The Coolidge examiner., 1939-12-28
AS 1t Appears To
Your Congressman
BY John R. Murdock


and the Second regular session of
the 18th Congress. However, the
tremendous interest of the Arizona
public in the prospect of pro-
posed trade agreement with Chile
which might include copper has
prompted me to continue with
them. This is done partly to make
my own attitude and action clear
in my attempt to prevent a lower
ing OF the four cent per pound
duty on copper, and also to give
the readers a little more complete
picture of the whole matter
Many Western men vitally in
terested in mining have felt that
a cut in the tariff duty soon by
our State Department was ertreme-
ly probable, or as some thought,
inevitable. realized all along the
hazard hanging over the industry
and worked to prevent any re-
duction in the duty, but | have
never felt that it was a foregone
conclusion, even in case a treaty
is negotiated with Chile. Several
times I have heard men from the
West. who had come to Washing
ton to fight the proposed treaty
say, hopelessly,, whats the use
The cards are stacked against us, !"
or. These experts had their minds
made up before they begin the
study Let me say again that L
never had any such hopeless
thought, for l felt that if we pre-
sented the matter in a complete
and emphatic way that the copper
interest would be duly protected.
On November 81, Senator Hay
den, Sam Morris and l from Ari-
zona appeared before the Commit
tee on Reciprocity Information and
presented our views. The next day
Senator Ashurst was accorded
special hearing befor this commit
tee. In addition to the three from
Arizona, a few other senators and
congressman appeared before the
committee on the 9th and also
several other men representing
American copper interests to pre-
sent the case for copper very ef-
fectively. l believe that the argu-
ments presented to the committee
at that time had much to do in
convincing them that it is not to
the interest of the country at
large to open the door to any ex-
tent whatsoever to the importation
of foreign copper.
Besides appearing before the
Committee on Reciprocity Informa-
ton ito argue the matter, there
are other steps which may be
properly taken toward influencing
the State Department officials not
to include copper or certain items,
in a proposed treaty. On my own
part | contacted several men at
the State Department, especially
Mr.. Henry F. Grady who is Secre-
tary Hull's right hand man in re-
gard to these treaties. came away
convinced that Mr.. Grady did not
intend to include copper in the
Chilean treaty. But even after re-
turning home l wired Mr.. Grady
as the following exchange of
kilograms will illustrate.
December IA, 1889
Phoenix, Arizona
Mr.. GRADY,
Assistant Secretary of State.
Washington, D. C.
Recalling our recent conversations
concerning copper and proposed
Chilean agreement find here even
greater anxiety than l suggested.
You remember my only plea was
that copper be entirely excluded
from Chilean pact. No modifica-
ton concessions, press report to
contrary Notwithstanding. Such is
universal prayer in west. Hope
understood Alright your vacation
wish for me, that is, an untroubled
mind. Your thought and determi-
nation to exclude copper from
Trade Agreements would mean
happy Christmas in Arizona.
John r. Murdock,
M c from Arizona
December Is, 1889
Washington, D. c.
The Hon John R. Murdoch
Tempee, Arizona.
Please rest assured along the
indicated in our recent converse
ton that the interests Of the do
mestic copper industry are being
most carefully considered in con-
nection with trade agreement