Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-20
Paper Manufacturer Opposed
to the Mccall Bill.
DOESN'T WANT FREE PULP
Says There Is Plenty of Wood Here
for Paper Making.
SPRUCE NOT BEST TIMBER
! Other Woods Make Better Paper, He
Says, and South Has a Great
Opportunity.


out the provisions of the Canadian
reciprocity agreement were begun to-
day by the Senate committee on
finance. During the forenoon the only
witness was John Strange of Neenah,
Wis, a paper manufactures, and for
mer lieutenant governor of his state.
Mr.. Strange opposed the bill in vigor-
Gus language. charging that false SEN
timent in favor of it had been manu-
featured by a league of newspapers.
which he believed to be In violation of
the Sherman antitrust law.
Considerable difficulty was expert
enced by Senators Lodge, Cullom. Flint
and Stone in keeping Mr.. Strange to
his subject and obtaining from him
reasons why the agreement should not
be confirmed. Several times Senator
Lodge sharply demanded something
other than attacks upon the motives
Of newspapers in their demands for
cheaper paper.
Norris to Be Heard From.
John Norris, chairman of the paper COM
mittee of the American Newspaper Pub
fishers Association. was an interested lis
tener to the testimony Of Mr.. Strange.
He said that later he would have some
thing to say himself on the subject.
Sifted of its attacks upon newspapers
and other organizations which favor the
agreement. Mr.. Strange's statement con-
tanned the following arguments: That
adam pulp wood than it has for. Can
adam disease germs; that spruce is not
necessary to paper making, as any wood
which has a fiber will suffice, and there
are many woods better than spruce; that
the frs of >the northwest make excellent
paper. and that there is nothing better
than the soft woods Of the south.
In connection with his statement about
timber of the south. Mr.. Strange said that
if the democrats knew what they were
about they would take such action as
would make them the future paper
makers of the country.
Likened to Horse Trade.
IF you are wise to your interests, .,
the witness said to Senator Simmons OF
North Carolina you will vote against
this trade of the $1,000 southern thorough
bred for this spawned, blind old kicking
broncho, which Canada offers you in
trade
Mr. Strange declared that Wisconsin
soon will have soft woods enough to
supply all the mills of that state, that
Minnesota already can supply its mills
and that West Virginia is growing as
fine paper timber as any state in the
Union. These states alone. he said, in
twenty years will be growing enough
for all the mills of the country and
paper making is just developing in the
south through the utilization OF tim
Der which is unfit for lumber.
These statements were brought out
chiefly by questions from Senator Hale.
whose purpose was to show that Cana
dian timber for paper making is not
needed in this country; that there is
sufficient standing timber-far more
than the country realizes. Mr.. Hale
said-for immediate needs, and conser-
walton already is taking care of the
future
Senator Hale referred to the pound
ing by the press" and asked il there
was not a great deal of apprehension
because Of the attitude OF the newspa-
pers. Mr.. Strange said that was true,
and launched into criticism of their
methods and practices. which, he de-
Of intimidation. Their arguments. he
said, were conglomerate mass of
nonsense. 1t was in this connection
that senators took the witness to task
and Senator Lodge and Senator Flint
said they wanted something more tan
gible than the mere opinions Of the
witness.
Denial Of Combination.
During his statement about the news
papers interest in lower paper rates Mr.
Strange said that there had never been
any combination in restraint of trade ex-
cept as it emanated from certain or
CARNATIONS of newspaper publishers.
whom he accused of vicious interference
with legitimate trade
Mr.. Strange asserted that the agree
ment could not possibly cheaper paper
and would have no effect except to trans
He thought the newspapers themselves
might build their own plants in Canada.
Senator Burrows presided over the
meeting of the committee. Other sena-
tors present were Messrs Hale, Penrose,
Cullom. Lodge. Smoot, McCumber, Flint,
Simmons and Stone. Shortly after II
o'c'ock there was call Of the Senate,
which compelled ~ recess until $50 pm.