The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1909-04-03
scented in Washington, and unless the

scented in Washington, and unless the
people awake from their lethargy and
call upon their congressman to oppose
the lumber graft with might and main.
no relief from legalized robbery will
be obtained at this special session.
Congressman Nye has gone on REQ.
ord as being opposed to tariff on lun-
Der, but what are the other congress-
men from this section of the country
doing? McCleary was knocked out be-
cause Of being standpatter. What is
Hammond, his successor, doing? He
is with the regulars of his party and,
Of course, will vote for free lumber;
but he should not be hiding his light
under a bushel, but make his voice
ring in Indignation against the lumber
barons. Mr.. Nye Is opposed to tariff
on lumber and has no hesitation in ex-
pressing the desire Of his constituents.
II believe the masses Of the people in
my district" said Mr.. Nye, where
prices have reached SO high level
and produced such riches for those in
terested in the industry, consider it
hollow mockery to demand more pro.
lection for that industry" He declared
that lumber has doubled and trebled
in price during the past decade, and
when challenged to produce figures,
Mr.. Weisse Of Wisconsin came to his
aid with the declaration that CHARTERED
oak, which he had purchased for $50
ten years ago, could not be bought now
for less than $3.50, and other lumber
which he had bought for $1s, could not
now be purchased for less than $72.
II wouldn't believe the gentleman's
statement unless he showed me the
bills" said one congressman from
lumber state. Il can show them to
you," said Mr.. weisse.
The Duluth News Tribune, an ortho-
dox Republican sheet, thinks that the
people who want. free lumber should
make their position known to their
congressman. OF course they should.
If they do not act at once, it will be
too late. Edward Hines, the Chicago
lumberman, is busy in behalf of the
tariff, and so are the rest Of his breth-
rem. In a two-column letter to the
Record Herald, Mr.. Hines makes use
Of fallacious arguments for the reten-
ton of the tariff, and says:
ut seems to me that the American
people should hesitate before deciding
to take the duty off lumber and to
open the markets of so,ooo.oo9 people
in the United States for the benefit of
100000 people in Canada; to inf1ict
an absolute loss on the American peo-
pie and to decrease the governments
revenue more than 100000 per year
for no return. 1t is fact that Canada
offers nothing in return for what she
is so anxious to get from us, and to
obtain which she is employing all the
influence Of few Americans who own
timber and mills in Canada or who
make business of handling her prod
ucts."
We would like Fred Lynch of st.
Paul, or Theodore Knappen of Mime
epolis, to reply to Hines and his gang
about Canadian lumber. Col. Pinchot,
who favors the tariff on lumber, says
that Canada has no great lumber sup.
ply as compared with the United
States. He says that under free trade
Canada could not supply per cent
Of American consumption. and now
supplies only per cent. If this gov
eminent forestry expert is correct,
then why should the lumbermen Of
this country be frightened by Cana
dian competition? The amount lost in
revenue would be a bagatelle-only
$4,000, ooo-and that could be placed on
the luxuries Of the wealthy. who can
afford to Fay 1t in lieu Of an income
tax.
We believe the congressman from the
Northwest should be urged by their
constituents to fight this tax on lum-
Der, and, If they decline to do so, that
they be superseded at the next cleo
ton by others who will obey orders.
The people have been robbed long
enough to enrich the lumbermen.
A Hint for Preachers.