The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-03-26
BuTTERwoRTH AND WHEELER
How They Debated the Tariff Ques-
ton Saturday Night.

BosToN, March 24.-Hon. Benjamin But
| terworth, of Ohio. who left Washington yes
terday, arrived in Boston this morning ac-
companied by Col Mussey, Of the Clnclnna-
ii Commercial Gazette. They were met at
the station by the reception committee of the
Home Market Club: Hon. Francis w. Breed,
Of Lynn, Hon. Weston Lewis, Col. Charles
We'll, Col. Ephraim Stearns, l.. M. Sargent
and Beverly K. Moor, and the secretary OF
the club, Mr. Herbert Radcliffe The guests
were taken to the Hotel Vendome, and
breakfast served.
At t330p. M, reception was held at which
many prominent citizens, especially members
of the Home Market Club, paid their res
poets to the distinguished Congressman. AT
d. m. Mr.. Butterworth was entertained at
dinner at the Vendome, Gov. Ames, one of
the vice presidents of the club, presiding.
About 125 gentlemen sat down to the ban
quet.
At the close of the dinner the entire party
proceeded to fremont Temple, where oc-
Cured the joint debate between the Home
Market Club and the Tariff Reform League
on the question, ''Is the wage esrner bene-
fitted by protective policy as embodied in
the present tariff" Gov. Ames called the
meeting to order and started the question.
Gen. w. f. Draper, of Hopedale, presided on
the part Of the Home Market Club, and Ey-
erett ere p. Weller. pesident Of the New York
Free Trade Club, represented the Tariff Re
form League and led off in the negative,
speaking for 45 minutes He was followed
by Congressman ButterwOrth who represent
ed the Home Market Club, Who also spoke
40 minutes. Mr.. Wheeler then devoted 10
minutes to a rebuttal and Mr.: Butterworth
closed with final argument OF 10 minutes
Thomas III. Clay, a grandson ef Henry Gay
occupied seat on the platform. Great In
terest was taken in the debate and the tenn
pie was packed, many being unable to gain
admission. Members of the Club and League
occupied the body of the House while the
galleries were thrown open to the public. In
the audience were many students from the
various educational institutions In and about
Boston, including some ladies from the Har-
ward Annex.
At the beginning of Mr. Butterworth's re-
marks there was disposition on the part OF
the audience to object to his manner OF stat
ing the issue, but it was only ripple OIL dis-
appreciation that subsidized in q moment on
restatement by the speaker of the question.
He proved the most magnetic speaker OF the
two, and the applause that greeted his re-
marks were frequent and prolonged. AT
times the correctness OF his statements were
questioned by words OF disapproyal from IN
ruptions failed to disconcert him. He spoke
fluently and rapidly from the beginning TO
the close of his speech.
The audience seemed to regard the meeting
as its own, and whenever it saw ht inter-
rupted the speakers, some time In tanta
lizing way, but generally in good natured
one. Some of the auditors were on Intimate
speaking terms with the orators. The latter
were, fortunately, quick and bright at re.
partee, and they usually got the better OF
.xt.. s..&n Doth
GOODNESS and equipoise which comes. from
constant familiarity with mixed audiences.
They were not easily ratified. MI. Wneel-
er always turned his jokes with smile, ana
good nature Mr.. Butterworth, not less hap
py in his wit generally hammered down an
interrupter by the force and vehemenee OF
his character. During er.ain portion OF
Mr.. ButterwOrths first speech, the Interrupt
tions were numerous, and many Oh them
somewhat exasperatlng. NOBODY got tne
better of him, however.
"Let us suppose" he began one sentence,
when voice cried: "Oh, don't suppose any
thing; state facts" 81 intend to suppose
this case" Mr. Butterworth replied with
great emphasis, at the same time looking In
the direction of the interrupter with o with
ering glance. At another time he began
gfiihty eulogium on the protective system by
stating that it was in the interest and for the
benefit of humanity, and wound up the peri
cd by an appeal to the personal interests of
his hearers. "Where does your humanity
come in ?" asked an auditor, thinking he had
the speaker in corner. Very deftly Mr..
Butterworth turned the point to the effect
that the humanity he was interested in was
American humanity, and the. audience
shouted Justify its approval. At another
time, when a disturbance occurred that
could hardly be traced to the partisans on
either side. Mr.. Butterworth gained neat
point on his side by remarking: Mr..
Wheeler will do the talking for your side,
sir, if you will just wait and give him
chance"
Mr.. Wheeler, in his opening remarks,
spoke slowly and deliberately. He was ap-
plauded generously and approvingly by a
portion of his audience. and derisively by
others. In his reply to Mr.. Butterworth he
warmed up. and spoke with almost the fer
vor of his opponent, and was greeted with
corresponding amount Of applause. He was
so frequently interrupted in this way that
Gov. Ames was impelled to remind the en-
thusiastic gentlemen that they we've using up
the speakers time. When he stated that
the tariff keeps the wages down, cries of
disapproval went up from all over the hail.
"It!does! 1t doesp' he asserted, and the hall
shook with the opposition applause.