in.
dustries upon which the prosperity OF
the United States depends. The facts
are stated not for the purpose OF
painting an unpleasant picture but il
order to impress upon the minds OF
the people of the country the import.
ant truth that this situation is due al.
most entirely to the folly of the Dem.
ocratic party in placing the United
States on practically a free trade
basis so that American none is SEN
abroad for the purchase of foreign
commodities at less than cost of pro.
duction at home. 1t will probably be
a Png, long time before the American
people will forget the results of eight
years of Democratic rule. Certainly
the wool growers who are going
through the present crisis will neve,
forget.
Eha RaASaxolt Hau Lotion IA aa4