The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-22
DEFEAT.
The Vote on the House Rules Not Indicative
of the Drift of Tariff Sentiment.

The Vote on the House Rules Not Indicative
of the Drift of Tariff Sentiment.
Washington Special in Philadelphia Press.
1 called on Mr.. Randall last night and had
more than an hours talk with him. He was
feeling cheerful, regarding his defeat as one of
that he had expected more assistance from the
Republican side of the House, not 80 much on
his claims on that party as a Protectionist, but
because he believes that in voting for the distri-
button OF a portion of the appropriation bills
they are enabling the Southern Democrats to
put through a number of extravaganza schemes
and, perhaps, recklessly expend the public
money. 1t may be that this has been exaggera-
ted, but Mr.. Randall does not think so, and he
declared that in his experience as a legislator
a few men, as a rule, exercised the checking
power. When left to many each one felt little
individual responsibility and extravaganza in-
variably followed.
While the tariff had been used in the heat of
the last hours of the debate to induce Republic,
ans to rally under the Randall flag, he did not
regard the vote on the rules in the slightest way
indicative of the future struggle on the tariff.
That was another question altogether. While
he was not inclined to accept the Republican
proposition of no revision at all, he should GER
tainly oppose any radical changes which the
Morrison wing might propose. The idea had
gone abroad, and the free-traders believed it,
that his position on the appropriations commit
tee had enabled him to obtain votes on the hori-
LOutdl kCuuCtlOu Dul WuiCu uo ObueEWlS6 WOulQ
not have obtained. This was absolutely false.
Every vote against the Morrison bill was OBJ
tanned on the plea of protection to American
labor. The recent action Of Congress in chang
ing the rules would neither add to nor take away
a vote from him on this question should it come
up again during the present session.
1t will be time enough to say what Mr.. Ran
dali will do when Morrison introduces his tariff
measure. Whether the Republicans will remain
solid against any revision, or consent to such q
revision as will satisfy Mr.. Randall is impossible
to tell at this time. The feeling of the majority
of the Republican leaders is strongly against any
coquetry with Randall and his friends. There
will be at least forty-one Democrats in the pres
ert House who will oppose radical revision of
the tariff. They will not, however, have the
courage to take the Republican stand against
any revision.
For the moment the Republicans can afford
to wait and watch. Not one of the forty-one
Democrats will dare, in my opinion land that
opin ion is derived from a knowledge of their dis
tricts, of the meagre majority by which they
were returned, and the local elements at work
to keep them right, to vote for free wool, free
iron ore, or for a serious reduction in any SEIZED
ule. AS between such q course and voting
against all interference with the tariff this sss
sion, a majority Of them would stand better with
their constituencies should they choose the lat
ter. If the Republicans do not get scared at the
first sound of the Morrison trumpeters and con-
sent TO a revision, they may hold the fort until
the next House is elected, which will probably
be Republican. b. p. P.