The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1886-03-27
FREE TRADE LEADERS ALARMED.


nsn. cessiul Efforts by Mr.. Morrison to
Trade Votes An Experience Meeting.
The free trade leaders in the House
are shivering with fear lest they be
thrown into involuntary bankruptcy
with no assets except a detunct tariff
bill. Chairman Morrison, who bears
np well, however, is trying TO dispose
OF enough of the bill at private sale,
and take his pay in votes, to enable
the Tariff Reform concern, of which he
is the head, to continue in business
and, perhaps, to pay few cents on
the dollar. If he can get fifteen votes
in exchange for the Gree iron ore
and coal provisions he will be glad of
the chance, and will be willing to take
Gree WOOL as a makeweight, provided
it will not cost him too many votes. 1t
is whispered that he is willing to per-
NIT the "Robber Barons' of Pennsyl-
vania TO keep the present rates on all
articles in the schedule Of metals, if
they will agree to let "some kind of a
bill pass" 1t is said that he has re-
minded them of the promise of tariff
revision in the Democratic National
platform and has pleaded with them
tearfully to help him to redeem that
pledge. His appeals have been of no
avail. In substance, he has been in
formed that what he now promises
sounds well but it is too late that the
Morrison bill has assumed define form
in mems minds, and that, no matter
how hollow the professions of "tarifi
reform" in the Morrison biz, it must be
treated as a sound article of its kind.
They refuse, therefore, to trade. OF
course this is discouraging.
Chairman Morrison seems to have
become the prey OF disappointment.
He was indignant when the free
trade rice growers of Georgia and
the Carolinas cried out against the
proposed reduction on that article;
he was astonished when the South
crn sugar growers threatened to re-
bel against 4 tariff reform which
would cripple if it did no, destroy
their industry; he was astounded
when the flax and hemp producers
OF Henry Watterson's own state
the cradle OF the Star eyed God
dcss joined with the producers OF
other states in protesting against free
hemp; he was both angry and amaz-
ed when the iron ore producers OF
OF Virginia, Tennessee, Alabama and
Missouri Joined hands with their
brethren in Michigan, Pennsylvania,
New ersey and New York in resist
ing his proposition to "retorm' that
industry out of existence; but he has
been compelled to realize the truth
and now he is engaged in desperate
efforts to save few articles rom the
wreck OF the free list upon which he
built such fond hopes. If in add
ton to tree lumber, free salt and free
hemp he can secure free wool he
will be almost happy, and he believes
that II he lets the South alone with
her sugar, rice and iron ore he can
succeed. The difficulty is that the
friends OF a protective tariff may
conclude to do 4 little trading too,
and that the free list NAV grow lar
ger instead of shorter before the
House is confronted with a motion
to strike ont the cnactine clause OF
the bill.
Chairman Morrison's efforts to
trade began two days ago, but they
had not been successful enough be-
tore the committee met this morn
ing to warrant the consideration OF
the bill and 50 it was not taken w
by the committee.
A few tree-tradc Democrats held
an"cXpcrlenCe meeting" at the house
of Mr.. Mills on Monday night. 1t
is sad that they condoled with each
other and discussed various propo-
sltions to gid the Tariff Reform pill
so that a majority of the House
might be persuaded to swallow it
but they were unable to reach con.
c'uslon.