The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1904-09-02

lumber combine of its own, which owes
its existence to the combine on this side
of the line, and comparison of prices at
Winnipeg with prices in this section
shows but slight difference. One of the
leading lumber dealers in Luverne, who
has made the comparison says: "If any
thing the prices in Canada are a shade
lower than they are here. Retail price
lists in Canada are subject to discount
of 10 per cent on bills, which our deal
ers do not allow. l have just figured on
a bill from Winnipeg for friend of mine
and find that the Winnipeg prices are
slightly under ours"
1t is claimed that there are no pine
forests in Canada north of this section.
This is true, but it is also true that in
the western part of Canada and through
out the southern part of that country,
from New Brunswick through Quebec
and Ontario to the western part of the
latter province, there are immense for
ests of magnificent timber including
white pine which for the most part have
been left unmolested while our own for
,ests have been depleted.
1t is also true that immense quantities
! of lumber from Minnesota forests, which
ought to be used in supplying the needs
of the northwest, are shipped from Du-
luth to sections of the east which ought
to be supplied from nearby forests
across the line.
| Much stress is laid on the fact that
large quantities of lumber from Mime
sofa mills, made from Minnesota timber
are sold in that part of Canada north Of
Minnesota. There is at present vast
demand for lumber in Canada. The
Canadian mills are unable to supply the
demand and purchasers must therefore
seek their supply where they can get 1T
By preventing the importation of lumber
from Canada we have arrested the devel
opment of the lumber industry in thai
country and unduly developed that indus
try in this country. We have thus pre-
served the forests of Canada and depict
ed our own. By supplying Canada ant
the eastern portions of this country will
lumber from our Minnesota forests, We
have created scarcity of American
timber which is now being used as al
excuse for increasing the prices.
! 1t is claimed that removing the tariff
from lumber would neither cheaper lum
Der in this district nor save the forests
in our state. As to the effect of the tar
iff on prices, the Mississippi Valley
Lumberman says: "When the present
duty was enacted the lumber industry
of the northwest and of the eastern
states was in bad way. This was boil
the result of the general depression il
business and of competition from Can
adam mills"
As to the effect on our forests it j!
safe to conclude that if we take more
lumber from Canada we shall saw less
lumber in this country and that result
would certainly tend to save our owl
forests.
Congressman McCleary asserts thai
removing the duty would not secure de
duction of So thousand on lumber be
cause eff the United States should re
move our So import duty Canada would
simply put on 50 export duty" Oh
course this is mere superstition. Mr.. Nc
Cleary can not know what Canada viii
do. But accepting his assumption as
true, it follows that Mr.. McCleary
would continue our import duty unit
our forests are completely destroyed. We
shall then be dependent upon Canada fol
our lumber and be compelled to pay
whatever Canadian lumber dealers may
see fit to charge. In view of this newt
able result, how would it do to avoid re-
taliation on the part of Canada by re-
moving the duty in accordance with the
wise suggestion of President Mckinley
in his last speech at Buffalo:
Commercial wars are improbable.
policy of good will and friendly trade
relations will prevent reprisals (export
duties on lumber for instance). Reel
procity treaties are in harmony with the
spirit of the times; measures of retalia
ton are not. If, perchance, some of oul
tariffs are no longer needed for revenue
or to encourage and protect our indus
tries at home, why should they not be
employed to extend and promote oul
markets abroad?"
Mr.. McCleary says: Protection is ma
tional in scope not sectional; and it must
treat all of our people according to the
same general plan. In other words il
must not favor special interests-ont
set of our citizens against another"
This statement of recognized truth il
fatal to the argument in. support Of
tariff on lumber because in this case pro
lection does favor special interest
! zone set of our citizens against another