The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-01-24

condition Of the iron and steel trade in
the United States on the first day of
January, 1914, is reviewed in an ar
ticle on the first page of the Daily
Iron Trade Of Friday, January 8, 1914.
This is not political paper; it does
not attempt to fix responsibility or
give the cause for present conditions;
1t simply. In a cold business manner,
states the facts. The article opens
with this sentence:
The astounding depth to which the
business depression of the United
States and especially the iron and
steel business, has sunk in the past
six months makes one Of the stupen.
dous stories Of the past fifty years :.
The article then proceeds to set
out in detail the present conditions
of this great industry which Is uni
versally regarded as the best bust
ness barometer in the United States.
The facts, when known, will stagger
the American people.
On the 4th day of March last, when
the Democratic party came into pow
er. the steel and iron business of the
country was almost at the very height
of its prosperity. On that day, as I
have already pointed out, there were
S06 blast furnaces running. On the
first day of January, 1914, there were
1913 of these furnaces closed. Thirty
eight per cent of all the fires in the
blast furnaces in the United States
are now out, with no prospect of again
being relighted.
Mr.. Cox-I want to ask the gentle
man If those closures are brought
about by the importation of iron and
steel?
Mr.. Humphrey of Washington
They have been brought about by
the tariff bill that the Democratic
party placed on the statute books.
MIR. Cox-I would like to have the
gentleman answer my question. do
not think he answered It yet to suit
me.
Mr.. Humphrey OF Washington-l
do not expect to be able to answer
any question in way to suit the
gentleman. | have no idea that
could possibly do it..
Mr.. Cox-I will put the question
again. Have these mills been closed
down as the result of the importation
of iron and steel since Democratic
tariff bill went into effect?
Mr.. Humphrey of Neutrality-suspicious.
Ci the reasons why they have closed
down is because under the present
tariff law business throughout the Uni
ted States generally has been abso
luly, paralyzed and there is no demand
for steel That is the reason.
Mr.. Cox-Then 1t has not been due
to the importation Of steel under the
Democratic tariff law as understand
Mr.. Humphrey Of Washington-As
far as that is concerned the people
of the United States are not buying
either at home or abroad at this time
Mr.. Cox-I want the gentleman tC
answer this question, If he is prepar
ed to do it: What amount Of steel ant
iron has been imported into this coun
try since this bill went into effect, al
compared with what it was last year
Mr.. Humphrey Of Wellington
do not know. / know that the home
production has decreased over on,
third.
Mr.. Hardy-Will the gentleman al
so answer as to whether or not lum
Der mills have been closed at all b.
importations OF lumber into this coun
try, and whether there has been an!
increase I'm importations of lumber?
Mr.. Humphrey of Washington
do not know whether there has beef
any increase in the importation o
lumber or not. | know that the lum
Der mills of my country are closed
| know that the largest mill in tn,
state of Washington closed about
weeks ago for the first time in 81
years. For the last 2 years and prob
ably longer it has run day and night
II even survived the awful days o
1897. The president of this com
pany is here, and he may be inside o
this hall now for aught / know ant
from him I received this information
Mr.. Hardy-My understanding o
the argument of Republicans has al
ways been that the Democratic lay
would permit importations In compe
tition with our products, and thereb
deprive our industries of their EN-
ployment. Now, ! want to know
the tariff has brought in any increase,
amount OF lumber or an increase,