Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-11-01
Tariff Reform Did II.

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An interesting contribution to the
testimony on the result Of the Wilson
tariff bill is found in some editorial
correspondence Of the Chicago Record.
Democratic, from Washington state, Of
Oct. 20. Speaking Of the effect OF
the new law on some Of the towns Of
that section it speaks particularly Of
fairhaven, place which many Abb
lene people know either personally or
by reputation. A year ago a num-
Der Of millionaires prepared to build
furnaces, iron mills and develope the
coal and iron interests Of that section,
considering it a remarkably good
opening for a prosperous town with
many natural advantages. The cor
respondent continues:
A few months later saw men,
Der Of the party in Washington and
asked how the Fairhaven enterprises
we're getting on.
"All gone to - was his some
what startling reply.
"How's thatP" l asked.
"The blank, blankety, blankety,
blank tariff! Do you suppose we are
going to buy coal and iron mines and
build furnaces and factories while
congress is passing laws that make it
impossible to run them? Under the
Wilson bill the Canadians can sell
coal and lumber in Fairhaven cheap
or than we mine and cut it there,
simply because they pay rs cents a
day for Chinese labor and we pay 50
to white men,"
One Of my motives for coming to
Fairhaven was to see how true that
prophecy had been and to witness the
effect Of the new tariff upon the city
which Mr.. Hill, president Of the
Great Northern Railway, had SO glow
ingly described. 1t may be said that
he is Democrat, and one Of the most
liberal contributors to the treasure
chest Of that party. He gave s25,
900 to the Democratic national COM
mittee in 1892 to help elect Mr..
Cleveland, whom he he has warmly
admired, besides an equal amount
distributed among the Democratic
state and congressional committees
in Minnesota and other northwestern
states.
Today in Mr.. Hills pet town the
population has dropped from 5000 to
1900 in less than year. Half the
stores and buildings are vacant, and
there are several blocks in the city
which haven't a single tenant and do
not show the slightest sign Of life. In
other words, it is a case Of suspended
animation. All "thc stuff is here"
as Mr.. Hill said, but at present prices
and with free Canadian competition
there is no use for any one to try to
do business. So four Of the five great
saw mills, with capacity Of 100000
feet Of lumber a day, are silent, and
the fifth is running only for a few days
to fill an order from San Francisco
for some special lengths Of timber.
The lumber camps are abandoned,
and the loggers' cabins are empty be-
cause the booms are full Of logs for
which there is no demand. The
Canadian lumber men are monopoliz-
ing the market.
The coal mines have shut down for
similar reasons. Even the United
States battleship Monterey left the
harbor Of Fairhaven, when she lay al
anchor 800 yards from coal dock,
and sailed up Puget sound, fifty or
sixty miles, to fill her bunkers with
Canadian coal from the Comox mine
near Vancouver, because she could
get it 81 ton cheaper there than on
this side Of the border. Whyp Be-
cause the Dominion coal is mined by
Cinnamon, who are paid 81 day.
The Fairhayen coal is mined by white
men who demand So.
Is it any wonder that the British
were glad to honor Mr.. Wilson, Is
there any doubt as to the result Of
tariff reform on American laborP
Fairhayen Is but one out Of hundreds
Of instances where the new tariff bill
has worked injury to American inter
ests--both capital and labor, but the
most serious injury to labor.