THE GAZETTE-TDJES, HEPPNER, OREGON, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1917,
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II Having secured the service of three Skilled Decorators,
we are now prepared to do all work with neatness and
If dispatch in all parts of the county.
Address Delivered by President Barratt Before the Convention of the
Oregon Wool Growers Association at The Dalles on December 7
B B n a H B B
To the (Wipers and Members of Oregon Wool Growers: Greetings:
Fellow members of the Oregon Wool Growers: I congratulate
you today upon the success of your business during the last year, and
am pleased to announce to you this morning that, notwithstanding
the other woolgrowing stateB of the Northwest are jealous of their
reputation, the Oregon Wool Growers stand at the head of the list for
business sagacity, and Improvements in all lines for the betterment
of their business. j
' The Oregon Woolgrowers are the only ones, as a whole, to hold
their wool until after shearing, and they are being well repaid for bo
doing; and, while we have been censured somewhat by the press for
attempting to build up a home market In Portland, and have been
dubbed as greedy speculators, without souls or consciences, we deny
the allegation, and contend that all products of staple articles in War
times, at least, should not go Into the hands of manipulators, but
from the producer direct to the manufacturers; thereby eliminating
the 'Middleman, and dividing his profits between the producer and
consumer. This can only be done by adopting better methods of pre
paring your wools by classing them somewhat after tho pattern of the
Australian system, in order to meet the requirements of the manu
facturers. There are now some 15 million pounds of Oregon wool
stored In Portland, which have been so classed and are held by indi
vidual owners, not for speculation, but for the purpose of hindering
' speculation on the part of the real speculators.
Oregon staple Is quoted in Boston today at $1.80 per scoured
pound. WhyT Because It Is the best wool grown In the Northwest.
Again, why? Because Oregon Woolgrowers, from the very nature of
their cramped ranges, have kept closer to the Merino blood, and have
paid more attention to select breeding, while other woolgrowing
state have gone more into the mutton breed, and mixed their flocks
In such manner from cross-breeding that their stock now has no In
dividuality or type, and are little less than mongrels. Hence, their
wool does not now command the high standing that it once did.
The Oregon Woolgrowers are the first on record to pledge their
support and tender their wool to the government for War purposes,
which shows conclusively that we are not afraid of being robbed by
the Government in the event it did take over our wool. The fight is
on between the Grower and the Speculator, and will, 1 hope, be fought
to the bitter end, with a view of getting in closer touch with manu
facturing concerns and opening up an avenue of escape from the old
way of doing business.
And I want to go on record here and now, and I believe that I
will have your support, to suggest to the Wool Interests, In order to
stop the upward trend of wool prices in America, regardless of how
much the wool market soars, to place a price on their holdings, and
agree to sell to either Government or manufacturer, according to
shrinkage and quality, for the price established, and no more.
Then, I bellve, there Is not a Woolgrower, who is now holding
his wool, that will not comply with the same agreement, although his
wool has cost him all that he received, to raise it.
.The World is short of wool, and it is time to put a ban on further
speculation in it, and our wools should now be In the manufacturers
hands; but It Is not fair to strain at a gnat and swallow a camel It
is not fair to make a goat of the woolgrower for holding a little dab
of wool, In comparison to the hundreds of millions of pound's held in
Boston and other centers for speculation, that would net their owners
at the present prices, one hundred per cent, on most of their pur
chases; and I hope that this matter will be more fully discussed and
threshed out before this meeting comes to a close.
After some ten years of perfect freedom from scab in Eastern
Oregon, it again appeared In Morrow county last Fall, thru a ship
ment of bucks that were Infected from the Portland stockyards,
which Infected some eighteen thousand ewes, thereby causing a loss
to their owners of some fifty thousand dollars. These sheep were all
dipped thoroughly under official supervision, and cured; but scab
has, unfortunately, broken out In two other bands belonging to a
neighbor, owning an adjacent range. These sheep were, undoubted
ly, exposed in the Spring, and carried It to the mountains, where it
lay dormant until this Fall, breaking out after the first rains. They
were brought home and dipped promptly. This, however, infected
one of the main trails, which had to be closed, thereby causing great
inconvenience, and loss of stock having to travel so far around, show
ing conclusively, the great need of more trails through the Forest
Reserve. We hope that this will be the end of scab, but If it should
again break out, there should be an enforced general dipping for the
district infected next Spring.
The Livestock Sanitary Board, through the courtesy of Repre
sentative Clark, of Gilliam County, Introduced a Bill that was given
with a view to making the Scab Laws more stringent; and giving the
said Sanitary Board more power to enforce the Scab Laws. This Bill
passed, and now, by going after the parties who have so persistently
propagated scabies from year to year in the Willamette Valley and
Southern Oregon, and making more stringent rules In regard to the
disinfection of stock cars used for shipping stock to Eastern Oregon,
it should not be hard to keep scab from being brought in.
i It is unnecessary for me to go into detailed account of the Wool
growers' business for the past year, for you well know that your bus
iness is in better shape than ever before, and prices for both wool and
mutton have increased almost one hundred per cent since our last
meeting.
But, fellow members, a word of warning will not go amiss at
this time, when war is rampant throughout the world, and prices for
all commodities have advanced as much or more than the products
we are raising. We should not get Intoxicated with the wealth we
are handling, for, with money at only one-half its purchasing value,
with most of our competent help drafted Into the Army, and wages
doubled for the ones that remain, with war taxes and voluntary con
tributions constantly demanding your aid, the strictest economy
should be practiced. To the end that we may give more liberally
to the all-absorbing cause, and the mightiest problem that mankind
has ever been called upon to solve. You will call to mind that it is
just ten years since the Oregon Woolgrowers assembled in this
beautiful city, at a time when the prospects for this business were
somewhat beclouded by those periodical dark blots which have, from
time to time appeared upon the horizon, and rendered It difficult for
Bheepmen, as well as the agriculturists to guess far into the future;
at a time when panic was rampant throughout the land, and the
memorable holidays were proclaimed by Governor Chamberlain to
save the State from financial collapse.
My friends, we have again met In this city to transact our an
nual business, and to mingle again, socially, In a far different atmos
phere, financially, than at that time. For, since the year 1907, our
business has been improving, from year to year, until, in this year of
grace, nineteen hundred seventeen, it has reached beyond the dream
of expectation. So much for our condition financially; but let us not
forget that a far more serious problem confronts us today than finan
cial conditions, or business successes. President Wilson, after al
most three year3 of patient and longsuffering diplomacy, tried, in
every way possible, for the mind of man to conceive, to avert being
drawn into the terrible whirlpool of destruction, right up to the point
of having this country's honor and Flag trampled in the dust, along
with innocent American women and children murdered on the high
sea, and intrigues that threatened to shake the very foundation of
Liberty and Democracy of this country and the world, broke of diplo
matic relations with the enemy of freedom and declared war, and
threw in our lot with the nations who were fighting for Liberty and
Humanity, so dearly prized by all American institutions.
We are. about to plunge the flower of American manhood into
the vortex of that awful universal struggle. Let us remember that
we have a duty to perform to tho boys who will go to give their lives
by the thousands, in order that we may live in this land of peace and
plenty. We who have passed the age of active service can look back
i thru the years that have passed, and must say that, when compared
with the struggles of our forefathers, we have been blessed by our lots
being cast In the most luxuriant and peaceful period that the world
has ever known. Shall we allow our boys to go and fight and endure
hardships worse than death in order to maintain for us a condition
that exists today? And not do our part in every way possible to
brace them up for that gigantic struggle of physical endurance which
they must undergo? No, no, my friends, we must give the boyB at
least a chance for their lives, that are sweet to all of us. By going
down deep Into our coffers, and give and give and give, and then
give some more. Make all of the money we can from our legitimate
business. We are entitled to It, from a business standpoint; but let
our business be a secondary consideration, as against the soldier or
sailor who is fighting our battles. They are the ones who will have to
bare their breasts, and act as the bulwark to stem the tide of battle
which has been ebbing and flowing for the past three years amoag
tho nations of Europe. They are the ones that must now throw in
their lot and fill up the gaps of our brave allies who have been fight
ing and dying to uphold and maintain the same principles that the
founders of this country upheld, when they uttered those famous and
world-renowned words, "Give us Liberty, or give us Death."
My friends, the time has now come, and history is going to re
peat itself, only on a more gigantic scale. The peace-loving nations
of the world for the past forty years have been sleeping by the way
side or following the byways of least resistance, while an Octupus
has grown up in their midst In the form of a military organization,
whose tentacles have spread throughout the length and breadth of
the world. The brains of which have ever been active In conceiving,
and are now carrying out the most diabolical cruelty that has ever
been recorded in the world's history. The hand of 'which has ever
been at the throttle of their political machinery, to the end that they
may carry out the all-absorbing dream of world power; the eye of
which has never slept in order that they may not have overlooked the
shortcomings and unpreparedness of the subject of their prey.
Fellow citizens, the time has come, and, in my estimation, is
long overdue, for every loyal citizen of this nation to wake up to the
enormity of his obligation to this country, whether he be foreign
born or otherwise. The time has come for every man to begin to en
quire into the character and standing of the "other fellow." The
time has come for every man to find out who he is for, and who
against. And, while every man is presumed to be innocent until he
is found guilty, the papers, by, their daily reports, constantly tell us
of the depradation and destruction of valuable property so sadly
needed in these times of stress, which would Indicate that the ene
mies of this country have not all been rounded up. And the man, or
body of men, who willfully, by word or deed, attempts to obstruct,
or hinder, the work or plans now being carried out by this Nation to
the end that the war may be brought to a successful termination, is
a tool of our enemy and a traitor to the country which feeds him, re
gardless of whether he be a man high up In the political scale or in (
the lowly walks of life. This is the time for men with good red
blood In their veins 'to support no man with their vote, whether he be
of their political faith or not, who is a light-weight or cheap politi
cian. But on the other hand, if the men who are now In high com
mand are men who have made good, and shown by their administra
tion of affairs In these critical times that they are men of force, keep
them there, for its poor .policy to swap horses in the middle of the
stream. But we should weed out the lightweights, and put men In
office who are willing to give their time, money and life, if need be, in
order to back up this Government, the Nation and the Flag.
- During the last six months, I have had the honor to go out and
solicit funds for several worthy causes, such as for the Red Cross, Y.
M. C. A., and such like. And, while the people of Oregon in the main
are liberal to the core, I am sorry to say that I have met with some
who are not doing their bit. Men who, it would seem by their ac
tions, would rather see this country defeated, and pay tribute to for
eign power, if It would be the means of saving them from parting
from their almighty dollar. Such people are an abomination and a
blight to the country in which they live. I am proud to say, however,
this does not apply to the Woolgrower.
While the world, at the present time, Is out of joint, and all
Europe and parts of Asia are suffering, bleeding and dying from the
terrible scourge of war, and America is soon to be in mourning for
her sons who will never come back; yet it is my belief that, In the
end, much good will come out of it all. In the first place, it Is going
to be the means of putting down the mighty autocrats from the po
sitions of power, and replace them with men imbued with a spirit of
humanity and justice. It Is going to emancipate the Christian Ar
menians, whose blood has been crying to heaven for the last twenty
five years, and liberate them from the tortures and sufferings they
have undergone from the diabolical Turks. It is going to adjust the
the differences of Poland and other small nations, who have been
held in bondage, under iron rule. And, although the present state of
Russia looks dark and forbidding, she will emerge thru the course
of time to be a republic that will be a credit to the world. Little Bel
gium will be recompensed and reinstated with honor and thanks from
the whole world for the noble and heroic stand that she made to stem
the tide of Invasion; likewise, that littleEmerald Isle, so dearly loved
and sung about, will surely come into its own. And, last, but not
least, It is going to be the means of forging a chain across the mighty
ocean, the links of which will never be broken, that will bind the
peace-loving people of the Old World and the New in that bond of
fellowship to tho end that men will not live for self alone, and by so
doing, will hasten the time that it is said will surely come, to-wit:
The fellowship of God and the brotherhood of man.
Now, friends, I know that this is not much like an address that
might be expected at a meeting of this kind, and it is not intended as
such; for your business is in a flourishing condition, and, with care
and economy, will stand alone; and I take it for granted that every
sheepman subscribes for the National Woolgrower. Such being the
case, he will find within its pages more Information pertaining to his
business than anything that I can supply. Its articles are Interesting
and reliable down to the last page in the last Issue, stating that it is
out of debt, owned by the woolgrowers of this country, edited and
managed by Dr. McClure.
While human life is uncertain in these days, I am sorry to an
nounce the taking away of at least one member of this association,
Brother Geo. Perry, a pioneer of Eastern Oregon, and a Woolgrower
of long standing. George was a man who most of you knew and were
glad to meet, because of his genial and goodnatured disposition, his
glad hand of fellowship will be missed from our streets, which serves
to remind us that we are all on the border-line of that undiscovered
country, whence borne no traveler returns.
And now, fellow-members, the meeting is yours. You have as
sembled to do your annual business, and adjust your grievances, if
you have any. And, while this meeting like any other meeting must
be governed by certain rules in order that it may be successful, every
member here is entitled to the floor, and 1b cordially invited to voice
his sentiments on any subject that may be brought up. During my
Incumbency in this office It has been my pleasure to serve you in my
humble way, and while I have not been called upon to do any arduous
' duties, owing, no doubt, to changed conditions, I feel that this Asso
ciation's membership roll is not increasing fast enough in comparison
to the wealth that it represents, and every effort should be made dur
ing the coming year to build up a stronger organization, so that Ore
gon wool, and Oregon woolgrowers should have stronger representa
tion In any emergency or propaganda that may appear.
. Thanking you, one and all, for the honor that you have confer
red, and for the support that you have given me for the past two
years, I respectfully submit this report for your consideration, and in
conclusion, would again admonish you to stand by your army and
navy, for on them depends the hope of vldtory. Stand by the Presi
dent and his associates In command, if they be men of force, for they
will be called upon to sweat drops of blood In order to meet and cope
with the issue of the times. Stand by the Red Cross and every other
worthy cause that will help to keep the home fires burning for the
boys on foreisn soil; and last but not least, stand by your COUNTRY
and also by your FLAG!
The Flag that's First and Last and Best,
Whose Stars ascended in the West.
Where'er It floats, sweet Freedom roams,
And spells Protection to our Homes.
It sheds Its light of Freedom through
The Stars assembled on the Blue,
And blazing glory marks the stripes,
Reflected in the Northern Lights.
This Flag now floats above the guns
Intrusted to Columbia's sons.
For Freedom's cause, again, once more,
Will brave the withering blasts of War.
Then do your duty, with your might,
To keep it floating for the Right
On land or sea. When once unfurled
Brings Liberty to all the World.
Upbuilding Industry
T is the policy of the Farmers & Stockgrowers
1 National Bank to fit in with and lend co-operation
wherever and whenever it is consistent
with good business and safe banking to do so. To
farmers and stockgrowers particularly, we believe
such a financial connection will appeal.
, No matter the Ue of that
account we hall appre
ciate it.
FARMERS & STOCKGROWERS
NATIONAL BANK
Heppner
Oregon
Irrigon Jonathan Apples
Can be had at all leading
grocers in the county.
Try Irrigon Cider
Surpasses all qualities of
the "real stuff "--except
the "kick."
La Doble Fruit Farm
L. A. DOBLE & SON, Irrigon, Oregon.
ItHS yL. ower cost
Jfltl iJI r, Cm. uv Less furnace heat
V 1lS31 I SW'Vl needed fewer grate J
T iL jfK 9j. " and coal-stove fires. ii
1 1 S $ !S-s Portable. Fuel con- a
tW VVhEATi umeon'ywhenheat v
m iiiiL,,- Jii, EHrTH ' neec'ec' no waste M
pflj PEARI I STANDARD OIL JT
vhCZ ' 2 COMPANY M 1
Bg"SgV. xhw. (California) CmmmJk
PERFECTION
OIL HEATER
FOR SALE BY
GILLIAM & BISBEE
General Hardware Dealers, Heppner
MT. HOOD ICE CREAM
Pure -:- Delicious -:- Refreshing
Something Special Every Sunday
ALL SOFT DRINKS SERVED HERE
THE VERY BEST
THE PALM
LOWNEY'S CHOCOLATES BEST CANDIES
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