Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-10-01
DR.. McDilI'S Address.

bR. CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE CONVENTION Your commit
: tee have communicated to me the fat
tering intelligence that | have been
unanimously nominated as the candi-
date of the Republican party for Rep
Iresentative from the Eighth District
of Wisconsin. For the honor thus con-
ferred, as we'll as the unanimity with
which it has been rendered, accept my
sincere thanks, and permit me. through
you. to tend my profound acknowledge
ments to the Republicans of Northern
Wisconsin for this manifestation of ap-
proval and regard with which they have
SO signalIy honored me, and to assure
the people of this district, if again
chosen as their representive, and of the
success of the Republican party in this
district [ have no doubt, that during
my term of service as their representa-
tive, in the future as IN the past, all
there is of my ability, my industry and
my integrity will be as faithfully devoted
to their interests as they ever were en-
ployed in my own.
1t is not expected that I, at this time,
will enter into an elaborate discussion
Of the issue on which public sentiment
is more or less divided but, recog-
nizing the right of people to demand
from candidates for popular favor an
expression Of their views on questions
on public intrest, [ will briefly say
Among the prominent questions likely
to occupy the attention of Congress are
those Of transportation, the rights of
capital and labor, taxation, retrench-
ment in public expenditures, and cor
rection of political abuses On these
questions TIE position of the Republican
party is clear and unequivocal, and on
most of them my votes are recorded and
speak for themselves. No question
now occupying public attention invol-
yes more important issues than those
connected with that of transportation,
the rights Of capital and the interests
of labor the productive industrial bus
mess interests eff the country. We
fully concide in the decision of the
United States District Court, and more
recently Of our own Supreme Court,
proclaiming the sovereign right Of the
people to exercise control Of corporate
ons, bnt In the use of that power we
ask justice and fairness; and that their
legitimate business should be fostered
and protected by the state as fully as
that Of any Of her citizens. The vol
ume and extent of our commerce has
become so enormous that it requires
increased and less expensive facilities
for its accommodation.
To accomplish this and do no injus-
tice to these great enterprises which
have contributed so greatly to the de-
velOpment and prosperity of our young
and growing state, and which are so
much needed Tor the development of
the resources of this district, requires
well matured, careful consideration, as
the adoption of hasty and ill-advised
measures would tend to postpone indie
: fintely the attainment of the desired
object-cheap transportation. i pom
the question of the power and authori-
ty of Congress to control interstate COM
merce by railroad, as we'll as the duty
to aid commerce by providing addition
al facilities, the position Of the Repub-
lican party is clear and unequivocal, as
will be evidenced by the following votes
in Congress at the last session: On the
9th of FEBRUARY, 1874, Mr.. j. Q. Smith
: offered a resolution declaring THAT in
the judgment of this House it is in the
constitutional power of Congress by law
SO to regulate commerce among these
states as to protect that portion of our
internal commerce which Is among the
several states from all unjust>or oppres-
i've tolls, taxations or other burdens,
whether imposed by railroad companies
or by combinations thereof; or by other
common carriers when engaged as the
instruments of such portions of the
commerce of the people; that the pres
sent condition and magnitude Of the
commerce among the states are such as
to demand the prompt exercise Of the
power and duty declared in this resolu-
3 ton" On the adoption of this resolu-
ton, 15S Republicans and IA Democr
ats voted for it and IL Republicans, so
Democrats and 3 Liberals against
it.
Again on the Goth Of March, 1874,
on the ''bill to regulate commerce by
railroads among the several states re-
ported from the Committee on Rail-
ways and Canals, by Mr.. McCrary.
Republican, carefully prepared bill,
designed to remedy the evils of which
the producing classes so loudly com
plain, 116 Republicans and only 5
Democrats voted for the bill, while II
Democrats and 2 Liberals voted against
it. These votes conclusively settle the
question of which party favors the far
mers aud producing classes.
Responding to the popular demand
for economy and retrenchment in public
expenditures and the correction of pol
itical abuse, Congress at its last session
cut down the appropriations for this
fiscal year over $40, 900, 900 below the
estimates for the year, thereby saving
to the people that amount of taxation.
And since the close of President John
sons Administration they reduced the
number of employes in one denartment