The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-04-07
HOME TRADING.
tions for Building Up
V City's Industries.
ecTloN OR FREE TRADE.


70 b4ke V0It IN inc e1&cud3lO0 - 10
nqans Of strengthening seattle's posi-
manufacturing center. The debate
10 the old line Of free trade and pro-
Is IA Arguments were uDrolled at length
~ question whether men should buy
4 flkh prices when they could buy more
Il rt6lscWhere. DR.. Samuel w. Ramsey
81 frpo trade battalions and insisted
uanufscturers here could be best
IS "a b putting them on their nerve and
nunifng them when they undersoid
1enAtor j. II. Frink mayshalled the
s lonists and sounded the slogan for
d Seattle through thick and
g ~ p9fccs or low prices, undertaking or
1lIne Mr.. George II. Hebron took the
s. ground between these extremes and de-
f1lat certain reasonable limits existed be-
s. - uhieh the city aud the individual a.
MD discriminate In favor OF Seattle, and
her merchants and manufacturers
= 8 nmewhat higher prices. Mr.. Herman
g thcuyht steps should be taken to reduce
"a water and freight rates in order to put
49, rnnfncfurcrs on the best footing possible,
~ lSn icy could sell at low prices
~ 1osult Of this conflict of views the follow
e jnroluliops were adopted:
E y ofced That this chamber earnestly desires
800 s. The extension Of the manufacturing
|*51gGm Of this city, aad to that end
"a call the attention OF tho oficers
ri Ill municipality, the business men and
s ~ generally to the diversity OF the manu-
hing industries OF Seattle and would
Nv rccomrnend that before making pur-
- ID their various interests to make q
1oeh canvass Of our different manufactures
7 ~ send their orders abroad, but patronize
en- Industries; and be It further
ensp1psd, That the purchases made BY the
= Sc eeattle for municipal and internal public
osemenf should be always purchased ct
/: - when possible; and be It further
s1cvolrod That the board OF trustees Be re-
64ed 70 name committee whose duty II
d 81 b to make study OF the ways and means
NJ encoursgc manufactures, and especially to
81 Il reduction cannot be made In water
& ~ and In tsxex"
~ discussion began with Secretary j. W.
nulfs's reading Of the resolution by the board
& 4 trustees asking representative Of each of
- 20 factories IN the city to at
md the meeting and help devise
neans for building up homo industries.
4hen Nj. r. r. Whittier read several communities
I 1lms from the labor unions OF the city. The
INT, from Iron Molden' Union, No. is,
ooe1stary declared that nine-tenths of
u iron used In this city il
nanufactured elsewhere, suggested that all city
and county work be confined to the state; asks
dat al franchises for street car lines be granted
On condition that the material be manufactured
60 far a. practicable Ia the state.
letter from H. B. Dress, cabinet maker, set
forth that Of tho bank and bar fixtures about 20
per cent. Is made 1t home. The letter
continued: "Ouly : few days ago we
found In IN evening paper an article
referring to homo industries, when the
same day contract for fixtures was let out of
the city b. the owner Of that establishment, In
volving t300o0 b e41,O00, that would give en-
ploymcut - mechanics for months"
The Mill mems union made complaint that
the California state penitentiary was supplying
eashs, doors and blinds at ruinously low
pGices
Aitorsevefal other letters OF similar charac.
krkgk bsen read, Mr.. Herman Chaplin remarked
MT when he was building the Boston block he
lound II impossible to get good pressed brick
md hard to get iron.
NJ. william N. Calhoun told OF the plant the
lase4 sound Fire Clay Company had erected
s 0eth Of the city.
Then the debate began in earnest when DR.
3amsey declared he would patronize
Aome industries when such patronage
~ to his advantage and he would go elsewhere
When his advantage lay in going elsewhere
: % he offered resolutions much like the first
past Of those finally adopted, except that they
psovided for the patronage of homo industries
ss(her things being equal"
) ". Abe Spring asserted that this was too
0a4-blcoded. To encourage an industry. he
& I'D, you must have patience and nurse IL in
sssaof kicking it aud trampling ON it while il
t1eak.
n Ramsey retortcd that to buy where you
0nld buy cheapest was the only way for the in
Qsidnal or the corporation to succeed.
ii. C. B. Smith held that one great trouble
~ the outrageous wages asked by the labor
lions, especially since the fire. He instanced
1eskmen on fine woodworking and other finish
fxA A..r1 - - a
Mlce q much as in the East, and blamed the
thcr unions for high prices
u. Edwin Londerbach. president of the Me-
eAanics' Mill and Lumber Company, corrobor-
~ the statement in regard to wages.
NJ. Z. r. Nicsz came out for protection, say
ms that 10 pay more for goods made here was
BOT weak sympathy but patiotism for the city.
NJ. Walter +. Cushing. secretary of the Typo
eapkical Union. complained that Job work,
which could just as well be done here, wa
oeni away.
Then Senator Fr:nk came ont hat-foo.ed for
!sosection. He believed in ps.ronixing home
Industries regardless of cost.
Or. Ramsey was sure that such words could
nevef be meant in earnest. The right way to get
along was TO buy cheap and sell high: but ia
guy high and sell cheap meant business ruin.
NJ. Hebron was of opinion that if the indi-
udual should go out of seattle TO buy chcaply
NV AAty ShtSiAiliSHk sUcQiu up tait SaIlS
ming. II, for example, the Lake Union sewer
mnnei could be built of home brick
instead OF imported cement, the money for the
NICK would come back into the home banks and
iefm part OF the eity's capital for new
0sesprisc. But there is u reasonable limit oil
slaefence in prices within which the city gov.
dnment and the individual ms well should dis,
alninatc in favor CT the home industry.
NJ Chaplin suggested the announcement al
1snufacturers by giving a rebate of taxes or by
szsiag, as had been proposed some months
~ company to supply capital for new com
naies
Then DR.. Ramscy's resolutions were amended
MI. Whittier and Mr.. Chaplin, and finally
pmsed.
a the suggestion OF Major James r, Hayden,
Wtae harhor line committee, the committee
rs directed TO use efforts TO effect a
sempromise on the suit now pending against
- narhor line commission in order that the
uE harbor strip may be settled.
ne chamber accepted an invitation to visi.
Albert Braun brewery, starting from here q;
eseoek Saturday afternoon.
A. John Collins. Mr. J. X. Edmiston and Mr..
!. Marble were elected active members
II Thomas W. Prosch reported q plan for
rsanS ny auction the stock of members who
sw not paid the last assessment on their
HARBoR LINE CASES.