The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1908-10-29

The manufacture OF lumber IS one
of the most important industries i'll
North Carolina. The almost COM
pIcte paralysis of this business for the
last eighteen months has contributed
more than amy other one thing to
make North Carolina feel the depress-
ing effects of the Roosevelt panic
which really hit the lumber business
six months before it broke in tull
force i'm Wall street. The manutac-
;urc of lumber is one of the great in
dustries of the South. and one which
would for this reason appeal with
especial force to the best wishes ana
protection ofthe Democratic party. II
is true that the Democratic party, III
responding to the universal demand
from the whole country for relief from
the ,Nactiuus of the wood pulp paper
manufacturers included lumber in
with it's demand that wood pulp
timber and logs be placed on the free
list, and the Republicans of North
Carolina have seized upon this to try
- persuade 'hr lumber people away
from the Democratic national ticket.
ON the face of it there may appear to
be some force in the appeal which
they make. But the lumber manu-
iaCturrrs are a people who are ac-
custOmed to go beyond the mere sur
face of questions and get at the essen
lial facts, and when they do this they
administration which has brought
upon them the most disastrous eriOd
of their business. or for experimenting
amy danger from the Democratic posi-
ton
Roosevelt for Free Lumber and Wood
Pulp.
As far as this question may be pre-
sumed to give the Republican party
any advantage is concerned, it is quite
a sufficient answer to point out the
fact, which may be taken as a fact
that the tariff is going to be taken off
ct lumber, whichever party may be
successful at the polls on November
3rd. The Republican party as well
as the Democratic party, stands ire
NoCably committed in it's platform, and
IN tho speeches of all it's leaders to
an immediate revision of the tariff,
It they are successful at the polls. and
TN" Republican President. to the car
rying out of whose policies Mr.. Taft
and his party arc thoroughly COM
mittcd. has said in two of his last
messages to Congress that the tariff
must be taken off ''of all products of
the forests" The only reason this
was not done by the last Congress was
that the Republicans feared to make
any change whatever in the tariff
schedules, while admitting the absO-
Lutte necessity for changes and cOrrec-
lions, lust in advance of a general
election, knowing that if the question
We're once opened they would have to
20 into general revision. 1t cannot
he doubted that If a Republican Con-
gress should he elected one of the
very first things it would do would be
to carry out this demand of its Pre-
dent IN carrying out its platform
pledge for revision Of the tariff.
Difference in Position of the TIVE
Parties.
The chief difference which lumber
mon may expect from the two partie
on this question is that the Republicans
would put lumber on the free list a!
demanded by its President. but tina
the lumbermcn could expect little re
lief at the hands of the Republican,
from the cxactiOns of the trusts o
the country which go to make TIN
manufacture Of lumber 50 expensive
while they may rest assured that tin
Democrats would not put lumber OF
the free list, IL being Southern
product, unless there should be couple
with Il the placing upon the free lis
OF all articles entering into cOmpcti
ton with trust controlled articles Il
their platform demands, and whiC
would tend 70 largely cheaper the OK
pCIiscS of the manufacture of lumber
This argument should appeal wit
great force 10 the producers of lumbe
for there l. no other line of manufaC
turC in the country more heavily take
by the trusts. They are cxtensiN
users of steel rails, which the head I
the steel trust testified could be mad
at "a profit at $l5 per ton, and fC
which they have paid during the la
three years from $50 to $40 per to-
Ana thus ii Is with practically all IL
materials which go into the manufa'
ture Of lumber, including the II
creased cost Of labor which the il
crease Of 10 per cent in living g
prnscs by reason Of unreasonable pr
lection, has made necessary. III
machinery and equipment which thu
tIyo for the manufacture of lumb
cannot be- considered as u pcrmanc
Investment, but 10y reason of the hai
usage 10 which it is subjected has
Boo frequently replaced with ne
equipment and frequent repair, al
every lumberman knows from ha
experience how the cost of all SUI
materials which 20 into the manufa
and iu some Instances actually doubl
Voc the last few years under the col
lined robbery of protection and trus
1Jrin no Benefit TO Southern Lunb
hut back 10 the original point.
Tho small tariff Of 81 per thousand
rough boards any real protection
the manufacturers Of pine lumber
the South? This writer after sc
Gus consideration of the questi'
thinks not. Certainly it has be
Intellectual 10 save their business FRI
the most disastrous fan in prices dl
ing the last eighteen months. '
low price Of lumber, as every mar
facturcr must know, has been due
competition among themselves, q
not to competition with foreign lu
brr.
Lumber Business Not Trust.
II must he borne in mind that
lumber business is not owned by
monopoly or controlled by a trl
" II was then the business could
holding up the home buyer, add
fun amount Of the tariff to the pI
which he could otherwise get for
product But every manufactu