Raise the tariffs!

Smyrna used to be the site of a Lane Cedar company mill for the surrounding area. Cedar was an important natural resource, so much so that local efforts to protect the markets that use cedar occurred. In the book "Tariff schedules: Hearings before the Committee on ways and means, House of representatives" 1913, a copy of a petition was entered into the records for others to read and a like one was from Smyrna. Here is the small petition and the reason for it.

Murfreesboro, Tenn., January 7, 1913. Hon. W. C. Houston, Washington, D. C.

Dear Sib: Referring to Schedule N, Paragraph 472, pencils, of the present tariff:

We object strongly to any reduction in the present tariff on pencils. A number of our people manufacture elate for pencil factories and any reduction in the tariff on pencils would make the price of the manufactured stock so low that some of our poeple would no doubt have to go out of business or cut the price of our labor to equal the pauper labor of Europe. The farmers own the cedar wood that is left in the Southern States, and a reduction in the tariff on pencils would mean a tremendous loss to these men.

Red cedar formerly found only in the Southern States of this country is now shipped in large quantities and much cheaper from the German East African possessions to Germany, where the authorities have publicly recommended to the people not to use any other cedar. The lower the tariff on pencils here the more finished pencils will be imported made of the African wood, thereby cutting down the farmers' income and lowering the wages of the laborers.

Our people depend for their living upon protection of the finished article made in this country as against the low-priced wood used in Germany, Italy, France, and Japan in the manufacture of pencils. Yours, very truly,

Jno. M. Buttes, President, First National Bant. (And 6 others.)

(A similar petition dated Smyrna, Tenn., Jan. 14, 1913, with 12 signers was also received and filed.)

I'm not sure whom the 12 signatures are, but in 1913 the population of Smyrna was below 500. A loss of business would have really hurt the town.