Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-03-27

| the senators should put themselves on
record in faJcr of this memorial. l
think that we differ very much in re-
gard to the wisdom of not having lum-
Der upon the free list, and ! am in
| formed hy many who are in the pulp
business that there is a difference of
| opinion upon that. 1t is my belief that
the paper should be upon the free list.
| On the question of free lumber in this
| State, there is a wide difference of
| opinion between those who believe it
| should be protected and those who be-
lieve it should be protected. I am not
| disposed to discuss this matter at this
| time, and l doubt the wisdom of our
| memorialiZing Congress at this time
upon these three propositions. / know
that there is, in this State, a diversity
of opinion in regard to these three
propositions, and / am not willing to
| be put upon record as believing in the
protection of lumber at this TIME. 1
do not propose, at this time, to give
my reasons why pulp and lumber
should be put upon the free list, but
many of US believe that they should
| be.
/ wish to place myself, and those of
| my party who wish to vote with me
upon this proposition, as opposed to
memorializing Congress upon these
| three propositions. We have able Con-
gressmen, who are capable of looking
the matter over and coming to such
| conclusions as they deem right and
proper, and | think it is unWise for
the Legislature Of Maine to memorial
| ize Congress at this time and to say
that we are in favor of these three
propositions. l doubt the wisdom of it;
| and, that those who believe with me-
and that l myself, may be put upon
record in this matter 1 think it is fair
and l know of no better way of show
ing it, than to move, and l do move,
that the memorial be indefinitely post
poned, and upon that motion l would
like a yea and nay vote.
The question being put upon the mo-
ton of the Senator from Knox, Mr..
Staples, that the memorial be Indefinite
ly postponed
Mr. EATON of Washington: Mr..
President, l do not propose to take up
the time of the Senate to discuss this
question at all I will simply state that
presented this memorial yesterday,
feeling that it was only proper and right
, that we should send to our Representa-
tives and Senators at Washington some
idea of the way the State of Maine feels
upon this matter.
This memorial asks our Senators and
| Representatives to use their influence
to protect lumber, paper and plpu. Cen
tlemen, feel that it is very important
matter for the State of Maine. We have
been here now for three months as a
Legislature. We have known during
this time there has not been a word
sent to our Senators or Representatives
from this body on this question; and it
seems to me that it is only fitting and
right that we should give an expression
as to how the State of Maine feels. We
can remember back distinctly to the
time Of the Wilson and German bill, and
we know what that did for the State and
how our industries We're stopped, and
our mills were stopped, and business
was carried from the State Of Maine over
into New Brunswick, giving the labor
to that country instead of to our own.
Gentlemen, 1 am glad that this memo
rial was put in yesterday, as telegram
was received from Senator Hale on this
subject yesterday afternoon, asking for
such a memorial giving some idea of
) how the State of Maine felt on this
question. l believe, gentlemen, that it
is important for us to take this action
and to let our Senators and Represen-
tatives know how we feel and I hope
that this motion to indefinitely postpone
will not be carried.
Mr.. STAPLES of Knox: Mr.. Presi-
dent do not care to discuss this mat
1 ter at all. but I do not think, at this
time, that we can get an expression of
the idea of how the people of this State
4 stand upon this matter. I apprehend
that the people of this State know-a
/ great many of them who are not here
to express their opinion know that for
| ty or fifty men in the State of Maine
own all of the lumber in the State. I
y am also aware that the people of this
State believe that tariff should be
put upon the necessaries Of life and
taken off the Injuries of life, as far
forth as we can, so as to protect the
| common man.
! l believe that the people of this State
| the poor men of this State-should
have lumber just as free as they can
have 1t. If poor man wants to build
a home to protect his wife and his
family. he should have that lumber
just as cheap as he can get it, and it
should not he put into the pockets of
the lumber men of the State of Maine
/ do not think that it is a fair express
sion by this Legislature of what we
| may know about it. We have not the
| expression Of the people of the State of
Maine.
Mr.. WARREN of Cumberland: Mr.
| President we all know that, in this mat
ter of tariff, although our political
parties may oppose or support it as a
| matter of theory, as individuals when it
i comes to a mater of practice we are
very likely to act Independently and in
the scramble, it is hard to know who
| will come out ahead
Mr.. STAPLES: VIII the Senator from
| Cumberland wait a moment?
| The PRESIDENTS: Does the Senator
| from Cumberland yield?
ID ID