The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-13
MINNEAPOLIS.
PUT ON THE STAND
SERIES OF QUESTIONS ADDRESSED
TO MIR. BRYAN BY w. ID.
WASHDURN
THROUGH AN OPEN LETTER.
TEXT OF THE COMMUNICATION
SENT TO THE FREE SILVER
ADVOCATE.
BRYAN's TARIFF RECORD RAISED.
Asked Whether He Did Not Vote to
Put Lumber and Iron on the
Free List.

In his principal address last evening
Mr.. Bryan referred at length to an
open letter addressed to him by w. D.
Washburn. The text of Mr.. Washburn' s
letter with the questions asked is as
follows
Hon. William ]. Bryan: l learn through
the papers that you are to address the people
Of Minneapolis at the Exposition building this
evening. You will, no doubt be greeted by
very large audience, and will be listened to
with attention and respect. The audience
VIII be composed | presume, very largely OF
laboring men and workers, and of q
high order. This class of people, like others.
dominated by human SELF Shness, so far as
their own interests are cLncerned, probably
prefer to receive their wages in dollars worth
ono hundred cents. rather than those worth
only % cents.
Yet l imagine that in the present contest
they are not considering this question so in
terestedly nor intensely as the other great
question presented in this campaign, to wit:
The protection of American industries and
American labor; for they feel that the great
misfortunes which have come to them, as
well as to others, in the past three years. are
largely due to the change of policy of the
government on this great question, under the
present Democratic administration of it.
This city, as you must be aware, is a great
industrial city, the two greater industries
being the manufacture of lumber and flour.
- There is manufactured in Minneapolis an
nually something like 400 100000 feet of pine
lumber, employing, as you must see, very
large number of men. There is also manu-
featured annually something like 10 900 900
barrels of flour, in which industry, as a
matter of course, there is an immense army of
men employed
The lumber mills generally have been closed
for the season, leaving many millions of logs
in the river and unprotected, and at the
same time throwing out of employment large
numbers of men. Our lumbermen, and those
familiar with the situation ] think attribute
the necessity of doing this very much to the
enormous importations of Canadian lumber
during the last two years, estimated for the
present year at about 1000 Geo. 900 feet of
logs and lumber, or 100000 more than was
imported. before lumber was placed on the
free list in the Wilson tariff bill
Under the reciprocity treaties brought
into existence through the wisdom and eff
forts of the late James G. Blaine, new and
quite extensive market has been created in
Cuba, and in the South American republics
for the products of our -four mills, as well
as for the products of our farms, such as
these treaties in the Wilson tariff bill has
destroyed the markets thus created, and
rendered impossible any extensions in the
future; so that those engaged in these great
industries are deeply interested in the matter
OF reciprocity treaties, you can well see.
In view of these facts imagine that a
great portion of your audience this evening
will be glad to hear from you on this subject
Of protection. And l would suggest that you
take occasion to answer the following ques-
tons:
First-Did you, as a member of the house
of representatives, vote for the repeal of
the so-called Mckinley bill?
Second. Did you vote for the passage of the
Wilson bill. as 1t first passed the house of
representatives, and subsequently for the Cor
man Brice BILL which became law?
Third DID you, in consideration of the
Wilson tariff BILL either in the committee of
ways and means in the house or BOTH
vote for the removal of the duty on lumber,
and place that article on the free list?
Fourth. Did yo& on January 10, 1892 in
troduce in the house of representatives, refer
ring it to the committee on ways and means
6il for placing lumber on the free list?
Fifth. Did you. in this same Wilson bill
vote to place iron ore on the free list?
Sixth Did you vote for the repeal of the
reciprocity provisions in the Mckinley tariff
bill?
These are questions in which the people
of this city and this state are vitality and in
tensely interested, and l have no doubt they
would be glad to receive from you answers
to the above inquiries.
w. D. Washburn.