The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-12-16

Ao oSeioh VI Gu5 DOQV
OF coal operators which met in this city
on Thursday and denounced that pro-
vision Of the Wilson bill which will be
submitted TO the House of Representa-
tives on Tuesday next. which places
soft coal on the free list, will doubtless
have marked effect upon those men
when they are called upon to take a
final vote upon the bill. 1t will serve
as protest No. 2 in the series of denun-
ciatory interviews and comments which
The TIMES is making publ; against the
adoption OF these provisions of that BILL
Coupled with the statement of Presi.
dent Matson, Of the Pocahontas Coal
Company, which was published few
days ago, the action Of the operators as
serts in n 20 uncertain language the gem
eral feeling OF opposition to these pro-
visions, which will work great injury to
the interests Of this most important in.
dustry.
But the dissatisfaction does not arise
from the coal operators alone. Iron ore,
salt and lumber are also placed on the
tree list and the duty on pig iron re.
duced to the in igniicant rate of 22&
per cent. In these provisions the peo-
pie OF this section Ut Virginia and West
Virginia as we'll as the whole South
have great cause to protest against this
determination which is IN ade upon the
leading industries and establishments
which nave but recently been placed in
operation in the South Representing
az they do millions Of dollars invested
the plants, with bright prospects ahead
for their being placed upon good paw
niG irfr 1f,r,
thousands OF men at good wages; such
discrimination is considered to be un-
called for and contra to the expressed
principles of the Democratic party to
which almost every operator in the solid
South still holds allegiance.
IIIE TIMES is able To present 20 day
letter from Vice President w. c. Built,
OF tho Norfolk and Western railroad,
and man who has done much to aid
and promote tho development of the
natural resources OF this section OF tho
country. Mr.. Bullitt, in his business
relations in this city in connection with
this great trunk railroad and it's kindred
interests all along the line, has had an
opportunity to gather large NUN Der OF
facts concerning the important in
dustries which are situated in this
vicinity, and Is able, as far as possible,
to foresee the disastrous effects which
the proposed legislation, as provided for
by the Wilson measure, would have
Mr.. Bullltt has recently written to q
large number OF promine mt business men
in this State and West Virginia letters
which state his views upon the proposed
tariff legislation, and in which he ex-
presses the wish that cordial CO opera.
tion Of their energies may be exerted
against the passage in Congress of tho
Wilson bill as it now stands.
The following is a copy of one of the
letters sent out:
"NoRFoI.K AND WESTERN RAILROAD
COMPANY,
"RoANOKE, Va, Dec. ~, 1893.
"DEAR SIR You are aware that the
proposed tariff legislation, known as
the Wilson bill, places coal, lumber,
iron ore and salt on the free list and
greatly lowers the duties on pig iron
and agricultural products AS TO all of
these Virginia and West Virginia are
specially concerned.
"These States now produce chiefly
raw materials, and their output must
be fostered and continued if we are to
expect hereafter to SEQ established the
varied finishing industries which should
naturally follow and give to US a home
manufacturing market.
knowing your interest in the de-
velopment and extension of business in
the territory traversel by our line,
would ask your cordial co operation in
bringing influence to bear upon your
represe natives in the Congress Of the
United States, protesting against the
changes which are proposed in the
duties on these articles.
The greater portion of these products
necessarily find their markets in the
North and kast, which markets would
De invaded by foreign u aterial from
nova Scotia, Canada and Great Britain,
thus restricting the business oppor.
tunlties of all who are interested in de-
Veloping tho resources OF this section OF
the country.
May l ask that you exert your in
huence to Illustrate this measure bv
writing strong protests to the United
States Senators and memb ers of Con
gress representing the district in which
you are operating and also to those rep.
resenting your home district also bv
requesting your representatives in the
State legislature to unite their in.
huence in opposition to the bill. You
should also urge your friends and neigh
oors, who are all vitality interested in
THIS question, to take similar action. I6
Is only by prompt and united effort
that serious injury to tho development
of our State can be averted.
The injustice of the proposed changes
lies not only in the fact that they will
lnJure the South for the benefit of New
England, but also in that the articles
winch have enumerated represent in
labor from rs to So per cent. of the
selling value, and labor, both as TO
wages and employment, will be the
chief sufferer.