The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-12-21
THE CHAMBER or COMMERCE.

resolasson n.s bees introduced In the
board Of trustees of the Seattle Chamber Of
Commerce protesting sgz5ns. the placing
Ct coal and iunber On the free Isl. rs il
proposed hy the Wilson bill
The introduction Of this resolution pre-
esyasase4 an animated discussion and It's
adoption vas oppressed on the ground that
the resolution was political in its nature
and therefore not proper suhiecs for dis
enssson In q purely business body ike tbs
Chamber Of Commerce.
Is was pointed oEs. however, by Mr. ID.
H Gilman, one Of the Democratic MEM
bern Of the board, that the object Of the
resolution was not 70 make political capt.
tai for any party. but 70 protect the brsi-
Of Washington. Fit can be demonstrated
that the interests Of the state will suffer By
placing coal and lumber on the free list,
then tie position taken by Mr.. Gilman Ia
impregnabIe.
The Chamber Of Commerce was organ
lied 20 promote the commercial and b1.i-
meas interests Of the city. and II these In
terests appear TO be threatened 10 10 not
only the right of the chamber. bat il is
their duty to enter . vigorous protest.
AS matter Of fact every locality in the
country Is on tbs alert to protect their
own material interests regardless OF the
political considerations involved Even In
the soath the opposition 70 different pro-
visions of the proposed tariff bill is daily
becoming mora pronounced, and CONNER
ciai bodies. regardless Of politics. ars TAX
Ing active steps 10 protect themselves.
President KimbalI. Of the Norfolk 4
Western railroad. In q letter to the Manu-
Jfacturers' Record. says regarding the bill:
The principal products Of Virginia and
West Virginia are coal, lumber, iron ore,
salt and pig IRON The proposed placing
them on the tree list will, In my opinion,
result most disastrously to the interests of
the people of those states. The practical
effect Of placing coal and iron ore on the
free list viii be to drive the labor of this
county now engaged In their production
and handling out Of employment"
Gen. Basil Duke. of Kentucky, q promi-
erai. declares that free coal would seriously
iniurs the Industrial interests of the
South. The Commercial Club. of Birming-
ham. Ala, representing the business men
Of that city; the vice president OF the Ten
nessee Coal, Iron and Railroad Company,
and the Miner q Kestig Company, all of
Birmingham, make m earnest protest
against the removal Of duties on ore and
coal. They claim that no reduction can be
made from the present prices except at a
severe loss or by . cut of so per cent. IN
wages.
Representative Charles d. Haines, OF
New York. declares he will oppose the
Wilson tariff bill. Mr.. Hsines il a Demo-
crat. but he refuses to acauicsce in the de-
s;ruction Of the industries upon which the
welfare of his constituents depends. He
recognizes the fact that no party principle
Ii involved In Mr.. Wilson's proposals and
that he is therefore free to obey the de-
mands OF those whom he represents In
stead Of submitting {, the preferences of
Washington City experimentalists.
And so it goes throughout the country.
The people are looking IT this entire ques-
ton from the standpoint of business aud
not Of politics. II IL can be demonstrated
that free coal and free lumber would throw
thousands of men ont of employment in
the state OF Washington and close up our
mills and coal mines there certainly can
be no IMPROPERLY in the Chamber of Com
merce doing what il can to avers .ba
threatened danger