Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-08-19

vision in given direction for a
certain period OF time. 1t is no occa.
sion for surprise that those visual
organs become AFFLICTED with strabis.
mus, just as does the physical vision
Long continued abuse of either the
mental or physical vision results in
a chronic condition that is deplor-
able-from the standpoint of the bal
ance Of us.
This philosophical thought has
been engendered by the leading edi-
torial in the Aberdeen Word Of Aug
ust IL, in which Editor Rupp reveals
mental strabismus that alarms his
friends-and their name is legion,
and among whom the writer is pleas
ed to be numbered. The amusing
feature Of this editorial is that it
Immediately followed a quotation from
Tolstoi. to this appropriate effect:
Error is the force that YIELDS men
together; truth is communicated to
men only by deeds Of truth.-Tolstoi.
Now, listen to the editorial follow
ing, under the caption, Tariff and
Lumber"
The evidence adduced so far before
the federal trade commission at it's
hearings in Northwest cities shows
that the Democratic tariff law that
removed the duty from lumber has
been the chief factor In the present
depression afflicting the industry.
The American lumbermen and log
gers have been placed on unequal
terms with the Canadian manufac-
turer because Of the difference In
conditions surrounding production
The Canadian is not hampered by his
government. He secures his labor
cheaper. His taxes are not high. He
has bottoms in plenty and the ship.
ping laws are favorable, not inimical
Victor Beckman, Northwest lumber
authority, told the commission that
he knew of 658 Americans who had
acquired timber lands in British
Columbia and contemplated a trans
fer of their activities, along with
their money and employment for
workers, across the line. Why not?
The American consumer in the
Middle states and elsewhere buys the
lumber that is offered the cheapest
and does not ask the place of manu-
facture. He is not patriotic in his
buying. Why should the American
manufacturer labor under adverse
conditions when he can find more
favorable circumstances and oppor-
tunities under another flag? The
Northwest should exert every effort
to amend the present tariff law so
as to restore a reasonable duty on
lumber and shingles.
Now, the record fact is that no
evidence adduced before the COM
mission in the Northwest" or else
where, shows that the present tariff
has not in any manner resulted in
injury to the lumber industry of this
state. or the United States.
The World article confines itself
to something that might occur. but
has not. The article would lead to
the inference that Canadian lumber
was being shipped into the United
States at q rate that injured this
country, while all records Of imports
and exports Of lumber show the con-
trary.
The lumber market of this region
lies chiefly In California and West
Coast points, and absolutely no Brit
ish Columbia lumber has been ship
pei to those markets since the enact
ment Of our present tariff law. 1t
may be true that our Canadian
friends have been wiser than we in
regulating the sale Of standing tim
Der, and have attracted American
lumbermen by that policy. But, it
Is absolutely false that the political
party now in power is in any man.
ner responsible, unless 1t may be
said that in three years they should
have undone all the mischievous
business legislation enacted by the
republican party in fifty years.
A comparatively few British Co.
lumbar shingles have been shipped
into this country, but, 80 far as east
ern lumber trade journals are aware,
they have proved Of inferior quality
and unsatisfactory. And at that, so
far as the Grays Harbor region is
concerned, the single mills are op-
Grating at least 80 per cent greater
capacity than are the lumber mills.
Lumber manufacturers all over the
nation are seeking means to improve
the demand for their products. yet
none have advanced the theory Of
the Aberdeen World. that the. de-
pressed condition of this industry was
attributable to the tariff law, and the
writer defies the Aberdeen World
to show where a tariff Of SO per
thousand feet on British Columbia
lumber would improve the present
condition of that industry here.