The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1895-04-19
Time Proves the Truth.

During the campaign of 1892 the
two old parties devoted their attention
to the tariff question, the Republi-
cans contending that directly and in
directly the removal of the tariff
would seriously affect the prosperity
of the people of this country. In the
Northwest the discussion centered on
lumber, as that was our main indus
try, upon which the largest number of
people depended for their direct sup
port. The democrats, or many of
them, stuck to the old principles of
their party, and howled for free trade
Upon this they said our prosperity de-
pended, and good times would come
at once. That was nearly three years
ago, and even the most stalwart parti-
zans have given up looking for pros
perty under this administration, and
are hoping for 1896. In the last cam
paign, the free trade sentiment was
practically dead in this state, and lit
tie mentioned, although the demo-
crat party still stood for that theory.
Now the fruits of the Wilson at
trocity are becoming apparent, and
there is no escape from the fact that
Puget Sound would be fairly prosper
Gus to-day, but for the removal of
the tariff on lumber, on coal and GER
tain other products.
On Il recent trip, party just re-
turning from New Westminster,
British Columbia, informed US that
seven ships were loading lumber at
one mill there for San Francisco and
Southern California markets, and that
$12 per month and board was the
average wage paid in the MILL There
may be that many vessels loading foy
that market from all the Sound mills
together, but there are not over ten
such charters. Under the Mckinley
tariff barrier, this trade was all re-
served for the Sound mills, which
bought our logs and employed oul
loggers.
These seven cargoes are a trivial
matter in themselves, but they are
probably just as industrious at the
other Canadian mills, having estab.
lished yards and agencies in the Cali
fornian markets. 1t is the same with
the foreign coal, which is now sold in
every Pacific coast city, taking the
place of thousands of tons of the
Puget Sound product, and displacing
our miners
But this is not the worst, for the
placing of this second class lumber in
markets, leaves the British Columbian
mills free and unfettered to enter the
foreign trade, and compete success
fully with our big mills on first-class
stuff, and they are making the most
OF their advantages, given by the
Wilson folly. They already enjoy a
small advantage over our mills, in the
prices of stumpage and wages.
The Port Blakely Mill Company
announces that it must reduce the
prices OF its logging contracts, and its
heaviest producer in Mason County
makes a corresponding reduction in
wages. In order to continue to manu-.
facture lumber and compete for either
coastwise or foreign trade, every thing
must come down to the foreign basis
and 1t is the laboring class that gets
brunt of the blow. Most of the small
loggers were thrown out long ago, an6
n great many loggers find themselves
out of employment. The Republi
cans told the people that every for
eign product disposed of in this
country, which displaces a similar
product to our own, is destructive t.
the prosperity of those connected
with that industry, and hence an in
direct injury to ALL This seemed then
plain proposition-it is palmer now
The conditions existing on the Coast
are just the same as in the East,
where the mills north of the grea,
lakes are flooding the Mississippi val
ley with lumber.
How has the new system benefited
our people,-by cheapening what we
buy Our supplies are cheaper, but
not out of proportion with the reduc
ed wage paid everywhere. 1t is, il
fact, hard to point ont any product
that is cheaper to the consumer, or
account OF the free trade which open.
eel our markets to the foreigners. In
truth, we have simply opened oul
hearts and presented to the foreigner
the prosperity which was due our
own people-and Cleveland free-trade
democrats will be sought after fol-
dime-museum freaks eighteen months
from now.
ACCORDING to the Northwestern