The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-02
With the Republican Doctrine Of
Protection as Defined
nthe National Platform Adopted
at Chicago Recently?
Mr.. MiIIer's Views on This Mat
ter Are Set Forth.
From Thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
The question as to whether the tariff
on lumber should be retained or increas-
ed, or whether it should be entirely re-
moved, is one of serious and practical
concern to every citizen. This is one of
the important questions upon which the
people of this district will be called upon
to express their will at the primary cleo
ton to be held September 20, and as the
matter is one which materially affects
the welfare and development of our
agricultural and business interests, the
following facts are submitted for careful
consideration:
That there is a combination among
manufacturers, wholesalers and retail
ers of lumber which results in obtaining
exorbitant profits is matter of COM
mon knowledge. Responsibility for this
condition. however, can not be attributed
to the local dealer. The prices are fixed
through the agencies of the lumberman's
combination and the retailer is expect
ed to be governed by these prices or
90 out of business. The local dealers
are identified with the interests of the
community in which they live and are
anxious to promote those interests. They
realize the outrageous injustice of the
present profits on lumber and would be
glad to have the prices reduced, because
they know that the present high rates
are decreasing their sales and retarding
the development of the country. They
know that because of these high prices
many people who would like to build
homes are not able to do SO; that farm
ers who would otherwise engage more
extensively in stock raising are compell-
ed to deprive themselves OF the profits
of that industry, to the serious injury
of the community in which they live, and
that in numerous ways the welfare of
our agricultural interests and the devel-
opment and improvement of our farms
being sacrificed to the greed of the 'lum-
Der barons." But the local dealers are
practically helpless in the matter be-
cause the Lumberman's combination
controls almost the entire output of l,im-
Der and it is difficult or impossible for
them to obtain stock without becoming
members of the association or adopt
ing its rules. g 40
The Lumberman's association has
practical control of the lumber bust
ness in Minnesota, Iowa, Northeastern
Nebraska and the two Dakotas. 1t is
commonly understood that the. associa-
ton has marked out on the map the
territory within which the dealers in
every town are permitted to sell. 1t one
dealer sells to a customer in another
dealers territory he is expected to
Square" with that dealer on the profits.
If he sells for less than the price fixed,
he is subject to be disciplined by the
association and is liable to be excluded
from membership, in which event he
would be unable to buy any more lumber
from the associated manufacturers and
wholesalers. One declared purpose of the
association is to prevent wholesale deal
ers from selling direct to consumers. In
this way the combination is enabled to
exact the present exorbitant prices of
lumber and the people are compelled to
pay the prices so fixed or 60 without
lumber. The result is prosperity for the
manufacturer but not for the consumer.
Will any minded man contend
that the lumber combine is entitled
to protection under our tariff law?
Should the government give aid in this
way to an industry controlled by an or
ganization which is sacrificing the we'll
fare of every community for private
gain?
A tariff duty on lumber to protect this
country against the importation of lum-
Der from Canada or elsewhere is income
sistent with the true purposes and the
true measure of protection.
Surely it was never contemplated or
intended by the republican party that
protection should serve to sustainn COM
binations or monopolies. In this case
competition is destroyed and prices are
unjustly advanced.
1t is contended that the removal of
the tariff on lumber will not reduce the
prices of lumber But the fact remains
that the prices of lumber advanced 81
per thousand as soon as the present tar
iff of 81 per thousand went into effect
On this point, the Mississippi Valley
Lumberman, the leading representative
of the lumber interests in the north
west, says:
''When the two-dollar duty was put on
rough lumber there was almost an i'm.
mediate reaction caused not only by the
duty itself, but by the turn for the bet
ter in general business affairs. This lat
ter was the result of the reaction from
the hard times, without doubt
the first advance in lumber after the en-
actment of the tariff was due in a great
measure to the duty" ..--.----
One claim urged in support of the