Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-14
HE Dimes LUMBERMEN
Representative Wheeler Also
Host of $50 Colleagues.
SPEAKERS DISCUSS TARIFF
Texas Democrat Sees Chance to
Break Solid South.
SAYS PROTECTION WILL DO IT
j. r. Mann, J. B. White. c. A.
Schenck, d. E. Skinner. j: L.
Thompson Among Speakers.

Representative Nelson P. Wheeler of the
twenty-eighth Pennsylvania district gave
a banquet at the New Willard Hotel last
| night to members Of the House of Repre-
sentatives. the board of governors Of the
National Lumber Manufacturers Associa-
ton and other lumbermen of the United
States
The lumbermen have been In Washing
| ton this week on the invitation of Clifford
Plnchot to discuss with him the subject
of forest conservation affected by the
duty on lumber. Representative Wheeler
is himself a lumberman and took this oc-
| casion to bring together at a social func-
! ton his brother members of the House
and his brethren of the lumber industry
About 80 members of the House were
present, their number being proportionate-
~ divided between republicans and demo-
Gratis according to their relative strength
in Congress- The occasion was notable
In that such a large number of national
legislators were brought into direct con-
tact with practically all the leading spirits
of one Of the largest Industries in the
country.
Defebaugh Is Toastmaster.
When the guests were seated Mr..
Wheeler turned the gavel over to ]. E.
Defebaugh of Chicago, editor OF the
American Lumberman. who officiated as
postmaster. After the repast had been
served Mr.. Defebaugh introduced James
r. Mann of Illinois, who responded to the
toast. The House of Representatives. "
He was followed by Edward Hines of
Chicago, who spoke of THE lumber in
duStry.
Capt ]. B. White of Kansas City. one
of the leading yellow pine manufacturers
In the country, who has cO-operated
largely with the forestry service in con-
servation experiments, the next speaker.
declared the removal of the duty on
lumber would hasten rather than prolong
the life of the American forest because
anything which tends to cheaper the
value of the forests prevents its complete
utilization.
of the Vanderbilt estate at Biltmore.
spoke Of forest conservation from the
forester's standpoint advancing the argu-
ment that higher prices in this country
were necessary to afford tree planting
The time has not been reached, he said
where tree growing can be undertaken
as crop with profitable results. Senti-
ment for forest conserv alton, he said
would not grow trees; there must be a
profitable return for money invested
d. f. Skinner of San Francisco spoke
of the advantage which the Canadian
has in the way of water transportation
by reason of the operation of the coast
wise laws. which require that American
products must be shipped in American
bottoms. upon which the wages are Of
from two to six times greater than upon
foreign vessels.
Protection to Break Solid South.
j. Lewis Thompson of Houston. Tex.
a southern democrat. addressed himself
to the question of "A Tariff for Revenue"
He asserted. among other things, that
there never was a time when the re-
publican party had a better chance to
break the solid south than now.
The wool men of Texas, he declared.
want protection. If they have it, the
umbermen should have it, and so should
the sugar and rice men. And the gov
eminent wants the revenue.
We. as southern democrats" he said.
DO not see why our industries should be
disseminated against, since protection is
the policy of the government
Other speakers were w B. StilIwell
OF Savannah. Ga, who spoke on "Pha SEES
OF the Lumber Trade and " H. Beck
man of Seattle, who spoke on "Labor's
Interest In the Tariff" Incidentally he
exhibited a number of pictures showing
lumber production in Canada by Asiatic
la Dor.