The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1929-07-05

S~.AAA viz Ae'A 6SSb uSpOSlIS OF Doth
metals. There is a deposit of
chromite which begins near Nc
Leod, Sweet Grass county, and ex-
tends through the south half of
Saltwater county as far east as
Fishtail creek, a distance of Some
n miles. This is said to be the
largest deposit in the United
States. Manganese deposits are
largest in Silver Bow county in the
Butte section. The u. S. Geologi-
cal Survey has pronounced this de-
post to be the most valuable in
the country.
Those at all familiar with con-
dltions in Montana need not be told
who it is that controls this region
or for that matter any mining
region in Montana.
About $50 of the manganese
used in the United States has hith-
erto been imported. The chief pro-
ducing countries are Russia and In
dla. The steel trust wants the ma
terial to come in free and has thus
far naturally had its way. But adj
ministration officials and military
officers, it is understood, have he
come a bit fearful of the future.
uncle Sam is running headlong, as
everyone should know, for a merry
little war with Great Britain. IN
dla may not always be available
as source. AS for Russia, those
bold bad Bolsheviks are even less
dependable. 1t appear then that
someone passed the word for a
duty on manganese and chromite.
Just who, is not known since the
House Committee held its hearings
behind closed doors. Perhap Walsh
or Wheeler! But in any event the
result was surprise even to the
all knowing Reed.
This is the background of the
fight by the Anaconda to secure a
duty on manganese of which its of
tlclals claim there are several mil
lions of tons in the Butte district.
What this would mean to the COM
pany is not hard to see. This ex-
plains the antics of the two Sena-
torial Jumping Jacks from Mon
tana.
In the meantime, irony of fate,
manganese has been discovered to
be one of the most valuable fer
tilizers Of the soil. Experiments bv
the Department of Agriculture
have shown that the metal in small
quantities is necessary for the de-
velopments of all plants and if pro-
perly used may revolutionize the
fertilization Of crops. Manganese
can be imported for about one
third the cost the Anaconda ex-
poets to secure, and thus mangan-
csc becomes suddenly one of the
vital issue Of farm relief.
Hard indeed are the trial Of a
Senator from a farm section
whose clients own manganese
mines. Thus we come back to the
distinguished Thomas J. Walsh. He
is making a great fight for the
farmers and against the "extor-
tionate" exactions of the new tar
iff bill. He is fighting to support
the Borah resolution. He is op-
posed to all tariff increases-except
for his own state. He is willing to
postpone even these if he can be
assured of them later! Now, it is
the farmers turn, he cries with
crocodile tears in behalf of the
resolution which he knows can new
er pass. He asks you to take note
of his great sacrifice in not press
ing his claims Immediately:
"Mr. President am subjected
to all manner of opportunities
from my state, from those deeply
interested in chrome and mangan-
csc, which the Senator from Penn
sylvania says we cannot have be-
cause that would increase the cost
of producing teel; but l am unwill-
ing at this special session of Con-
gress to support proposal to go
into the general revision of the
tariff in order to get duty
on chrome and manganese, howev-
er important they may be to our
state, and they are vastly import
ant, because our state promises to
become the great producer of these
commodities. l am perfectly con-
tent to allow that matter to await
action at a general session Of Con-
gress seeing that they have waited
for adequate encouragement during
all these years."
Could anything be fairer on the
part of the representative of the
farmers
Only a moment before, stressing
the Importance of manganese, SEN
ator Walsh had pointed out that on
a recent trip to Florida it had
been shown to him that manganese
was being used as farm fertiliz-
er. 1t had become of vital concern
to the farmers, he said. One might
suppose that this would be the best
reason to oppose any tariff on the
commodity of which $50 is now
imported from abroad. One might
further suppose that Democrat of
attainments, would fight in princi-
pie to the bitter end against any
"extortionate" tariff exactions.
Yes, in principle, but not when
the Anaconda is involved.
You have said a mouthful, as the
saying goes, Mr.. Walsh. You, too,
Mr.. Wheeler, by your silence you
have said no less.
You will have some explaining to
do, gentlemen of the Anaconda.
New high school is assured for
Turner.