The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-11-18

inclined TO regard the result of the recent elec
tions as unfavorable to the cause of revenue re-
form, can say now that after looking over the
field and considering the advices which have
received from different parts OF the country,
am convinced that the cause has gained strength
both in the House and in the country generally
since the last elee tions. OF the 1S4 Democrats
in the present House. thirty-fve voted against
the Morrison bill. in the new House the Demo
Gratis will number ~ or l73, and the supporters
of revenue reform will be just as str ong as they
are at the present time.
THE loss. therefore, falls on the Democrats
who are opposed to reform rather than those fa-
voring it, and the result is therefore, distinct
victory for the reform element Certain papers
have pointed with glee to the fact that certain
supporters of revenue reform in the present
House failed of denomination, but they studious-
ly omit to add that their successors are with the
issue, and that the change is simply OF men and
not of principles.
There is another point upon which have not
previously spoken. The protectionist papers
throughout the country are loudly claiming that
the new labor vote. which has been developed In
the different parts of the country, is another
crushing blow at Morrison's views, or, as pre-
fer to call it, at revenue reform. Nothing can
be farther from the facts as they exist. In very
few of the elections did this issue enter at all,
and if the Workingmen of one part of the coun-
try voted indirectly against our principles. they
did just the opposite at the other end.
'For instance. in New York, Henry George, an
avowed free-trader, gets over 60, 600 working
mems votes. while here in Chicago, in one of the
strongest protectionist districts in Illinois, Con-
gresham Lawler, who was a thck-and thin op-
ponent Of Morrison's bill, is opposed by the labor
vote gets through barely by the skin of his teeth
Setting these facts against the defeat of Morr
son, Hurd and other reformers, it will he said
that II the protectionists are going to use the
labor vote as an argument, they must admit that
the account is about equally balanced, even if il
ls not to our advantage. and they must also ad
NIT that where the labor vote has been most
fully developed. the preponderance. as in New
York and Chicago, has been in favor of our
views
"Ihose arc facts and stubborn ones, and tend
to justify my opinion that the result of the re-
cent elections has only been favorable to the
cause of revenue reform, but that that cause is
stronger in and out of the House than ever"
In response TO personal questions, the Speaker
said: "The reports that have been chagrined
by the result of the election in my own district
are purely sensational. Had my opponent gained
on the vote against me at the prior elections
there would have been good ground
for the allegation that the result
was a condemnation of my course and
principles. But as a matter of fact my competi-
tor did not poll one half of the opposition vote
which was deposited at the previous election,
while the natural opinion of my own supporters
that my seat was not in any danger accounts
for the lack of activity which resulted in the
Democratic decrease in the Democratic vote.
Had the difference between my supporters in
1884 and 1886 gone over to my opponent nobody
would deny the significance of the result, but,
as he polled only about half of the vote given TO
Mr.. Landrum in 1854, there is no use to waste
words In explanation. AS TO a contest of my
seat have no advces. but / can only say that
there is not the slightest grounds whatever for
such course"