Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1884-05-15
THE TARIFF BILL DEAD.
The House Strikes out the Enacting
Clause
BY the Close Vote of 159 to f55-NO
More Tarifr Agitation This ses-
sion-Congressman Converse
Deals the Deadly Blow.

WASHINGTON, May THE Morri-
son bill is dead. The motion to strike
out the enacting clause was carried
yesterday by the close vote of l59 to
l55. The hand that struck the death
blow was that of Congressman George
L. Converse, of Ohio, who made the
motion tn strike ou. the enacting
clause. Nearly every member was in
his seat and the galleries were
crowded. Several members made
short speeches and ex-Speaker Ran
dali made the final argument against
the bill.
Mr.. Randall then took the floor in
opposition to the bill. He noted the
extreme quickness with which capital
invested IN large industrial establish
ments took alarm. While in common
with all other interests it was liable to
be called on for taxation to aid in the
support of the government, Congress it
owed to itself that nothing like vim
dictive policy should he adopted. In
the nice adjustment of business affairs
there was nothing more conducive to
success than stability. If there was
stability there was sure foundation
for confidence, and as natural result
capital and labor moved forward in
their respective spheres in constance
and accordance with mutal profits. To
Judge from the Incorporate language
andexaggerated rhetoric which had so
frequently marked the debate. it would
seem as if those engaged in industrial
pursuits were robbers and outlaws.
AS matter of fact they we're nothing
of the sort; Ghey were part, and no
mean part of the business of the coun.
try and had been united under the law
to engage in those employments, and
therefore. if for no other reason they
were entitled to the protection of the
law. They we're part of our resources
as a nation, and to develop those re-
sources was a test of true statesman
chip He rejoiced in the growth and
prosperity of every section of the
country. If the denunciations of the
advocates of the bill we're to believed,
men who built up our factories had
committed an objectionable sin.
He then went on to argue against
the policy of unsettling the business
interests by constant tinkering with
the tariff. Should no law last longer
than the meeting of the next Congress?
Should the meeting OF Congress cause
fear and its adjournment cause enjoy
ment? Should nothing be settled at
the time at least, but should doubt and
mistrust always haunt the working and
sleeping hours of people? For one be
was opposed to any such suicidal poll
CIV. The House was invited here to
choose between the firm first step to-
wards free trade, or to wait the reform Of
the tariff until such time as the Demo.
cratic party should build on the prin-
ciples expressed in the Ohio platform
He had no difficulty in choosing be-
tween the two lines of public policy,
and he chose for his own people and
his own country. He did this in full
assurance that free trade would bring
nothing but disaster and ruin, while
the principles expressed in the Ohio
declaration would bring prosperity,
happiness and higher order of civ
ilization.
Would it not be wiser to defer the
consideration of so important ques-
ton until the country had passed
through the excitement of the presi
dental struggle and until some infor-
nation could be secured as to the
workings of the tariff bill Of 1888?
Then real reform measure could be
adopted which would remain undis-
turbed for years and would be safe,
steady and universally accepted. Then
business interests would have time to
adapt themselves to whatever changes
might occur. Though this subject
ought not to involve any question of
party allegiance, it might be to we'll
consider how far its agitation might
advance or retard the march to very
great Democratic victory. The South
ern states alone were inadequate to
success, and which of the Northern
states was likely to accept the new dis
pensation? He would speak plainly
and utter his fears in the presence of
political enemies. Take the four To-
cal states, Connecticut, New York, New
Jersey and Pennsylvania. The census
showed that more than 100000 per-
sons were engaged in manufacture in
those four great commonwealths Did
the gentlemen believe that reduction
of wages was potent factor in win
ming the support of those people, and
especially when Republican orators,
backed by the power of full press,
would thunder in their ears the state
ment that the Democratic party had
been the main cause of that reduction?
He begged the gentlemen to ponder
these things and not lightly dismiss
them. This was certain. They would
not act without a warning, and it was
kindly meant, but not less emphatlcal-
ly, as it sprang from his deep convic-
ton of its truth. If, however, the
inexorable logic of events should de-
monstrate his apprehension to be
groundless, there would be no one
more willing to acknowledge his error