The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-01-03
LUMBER TARIFF
IS LIVE QUESTION
Interesting Correspondence
With Senator Edwards
THE CANADIAN SITUATION
Manufacturers In the Dominion, 1t Is
Claimed, Are UndersoId In Their
Own Field BY Amerl-
can Producers.

Minneapolis, January 2.-Some interest
ing correspondence in regard to the in
ternational aspect of the question of re-
pealing the duty on lumber and other
forest products has been given OUT by the
National Forest Conservation league,
which is taking the position that the first
step in forest conservation is to repeal
the tariffs which prevent American con-
sumers from freely drawing on the forest
products of other countries. This corre-
spondenee is between Senator William c.
Edwards. member of the Canadian par
lament of Rockland, Ont, and large
manufacturer of lumber and pulp in Cam
ada, and the secretary of the league SEN
ator Edwards was the official representa-
tive of the Dominion at the recent con-
servation commission conferences at
Washington, d. c.
From this corresu oadence It appears
that although most manufacturers Of lum-
Der In the United States object to the
repeal of the tariff on lumber, alleging
inability TO compete with Canadian lum-
ber the Canadian market has this year
been flooded with American lumber, there
being no Canadian duty on rough lun1-
be-. to such an extent that the Canadian
manufacturers have been undersold at
home and have had their market ruined.
In consequence the lumbermen OF Can
ada made an effort to have retaliatory
tariff placed on American lumber, but
this agitation failed, largely it is said,
on account of the remarkable telegram
sent by Senator Edwards to Sir Wilfrfd
Laurier. 1t is stated that the Canadian
importations of American lumber have
been chiefly low grades, competition In
which, the lumbermen appearing before
the ways and means committee said
they most feared.
Under date Of December IT. Senator Ed
wards writes to the secretary of the
league:
Recalling the promise I made to you
at Washington a few days ago, l here
with enclose copy Of the telegram sent
Sir Wilfrid Laurier In June, last, after
a large deputation OF lumbermen had
called upon him and our minister of
finance, begging for the imposition Of a
duty on southern pine coming from the
United States. which was then and for
the most of the time, deluging our Ca
madam markets, produced and sold so
cheaply that 1t has been impossible for us
to compete Hard of course for the mo-
ment on lumber producers; but a great
Der.
1.-THE ground take is that we will win
in the end. If you Americans are foolish
enough to exhaust your forests, not only
to supply your own wants, but ours also,
our timber will grow and become more
valuable in the meantime, which will re-
suit in great ultimate profit to us.
st am taking the liberty of sending you
also a paper which has letter in it I
b,r iad1
ago on the pulp question"
The following is a copy of the telegram
Senator Edwards sent to Sir Wifrid
Laurier:
Most sincerely and earnestly hope you
will pay no regard to unjusti1ed demand
made upon you for a duty on southern
pine coming from the United States. The
demand arises in consequence of tenn
porary stagnation in our business which
will soon pass away. The imposition of
the duty would be most trifing insofar as
mitigation of the present dullness In Can
adam trade Is concerned, and would be
most unpopular excepting with a few ava
ricous lumber manufacturers sincerely
beg you to allow one Canadian industry to
exist without placing it in the despicable
position of robbing the consumers of its
product for its benefit"
In answer to request for permission
to make public use of the correspondence
Senator Edwards wired December %:
You are at liberty to use my letter,
also the copy of the telegram to Sir Will
frid Laurisr and letter in witness on pulp
question IN any way you desire. Take
no stock in childish statement that Can
adam government will impose export duty
on forest products if American govern
ment removes import duties. Such too
absurd for consideration; is ridiculous"
In the letter referred to as being pub
lished in the Witness (MontreaD, Senator
Edwards takes the position that there is
no good reason why Canada should place
an export duty on pulp wood shipped to
American pulp and paper mills.