, 1896-09-22
TRADE-.-SILVER
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE ARE
AGAINST BOTH.
Free Canadian Lumber IL Closing Amor
lean Mile and Shutting Out Labor
Purchaser of Lumber Are Not Bone
ntsd-For McKinIe,.

II Is q condition, not a theory, that
confronts the lumber operators of the
country. In the face of the condition it
Is difficult to see how any voter in the
lumber manufacturing states. whose in
10 the lumber industry. can satisfy
himself thai it would be a good policy
TO assist in electing the Bryan ticket
on the Chicago platform. The lumber
manufacturer of the northwest have
made a thorough examination into the
situation. and the causes which pro-
duced the present depression in the
lumber trade. They find it necessary
to suspend operations much earlier this
TALL than usual. and they have Issued a
circular letter explaining the cause of
this action. The letter is issued by the
Mississippi Valley Lumbermen's asso
citation, and it is one Of the
peared on the subject of the relation of
trade to political conditions.
The lumbermen say that the mill
yards of the jurisdiction covered by
their association which includes prac-
tically all Of Minnesota and Wiscon-
sin. are carrying a greatly increased
surplus of lumber W. and above the
surplus of last year. which then aggre-
gated % per cent of the total annual
cut of the mills. 1t is shown that the
surplus Is mainly in yards in cities
that are subjected to the greatest VOL
N of competition from Canadian
lumber shipments. The shipments of
lumber from Canada the past year
were about one billion feet, or more
than double what they were before the
reduction in the lumber tariff by the
Wilson-Gorman tariff law.
The circular thus sums up the situa-
ton:
THE reports received by us indicate
that the present conditions surround
ing tho lumber market. and which
have imposed the necessity for shut
ting down a large share Of the mills
belonging TO our members, is an over
supply OF 'rNber for which there is no
market and which cannot now be sold
at the cost Of production. Your board
believes that this condition is pri-
marty due to the removal of the tariff
on lumber. aggravated by the present
possibility Of the free coinage of silver
and the complete overthrow Of our
present financial system. We there
fore believe. without regard to party.
that all honorable means should be
adopted to impress the fact that the
nIJpItinnS nnw hnfrro fhn \~,,,p
people are not questions of party. but
Of business. and that the future well
fare OF the nation. the prosperity of
the country and h resumption of the
work in all manufacturing institu-
tons. and particularly the mills of the
makers of white pine lumber, is de-
pendent upon the Endorsement of a
protective policy, and especially of the
gold standard-the standard of all
the great commercial nations of the
world"
The mills will be shut down and
thousands of employees will be out of
work at least until the logging season
opens. But the prospects are that log
ging during the coming winter will be
ItuicPu luiIS W per cent. so tne out
look is indeed cheerless for the work
crs in the lumber districts.
1t is not surprising. in view of the
situation thus detailed. that reports
from the lumber districts are that the
workingmen are lining up for McKin-
ley and against free silver coinage and
a continuance of the existing low
tariff policy. The lumber workers
were practically solid for protection
in 1894. Nothing has occurred to
change their views in that regard, ex-
cept a promise from the Bryan party
that If they will support the popocratic
ticket they can have free coinage of
silver and an issue OF silver dollars
which will have SO cents worth OF
purchasing power in the markets
where food and clothing are sold.
That is not 4 captivating proposition
to Observation-Disclosures Sentinel.