The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1888-07-04
THE CAMPAIGN.
II Il Opened in Lively Fashion in the
National House of Repre-
sentatives.
Chairman Mills Attacks and Mr.. Kelley
Defends the Republican Plat
form.



On. ~, who contended that the admission
OF vegetables duty free would enable Cana
dians TO undersell American farmers on the
border. Mr.. Mills Tex.) called attention
| 10 the TACT that potatoes were specifically
provided for in another part Of the bill
The clause, he contended was In the inter-
est OF the consuming classes. and he queried
where the Republicans would be willing TO
reduce taxation. Mr.. Brumm Pa-) sug
gested that they were ready TO reduce in
ternal taxes. and Mr.. Mills replied:
| Yes, you want free whisky You do not
say In your platform that you want 10 re-
duce the duties on sugar and rice. The con-
vention has ovcrruled what you have con-
tended for. Your party commands you to
go for free whisky. We 60 with you to the
| country on that question. We demand
reduction on the things which enter into
consumption rs necessaries. and demand
that taxes shall remain on whisky as they
| are to-day
Mr. ]. ID. Taylor. OF Ohio, challenged the
statement thut the Republican party was in
favor OF free whisky. All classes OF the Re-
publican party were in favor OF aboishing
internal taxes because they believed il 10 be
unwise as system. Under the circum-
stances, man who would coldly and with
his judgment in his hand assert that the
Republican party was in favor of free whis-
| ky might be developed, according 10 the
Darwinian theory, four countless cycles Of
time. without mounting intellectually 10 the
position OF a brevet ass. Laughter and APP
plause on the Republican side.l
Mr.. Mills said he was not astonished at the
tenderness OF the gentlemen on this ques-
ton. IL was well known that the majority
| OF the Republican party was opposed TO the
extreme position which the Republicans
had taken at Chicago. Ii was well known
| that the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr.
Kelley represented a minority. and when
the conyention at Chicago was dashed and
| scourged 10 take position for free whisky
no one sooner than the gentleman from
Pennsylvania sent congratulations 10 the
| convention for coming TO the heroic stand
which he had occupied. For the first time
at Chicago had the Republican party come
boldly and. taken the position before the
American people in favor OF keeping the
taxes on the necessities of life and de-
handing that the Treasury should be emp
tied by,taking the tax off whisky. That was
the position that party had taken before the
| American people. and no amount of dis
claiming would convince the people that
| that party, IL in power. would not take the
tax of whisky and leave it on every article
OF necessity. Applause on Democratic
side.]
Mr.. Kelley Pa) denied that he was in
favor OF free whisky. He advocated the re-
peal OF the war taxes which Jefferson had
denounced as an Internal system. He had
| demanded that the Democrats carry out
their platform Of 1884. which promised an
| abolition OF the internal taxes. The gentle
man from Texas Mills could not deny that
| tobacco growers, the fruit growers. and the
distfllers of the South that they should be
relieved from national surveillance and
| supervision. He had asked that this great
| source of revenue be RENTED 10 the people
OF the States. and under State law TO the
municipalities Of the State: and those gov
ernments which bore the burden of crime
and vice and insanity should have whatever
| revenue might be justly derived from a
source SO fruitful OF crime and misery as the
| whisky business.
Mr.. Spinola IN. " said party should
be judged by its acts; and il was stated in
newspaper that 81 $50 extra barrels OF beer
had been consumed in Chicago during the
sessions OF the convention. ILaughter.l
That was a pretty strong piece OF prima
facie evidence that the Republicans were in
favor of free rum.
Mr.. Owen Qnd) suggested that the beer
was intended for visiting Democrats. but
Mr.. Spinola denied that Democrats went 10
| such places.
Mr.. Reed (Me) thought that the gentle
man from Texas did not mean TO be beloved
when he said that the Republican party was
| for FREQ whisky. because the gentleman
knew that there would not be enough Dem
| ocrats left 10 make up an electoral ticket in
half the States Of the Union if they had con-
fldence in his statement. [Laughter.l The
gentleman knew that the position Of the
| Republican party on this subject was too
| simple TO be turned in this way; but if the
Democratic party should ever commence
campaign without false statement
| its own friends would not know
| IL. What the convention had said
was that after having tried every
| other method OF reducing taxes consistent
| with the maintenance Of the system Of pro-
lection. If the Republicans had 10 choose be-
tween internal taxes and the protective sys-
tenn they would stand by the system of pro-
| lection for American industries. The Legis-
| lature of Virginia, which was two-thirds
Democratic. had adopted "a resolution de-
claring IL to be the duty of Congress to Sc
cure the repeal Of the internal revenue sys-
tenn Was the Democratic Legislature of
Virginia in favor of free whisky? No Demo-
crat had been elected in Tennessee who was
not pledged TO use his best efforts TO secure
the repeal OF internal taxes. Was the Demo-
cratic party Of Tennessee in favor of free
| whisky?
Mr.. Weaver Qowa) criticised the internal
| revenue plank Of the Chicago platform. and
declared that the issue could not be shirked
and that there could be no shutting.
Il am a Democrat" interrupted Mr.. Wise
Va). and am in favor Of the repeal of the
tobacco tax" Applause on the Republican
side.]
Mr.. weaver-"This bill provides for a re-
duction OF that TAX but / say TO the gentle
man from Virginia that his position in favor
Of the repeal of the internal-revenue taxes
is not the position OF this bill"
Mr.. Wise-"My position is the position OF
the National Democratic party in 1894. and
| tne pldllOTm OF 1000 lnuOISeS inc plduOfm Ol
1884"
Mr.. Cannon Qll) said he was willing TO
stand by the Chicago platform as a whole,
but.he was not willing 10 stand upon a SEN
tence picked out here and there and con-
strued by the enemy. The platform de-
handed appropriations for the rebuilding of
the navy. for the construction OF sea-coast
and other defenses, for free schools. and for
the payment OF pensions. IL then declared
forfree alcohol used in the arts, and the re-
peal Of duty on articles not produced in this
country When all this was done. IL further
reduction was still needed and choice had
10 be made between the protective system
and the internal system, then. and then
alone. the Republican party placed itself on
record as favoring the further removal Of
internal taxes rather than 10 interfere with
the wages Of labor and the diversity OF in
dustries OF the country.
Recurring again TO the text OF the bill Mr..
Mills presented committee amendments
placing on the free list German looking
glass plates. brown and silvered. and strik-
ing out plums and prunes, which were
adopted.
Mr.. Buchanan Of New Jersey moved TO
strike out chicory root. acorns. and dande-
lion root. The motion was defeated. as was
one made by Mr.. Vandever OF California to
strike out cocoa, and another presented by
Mr.. McKenna OF California TO strike out figs.
| Mr. Bynum OF Indiana from the Commit