AMERICAN WOOL PRODUCERS

Press, Volume L, Issue 14903, 17 February 1914, Page 5

AMERICAN WOOL PRODUCERS

MORE SCIENTIFIC METHODS

URGED

(FnOM OTJR OWN* COBHESPON-ENT.) SAN FRANCISCO, January 18

The wool-growers of America are not going to give up tho ghost because of the removal of the Customs duty from the raw product by tlie Democratic Administration. The National AA T ool-Grow-ers' Association has recently been in convention, and although the members naturally displayed keen resentment against tlie Democrats the general opinion was that they should endeavour to compete witla tho foreign sheep-raisers by adopting more scientific methods, holding the hone that at the next' election the Democrats would bo defeated and the duty restored. One well-known sheep man, J. E. Cosgrift, of Salt Lake, said he believed tho wool-growing industry not only would survive under the free wool schedule, but would compete successfully with the world's markets. To do this, he said, co-operation in marketing, and the introduction of improved methods would be necessary. He announced that at his own expense ho had contracted for an Australian wool-growing expert to spend a year in this country showing the advanced methods practised in Australia. Steps to 'eliminate the commission man in tho sale of wool were advocated by several speakers. Frank R. Gooding, former Governor of the State of Idaho, declared that tho pi'oducer was receiving scant consideration, and unless tho influence of selfish manufacturing interests wero curbed they would destroy the nation. President AA'ilson, who is rightly regarded as tho author of free raw wool, was roundly criticised by the wool-growers. S. AY. McClure, the secretary of the association, remarked: "The sheep man made the mistake of assuming that his industry was legitimate, when Mr AA'ilson stated that no legitimate industry would be injured by a Democratic Administration."