The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-10-23
American Economist.

l.
l believe We can make no permanent
progress in the direction of tariff reform
until we free from taxation the raw ma
terials which lie al the foundation OF our
placed upon the free list. ana only a
alghe duty retained on planed and groov-
cd boards We found rate OF sl;i2 per
cent. and left a rate OF 260---Hcn- William
Jennings Bryan In Congress.
Mr.. Bryan has been even moro outspo-
ken in his advocacy OF absolute free trade
than President Cleveland or Hon. William
L. wilson. In fact. We do not know any
pubic man who Is . more pronounced adj
herens OF this British heresy. Mr.. Bryan
gloried IN free wool Mr.. Bryan reveled
In free lumber. This week we show the
effect OF the policy of free raw material
as far - II concerns the lumber interests
OF the United States.
At the close OF last week We had received
reports from 30 American lumber mills.
Each ons OF these reports stated briefly
the number of hands employed. and the
wages paid them by the mill. during the
month OF July. 1Ss3-aimost two years
after the Mckinley tariff had been in OPP
eratlon-aud also during the month OF
July. lsss-alrost two years after the
Gorman-Wilson tariff had been In opera
tion. AS showing the benefits. or other
wise. derived respectively under the poll
cfes OF protection and of tree trade. moth
ing can be fairer than the results after
two years experience with each policy.
Their effect upon the American lumber
Industry has been as follows:
No; OF July. July. July, July.
20 i sssss IS IS IS s7si is ..ss,s s is
Free Trade Result.
Hands Idle in July. 1886. ............. 1858
Wages lost in July, 1896 .......... ss25, $50
The great benefit OF the free raw mate
rial policy has consisted in enabling 10.573
men. out of 24.3Ss hands IN go lumber mills.
TO take a vacation without pay. The de-
crease in the employment OF lumbermen.
through Bryans free trade policy. was APP
proximately 43 per cent.
The loss in wages TO the lumbermen.
during their July vacation this year. was
s325.55S, also approximately 4S per cent.
or al the rate of Sc. sos, $50 a year. This is
'ths great benefit" that free trade In lum-
Der has been to 1o.57s lunrbermen who
were busily employed in July, 1892, under
the Mckinley policy OF protection.
1t appears that the average OF monthly
wages paid In each year was just about
the same, therefore the indications are
that the American lumber mills are be-
Ing entirely shut down and that American
lumbermen are entirely idle. while Cana
dian mills and Canadian lumbermen are
actively employed.
From later advices received, we believe
that the condition of the American ium-
Der industry is worse than II was three
months ago. The proof submitted OF the
disastrous effect of free trade in lumber
Is more than ample. II the same ratio of
loss (iS per cent?. as has been shown by
the 80 lumber mills reporting 10 Us. be
applied to all similar mills in the United
States. then the loss in wages to all Amer
ican lumbermen is at the rate OF about
forty million dollars year.
This is the result of the Democratic
policy OF free trade. II is what Bryan be-
Heye3 in. II Il what Bryan voted for.
II Is what Bryan would give us more OF.
though he cowardly shirks the issue at
present and says: I'VE won't discuss the
tariff question Just now" Mckinley and
protection will restore the American lum-
Der Industry to its former prosperous con-
dition Of is9a. Lumbermen Will vote the
straight Republican ticket.