The people's voice. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1939-1969, 1946-02-01
Wheeler Absentee
(Continued from Page One)


Anyway, according to my informa
ton, there isn't ONE BILLION pounds
of British wool in America, and the
senator's further statement, as quoted
by my paper, that Australia, New Zea-
land and South Africa depend upon
Britain to market their wool is just
plain balderdash
Wheeler is further quoted as saying,
"In my judgment, an adequate tariff
provides a simple and direct means
of protecting and preserving the Amer
lean market for American woolgrow-
ers." Unless Wheeler's memory is
very short or he is shockingly igno-
rant, he knows that woolgrowers mar
keted their product in 1882 under the
Smoot-Hawley tariff act, conceded by
all who know any tariff history, to be
the highest tariff ever enacted in this
country. Yet average prices of wool
in 1882, under this adequate tariff F"
were less than nine cents per pound
Here are present prices as reported
by A.P. to Great Falls Tribune. New
York, Jan. H. 1946-Boston buying
rallied wool futures. Closed &c high
er; October, 969; December $50. Ger
titled wool, spot 96.5, normal. Futures
for March, 1890, etc.
Here is an article which | think
accidentally got into my A.C.M. paper
Sunday, Jan. 90 1916, headlines and
all land from the Associated Press,
at that. Wool expert says suit mate
II in mi
Salt Lake City, Utah, James A.
Hopper, secretary of the Utah Wool |
growers associations, says lack of |
wool and high prices are not contrib
uting to the scarcity of mems suits.
Hopper said there is a burdensome |
supply of domestic wool in storage in
the United States and not more than
S. worth of wool is used in the manu-
facture of any suit, even if it cost 500 |
to market it."
Well, Senator Wheeler says he lis |
opposed to subsidies; nevertheless, |
he advocates protective tariffs" If |
he, or any of his Republican friends
can prove that a protective tariff"
is not a subsidy, I'll vote for his re-
senator?
In 1881, when Wheeler had been
in the senate about eight years, and
still had the reputation of being a lib
eral Drew Pearson and Robert S.
Allen wrote a book, the title of which
was Washington Merry-Go-Round."
This book was a keen and penetrating
Of 4
in Washington at the time, pointing
out their virtues, their vanities and
their foibles, both socially and politi-
cally. Pearson and Allen were very
friendly with Wheeler and paid him
some very high compliments. Hav
ing copy of Washington MerryGo-
Round before me, I'll quote as follows:
of Senator Burton X. Wheeler, of
Montana, were more industrious and
energetic, he could be one of the really
great figures in American public life.
AS it is, he is one of the ablest and
most forceful men in the senate. But
he doesn't begin to do the work that
he is capable of and which his excep-
tional talents should inspire him to
Nv .iiS hdS TIC |
is charming of personality and has a
pleasing appearance -. But he is lazy.
He rarely prepares himself for fight,
depending upon his sharpness of wit,
and upon his friends, particularly the
to supply him with in
ormation. They do so eagerly
'ut he could do infinitely more effec-
i've work if he would only apply him
elf personally to preparation"
If Wheeler is to be judged by the !