Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-28
THE TARIFF DEBATE
CONTINUED IN THE LOWER HOUSE OF con-
GRESS, YESTERDAY.
Two Michigan Members Take Opposite &dss-Ou
Own Nathan Takes Hand in the Talk
A Little Display Of Spread
Eagleism.

WASHINGTON, April 21.-After some
preliminary business the House went into
Committee of the Whole on the Mills bill.
Mr.. Brewer, of Michigan, glsdly welcomed
the issue presented by the pending meas
ure He was especially earnest in his op-
position to the free wool clause, which he
said would ruin an industry which was
national in its importance. 1t was true
that there was danger in q large surplus.
but not so large danger as the President
seemed to suppose.
Mr. Ford, of Michigan, said the question
presented now was one of tariff reduction,
not abolition. Congress had no right to
take the part Of 3 few manufacturers
against the great body Of consumers, but
that was Just what has been done. Oar
war tariff declared for high prices for the
producer of iron, low prices for the pro-
ducer of corn, high prices the producer Of
glass, low prices for the producer of wheat.
He ridieuled the position taken by the
proteelionists that high tariff increased
the wages of American workmen. No in
dustIies, he said, showed more property,
more destitution and moro strikes among
their workingmen than those so-called pro-
tected ones. There was not a hod carrier
iu the United States but who earned more
wages than the average person employed
in the industries benefited by the war
tariff
Dir. GOfl, of West Virginia, spoke in
opposition TO the bill. A reduction of the
tariff, he said, should be made by the friends
of the protective system, and not by its
avowed enemies. President Cleveland's
eold-blooded indifference to the benefits of
the people was entitled to precedence over
all the emanations from the Executive
Mansion in all our history. From such
spirit ~ President Cleveland exhibited,
dominating almost with single impulse
the Democratic side of the House, he (Gof)
would save our industries and our homes.
George Washington, the first President
was grandly right when he suggested and
approved the first tariff provision. Grover
Cleveland, who, he hoped, would he our
last free trade President), WAS shamefully
wrong when he suggested and used the
power Of his great office 10 secure the de-
stIuctiOn of the protection system. The
peop'e had been deceived in the last Pres,
identisl campaign by the declaration that
Cleveland was q prOtectionist. The hand
of Esau would be offered again, but
the people would not again be de-
ceiyed. The people had at last found
out the Democratic party. In conclusion
ne said that the protective system had en-
abled the Government to perfect o system
of finance which WIS the marvel Of the
age. IL had fostered our industries, built
up our manufactures ard opened up our
wildernesses. 1t hal diguifed our labor
and educated our people. 1t had made
our valleys to laugh in gladness. 1t had
cansed the waters of commercial prospsri-
~ TO pour all over the land. 1t had made
the flag of the country typify all that was
great in human action, all that was grand
in human thought, and God only knew
what it would not do for our land, if the
Democratic party would let it alone.
Mr.. Landes, of Ills submitted an argu-
ment in support OF the bill, and in oppo-
sitiOn to the protective theory. While
heartily advocating the bill, he regretted
that il touched the whisky and tobacco
taxes, which instead Of being reduced,
should he, ne thought, increased.
The Committee then rose and the House
took q recess till 3 y. m.