Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-10-13

| d r. s.
| Hewitt Sharply Arraigns the Demo-
| cratic Party.
New YORK, Oct. 12.-The large room in
| the Stewart building was crowded this after
noon by merchants manufacturers and law
| yers to discuss the election of representatives
| in Congress favorable to a revision of the
tariff. Joseph B. Sargent, of New Haven,
was in the chair and among the well known
faces seen were thoss of Everett P. Wheeler,
Colonel Fellowes, E. Ellery Anderson, Hon.
William Dorsheimer, Q. B. Potter, Arson
Phelps Stokes, J. M. Constable of Arnold,
Constable & Co., George F. Peabody Of
Spencer, Trask & Co., E. H Van Ingen, LIE
Grand Lockwood, Thomas G. Spearman and
Alexander Barring. In taking the chair Mr..
Sargent said the question they had come to-
gether to discuss was SO broad as to cover not
only the interests of New York merchants,
but those interested in the developments in
all parts of the country's industry. AS a
manufacturer he was alarmed at the want of
adequate home markets for the products of
our factories. He thought that by the relief
of the present burdens upon raw materials
we might very largely increase our exports.
Mr.. Charles II. Marshall introduced the fol-
lowing resolutions
Resolved, That we regret that Congress at
its late session failed even to begin the relief
of American industry from the oppressive
and complicated exactions of the present
tariff.
Resolved, That we heartily commend the
action of those representatives in Congress
who voted for the consideration of the bill
to simplify and reduce the duties on imports
~. 1
Means at the last session of Congress.
Resolved, That committee of FIVE be ap-
pointed by the chair, with power to add to
their number, whose duty it shall be to take
such action as they may think expedient to
carry out the objects of this convention and
the principles expressed in the foregoing
resolutions.
Mr.. Wheeler made a brief address urging
tariff reform. Hon. A. S. Hewitt was loud
~ cheeIed when he made his appearance.
He said: ''The question of tariff reform is in
a peculiar condition and it seems to me that
public opinion must be brought to bear
upon the representatives in Congress SO that
they will understand that the people who have
make an honest living are no longer to be
trif1ed with; that action of some kind must
be taken and that no man, no matter how
high his position shall be allowed to stand
in the way of this great movement, which is
absolutely indispensable for continued
try. I have labored in Congress to
secure revision of the tariff,
often misunderstood by my friends, but
nevertheless with determination to force
this issue upon the party to which belong,
the Democratic party. At length in 1884
ple not that it would bring about free trade,
but that it would reduce taxation by a re-
form of the tariff. Upon that issue the
Democrats went into power. That pledge
was not fulfilled. It was shamelessly vio-
lated. It was violated in my opinion-and
speak frankly-because the two great leaders
of the party in the House of Representatives
had so much personal antagonism that they
could not meet on the common ground of the
pledge given the people. The members of
the party from New York were
misled. They feared their constituents would
not tolerate revenue reform. But outside
of any radical action there was a wide field.
There were two features. First-the admin
istrative portion of the tariff, which you mer-
chants understood. You know when you
go to the custom house you meet with many
petty annoyances, conflicting constructions
of the law, etc., SO you do not know what
you have to pay and may expect innumerable
suits. This was the question TO which
turned my energies when l found how seri-
GUS was the conflict between thu leaders.
But notwithstanding persistent efforts 1
never was permitted to bring that bill before
the House after getting the approval of the
Ways and Means committee and of many
leading Republicans.
s'It was the fault of the Democratic major
ity of the Committee of Ways and Means.
Let us denounce the right people. The
Speaker of the House should have taken
Messrs. Morrison and Randall by their ears
and shaken their heads and the President of
the United States, put in that high office by
the votes Of the State of New York, should
L. 41oA
policy of his administration might be carried
out If the Democratic party now in power
fails to send a measure of tariff reform to the
Senate, thereby putting upon the Republi-
cans the responsibility of defeating it, then /
say to you turn the Democratic party out
If the duties raw materials-iron ore,
scrap iron wool, jute and other materials
which enter in as the basis of other indus
tries-if these duties, which are now an OBJ
struction to manufacture, are removed, is it
not obvious that we would have larger
margin of profit which we could divide so
far as competition would allow between the
consumer and the workingmena The mistake
you revenue reformers have made is that
Won have steadily demanded
reduction of duties on manufactured goods.
You have insisted on beginning at the top.
saw, take the duties off the raw materials.
Reduce the expense to the manufacturer.
Get him on your side. 1t is quite practicable
interest of the manufacturers, of the work
men, of the consumer and of the highly
protected classes and still to reduce TAXA
tion."
Mr.. Hewitt then began to speak in a more
personal way about himself and was listened
to with GREATNESS attention. He said: 81
thought was enlisted for this war during
another campaign, but during the last ses
sion found myself apparently unable to do
the work wanted to do and l reluctantly
made up my mind to retire and leave to
younger and ADLER men the task Of lighting
this battle tell you, business meffof New
York, you want seven live, earnest, intelli-
not allow these political parties to
nominate any other men. Ii they
nominate other men I say defeat them
at the polls. Put your w1sest enemy IN,
rather than weak, inefficient revenue re-
former. This is the just and righteous in
dignation of a man in earnest and who con-
fesses to you that he Is O failure: Find some
one else who can make the battle success.
have probably said too much for my own
good (cries of moi noD, but the last word l
have to say to You is that you have not got
the proper revenue reform to-day. The
leaders of the Democratic party ana &c. not Ihe
Republicans are responsible for IT. Pr The ap-
plause which greeted Mr.. Hewltt's last
word was phenomena
Mr. Orlando B. Potter next warmly adVo-
Gated the removal of duties on raw materl-
ais: Mr. Dorsheimer spoke in similar
strain. After further speeches by Messrs:
Anderson, Adams, Fellowes, Stokes and
others the resolutions were adopted unani-
mously and the meeting adjourned.
In an interview tonight Mr.. Hewitt de-
clared himself undecided in regard to accept
ing the nomination for mayor. He said his
heelth was poor that it was question
whether he could bear the strain OF such d
campaign as would be required.
Flying Express Deratled
PLA1NFIELD, N. j., Oct. 12.-The 3:45 p.
Philadelphia express train was wrecked ct
| the Grand avenue station in this city at 500
this afternoon when running at the rate OF
ffty miles an hour The entire train, con
sistino of smoker two parlor cars and two