The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-09
BOWLING ON
FREE LUMBER
Why the Minnesota Delega-
ton Is Opposed to His
Plank.
Something Is Needed to TT ade
Off With Canada for
Concessions.

from Tho journal Bureau. Room IS, Post
Building, Washington.
Washington, June 9.-There has been
good deal Of criticism down in Washing
ton OF the free lumber plank in the plat
form of NJ j. Bowling, candidate for the
republican congressional nomination IN
the seventh district. AS is we'll known,
the entire Minnesota delegation in con-
gress reinforced by the solid delegations
from such border states as Michigan, Wis
consin, North Dakota, Montana and
Washington. is strongly in favor of rec
jprocity with Canada, and will at the
earliest possible moment make a de-
termined move in that direction.
1t is admitted by the delegation that
the present duty lum Der is too high;
but inasmuch as they regard the arrange
ment Of reciprocity with Canada as like
Iy to come to pass before very long, they
think that the duty should stand.
Lumber is the principal raw material
of Canada at present, and the Canadian
government is very anxious to find mar
ket for it in the United States. In order
to secure that market it will make i'm
portant concessions for certain American
goods. If we take the duty off lumber in
ourselves of our strongest reciprocity ar
gument. Canada wants free lumber
more than she wants anything else. BY
giving her that without exacting con-
cessions in return, the United States, IN
the opinion OF the Minnesota delegation,
would make a very unbusiness like move.
For that reason it is believed here that
Mr.. Dowling's position is not we'll taken,
and his free lumber platform should not
be approved by the people OF the seventh
district. Said member OF the delega-
ton:
The higher our lumber tariff is at the
time when we get ready to make rec
jprocity treaty with Canada, the better
will be the concessions Canada will offer
10 make. If lumber is on the free list,
or practically SO at the time the treaty is
made we will not get nearly what we
want and should have"
1t is said that representatives from bor-
der states named above are thinking Of
getting together in the next session or
in the fifty eighth congress at the latest.
and making an aggressive campaign for a
reciprocity treaty with Canada, one or
the main features of it to be a radical re-
duction of our present lumber schedule in
return for trade advantages in that
country for American manufacturers -
In all probability, Minnesota will lead
in such a movement, because the state Is
now feeling the full force of the failure Of
congress to act in this direction. The
business metz of the state are being seri-
ously handicapped by the new departures
taken this year and last by commerce in
the northwest. Canada is gaining in
population and in wealth directly at the
expense Of the northwest and all because
congress AS not seen fit to do that which
common business sense suggested years
ago.
While favoring reciprocity with Canada.
no
ratification of the long neglected rec
Iprocity treaties with France and other
European countries, and with certain OF
the Central and South American coun-
tries, which the senate committee on for
eign relations has had pigeonholed, ever
since the time of Senator Davis These
treaties have not been ratified owing to
the stubborn opposition Of certain New
ENGLAND and other eastern republican
senators, and the probabilities for their
ratification In the future are very remote.
The delegation is also unit In favor OF
O revision of the Dingley schedules as
they relate to iron and steel. glass. and
numerous other standard articles It be-
lieves that It's attitude regarding Cuba is
fastening the time when revision will be
an accomplished fact. Singular as, II
may seen, the men in the senate and
house who have been standing out mos1
persistently in favor of the so-called ad-
ninistration plan for Cuban relief, are
the very men who have blocked the path
way of these reciprocity treaties, and are
opposing the revision of the tariff. The
delegation holds, in view of this fact
that the attitude Of the men towards Cube
should not be accepted at its face value
especially when the president has sale
that he would sign a rebate bill.
AS pointed out the question of genu
Inc reciprocity and tariff revision seem:
70 be bound up with the question Of Cubar
relief. The delegation holds that it rep
yesents the ideas that are really in thu
interest of Minnesota, aHl that If the.
carry their point now, it will be all thu
easier, later on, to compel the ratifica
4ion of reciprocity treaty with Canada
and to revise the Dingley schedules; ant
THAT If they fail, there will hardly b.
strength enough in congress to brinI
either to pass, at least for some years.
In view Of what is here set FORTH thu
delegation does not think that Mr.
Bowling has a very broad or comprehen
sive grasp of the essential features Of tn
present complicated situation when h
comes out boldly and unequivocally II
favor of removing at once all of the dut
on lumber. Should the insurgents win il
congress In their Cuban fight, it is thei
pIan to form an organization to fore
tariff revision and a reciprocity treat
with Canada at the earliest possible date
But il in the meantime the lumber dut
is wiped out, there will be little left wit
which to compel concessions from Canada
w. W. Jermane.