The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-08-11
LrMBERMES ALARMED.
Washington Mills Curtail Production
fis.eause OF ssilyer Threats.


Tacoma. Aug. fo.-SpeeiaL--The predic-
tgons that have been made by public men
all over the country that the threatened
free coinage OF silver and consequent de-
basement OF the currency OF the nation
would seriously and even disastrousiy az
feet every business interest and manatac-
turing industry has already been fuihiled
in this state. The first Industry 20 suffer
is the numbering business. Anticipating
that perhaps the silver candidates might
be elected. and believing that immense
disturbances in al lines of business would
follow. many CT the lumber mills Of the
state have diminished appreciably their
output and have cut TO the marrow their
stocks or hand and their orders fer logs
This condition OF affairs is due solely 10
the demand on the part OF the repudia-
tionists and fiat money men for the inn
mediate opening of the minis of the eoun-
try to the silver OF ali nations and the
placing OF the business OF the nation upon
the silver standard.
w. II. Hanson, manager Of the Tacoma
mill, which has pay roll running mp into
the hundreds OF thousands yearly. said to-
day that his mill company had quit buying
logs until after the election, and. owing
10 the lack of domestic orders. their OUT
put has been materially reduced. I'VE
are sailing close into the wind" said Mr..
Hanson today. "In view of the possibili-
ties ahead. we found that the only thing
we could do was TO fix ourselves for what
may follow II Bryan Is elected and the
country is placed on silver standard.
We have cut down our orders for logs TO
what we barely need for immediate con-
sumption and have reduced our stock OF
lumber on hand to the necessities of pres
ent conditions. / have received advices
from other mills in this state. and learn
that they are doing precisely the same
ha for Ia MA n
one can tell TO a certainty what the re-
suit OF the election viii be. On the other
hand. every sensible business man can
uBderstan what viii follow Ii the coun-
try is carried by the silver forces. We do
not care TO take any risks on this score,
therefore we viii do business until after
election on as narrow a margin as pos
slble"
Col. Chauncey W. Griggs. president OF
the ST. Paul and Tacoma Mill Lumber Co,
said today 10 the PoSt-Intelligencer cor
respondent: THE mill men OF the state
have believed that If Mckinley and Tio-
bart are elected prosperous times viii
follow This is my conviction But in
view of the agitation for free coinage OF
silver at the existing ratio and the demand
that this nation shall at once open its
minis TO silver, we have felt that IL would
be folly 10 extend our business or TO allow
any accumulation Of stocks We have
necessities OF the trade and have regulated
our output down 10 Just what we need 10
fill orders already on hand. Until after
the election Is over ii would be far from
business prudence for a lumber mill 20
increase it's output or to extend its busl-
ness in any form There are too many IN
certainties about free coinage"
Col Griggs has always been a staunch
Democrat He was the Democratic can
didate for United States senator in lSg2
He has always been known as a staunch
Democrat from conviction. but on cleo
ton day IN next November he will east
his vote for the Mckinley and Hobart
electors Il believe in sound money" he
said, after announcing his intention of
voting the Republican ticket. Il do not
however. believe IN the financial platform
adopted By the Democratic convention at
Chicago, and therefore 1 can see no other
way TO do than TO vote for Mckinley I
know a great many Democrats I'm the lum-