Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-06-28
SENATOR SHERMAN.
His Position on the Tariff and Con
nectiOn with the Wool Schedule.

| his fOSltl01 Oh Ine 1drIH anu COn-
nectiOn with the Wool Schedule.
In an interesting interview with a
correspondent Of the New York Tribune.
Senator Sherman has the following to
say concerning the tariff and his action
on the wool schedule:
The tariff will undoubtedly be the
great issue between the parties next
year. In my opinion the outspoken dec
l1arations of our platform on this issue
foreshadow what the Republican Ma
tional platform will declare. It is the
great issue between the two parties:
each party is committed upon it; there
is no doubt how each stands. We shall
give 1t prominence this year. The liquor
question will not be slighted. We are
united in that and, so far as voters may
! be interested mainly in State affairs, we
shall confidently expect to convince
those who may be doubtful that our po
sition is right. l think we shall be able
to do that so early the campaign that
after all the tariff will Overtop every
thing else in Importance. Our farmers
are very much interested in it, wool
growers being especially exercised"
You don't look for the insertion in
the National, platform of the clause
adopted 1t Columbus demanding res
toration of the former duty on wool?"
I'VE could hardly hope for that But
that clause effects very large and pow
erful interest here. All our farmers are
concerned in it. They will demand its
discussion. That will carry the general
subject into the campaign. We can rely
on Democrats in Congress to keep it be-
fore the people,
Then You anticipate Democratic at
tempts at further revision?"
81 haven't doubt of it. They will
begin early in the session and keep dig
ging at it to the end, but without ac-
compliShing anything except to keep the
subject stirring and the people very rest
less
Then can you expect success in your
| CllOiG W ldNO WIG hOOl huI1
Il think it doubtful at present, al
though we shall try. A bill to restore
the duty would invite endless amend
ment, and perhaps at last be defeated
with one branch of Congress Democrat
ic. The reduction was stupid blum
der"
You have noticed, doubtless, that you
and the Republican delegation in the
| House have been criticised for having
voted for the tariff bill because of this
obnoxious scheduls?"
IL have noticed that the Democrats
are trying to create a false impression
about it, and that there seems to be
widespread Misunderstanding, which
will be corrected, however. The sched4
ule was adopted by union of New En-
gland with the Democrats. l have been
blamed, and Mr.. Mckinley also has been
blamed, because the conference commit
tee, on which we served, reported back
this schedule with the tariff bill. We
both fought the schedule in conference,
but were outvOteG. Mr.. Morrill, and
Mr.. Aldrich sided with the Democrats.
pleaded with Morrill, TO help US, saying
that we would aid only our opponents TO
the injury of the farmers by allowing
such schedule TO stand, and since it
was the only schedule that directly af-
| fected farmers, | wanted him to join me
in taking care of their interests. He re-
piled that Vermont was eeasing to be a
wool growing State; that they were
raising sheep there now to kill and for
breeding, and he saw no reason why he
should vote with me. L fought the
| scha6ula also in tho Sanata w han If ~ aS
under separate consideration. But New
England and the Democrats were too
strong for ua. 1t was one of the most
stupid pieces Of political folly into
which men with boards ever blundered.
l was rs free in expressing my opinion
in the Senate about this as | am now,
but was powerless. Nor was my opin-
ion OF feeling at all modified when the
bill as a whole was put on its passage
in the Senate. voted for it, not to
signify my acquiescence in the woel
schedule, which | had always condemn
ed, but because of the multiplicity of in
terest involved, and as the best means
then available to secure reduction of
taxation and of surplus revenues. The
Democratic papers, l believe. are loudest
in censure. 1t may not be much of an
argument, bat it is an answer to them,
as far as farmers are concerned, that if
the Democrats had controlled the tariff
bill it would have been much worse fol
farmers and for every other class than it
is now. They wouldn't have stopped
where, with New England's help, they
stopped on the wool schedule, but they
would have upset everything else
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