The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-10-27

Col. GrigEs Tells whv Washington Lum-
bermen Can't Compete With Canada.

Col. GrIgcs Tells Whv Wash in ton Lum-
bermen Can't Compete with Canada
The Tacoma Ledger publishes an author
ICED interview with Col. Chauncey W.
Griggs, Democratic caucus candidate for
senator in the last Legislature, from which
the following is an extract:
whats the matter: are the Canadian
iumbermen giving you pretty close COM
petition 2 the reporter asked.
They are preparing TO open offices in
California, and propose to compete with
OF cheap labor, they will be able TO shave
prices, Mr.. Griggs replied.
''As a plain matter of business, could
you compete successfully with Canadian
lumbermen, on a free trade basis, without
reducing the wages OF your employees?
Most assuredly we could not. The
Canadian mills are ali run by Chinese. ex-
uniform wages Of IS cents day. The
lowest wage we pay Is $3.50 a day, and
from that up to s.. the average is about
81 The principal cost of our lumber or
any lumber is in the labor. 1t is nothing
less than absurd, nonsensical, to suppose
that We could compete with the Canadians
without cutting wages in accordance with
the expense of producing lumber IN Can
ada. That is all there is about il, and no
body can refute it."
why, then. do such men as you allow
the Democratic party, even OF this state,
to commit itself TO FREQ raw materials,
which include lumber?'
81 never try to influence the Demo-
cratic party. except so far as my individ-
ual membership entities me. Free trade,
though, will not do. Why the Canadians
can now. under the reductions that have
been made IN the tariff schedule, come to
Washington, buy their logs, tow them to
their mills, saw them into lumber with
their Chinese help. and ship the lumber
right back here and put IL on the market
at as low figure as we possibly can quote,
with wages as they aref
"How many men do you employH
I'VE have 225 in the mill and l75 out In
the woods"
And are all OF your company Demo-
Gratis in the face of such conditions ?"
20, no: Mr.. Norton. Mr.. Hewitt, Mr..
Browne and Mr.. Foster are Republicans.
They are strong ones, too"
Percy ID. Norton. the vice president of
the company. Was the first person he re-
ferred to, and Mr.. Norton was right there,
in the mill company's Office. When Mr..
Griggs mentioned that they were Republi-
cans, and strong ones. too. Mr.. Norton
took 10 up You can bet on it we are Re-
pablieans, he said. land stronger ones
than ever. Just put that down as q dead
certainty in this campaign"
A bright smile crept over Mr.. Griggs'
countenance at this sally.
Remember. l am a Democrat" the
colonel continued. II simply am not in
politics this year"
THAT may lie. but you are not a free
trade Democrat. are your"
Free trade is utterly impracticable and
would he ruiuous. We must have some
kind of protection against foreigners.
4 hat is settled in my mind and in the
minds Of all practical men"
'As man of practical experiences, what
Is Your unbiased judgment about tariff
duties aud protection 2"
81 believe that our tariff should be lev
led tor revenue purposes only. with q view
20 protecting those interests which will be
helpful 10 the people,"