Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-05-29
Wit and Wisdom,

Issue IN the National House OF kepreSen-
tatives, some new men have turned up
whose efforts have enlisted considerable
public interest. Among these Mr.. Mason,
OF Illinois, IA spoken Of. According to
the Washington correspondent of the n.
Y. Tribune, this new member has mas
sive head set on a body which weighs at
least 300 pounds. In form and features,
he reminds one of the little giant, stephen
A. Douglas. His speech was the surprise
OF the debate. Seldom, if ever, has there
been heard in the House a half-hour's
speech which combined so much that was
effective In wit, humor and sarcasm as
we'll "a eloquence. For twenty minutes
he kept the House and the galleries in a
continual roar of applause and laughter.
Speaking of the solicitude expressed by
Southern Democrats IN this debate for the
workingman, he was reminded of a car
penter, who went South before the War
to get job Of work. He applied to
planter who said ''Well, am sorry my
friend, but bought two carpenters yes
terday.i
Again he said; 1.-The most popular party
in England today Is the Democratic party
OF the United States, the most popular
man in England today is the President of
the United States.
MIR. MASON DROPS INTO POETRY
Mr.. Mason cited the deadlock of few
weeks ago upon the Direct Tax bill, stat
ing that Northern Democrats said they
would rot in their seats before they would
be bosser by the Southern Democracy,
but when King Caucus tapped the bell the
Democrats all ''scooted.' Said the
speaker:
The brigaders ring the caucus bell
The doughface cries for shame,
III not be hossed by the brigadiers
Hut they get there just the same"
daughter
Mr. Mason then attacked the proposition
made by Mr.. Mills that the people ought
to have the right to buy where they could
ouy the cheapest, and gave a description
of the working classes calling on Mr.
Mills to ask him why he wis he'd to buy
the products of labor in England, where
he could buy it SO much cheaper. He
made Mr.. Mills say: II want to buy my
shoes in England, where can buy them
cheaper, to help the poor shoemakers of
America" 4; and that he wanted to buy his
cloth Of other countries to help the spin
ners and weavers of America, and that he
wanted to buy his machinery and iron
tools in England where the wages were
just half what they were In this country.
to help the poor iron-workers of this
country. Said Mr.. Mason:
have never been in favor of sending a
man to the penitentary for preaching Free |
Trade, but when he asks to buy the products |
Of labor in other countries, and announces
rs to the reason that il is TO help the laborng |
men of this country, | think he ought to be 1
sent down for six months twice year for |
fifty years, for hypocrisy.
Mr.. Mason attacked the Mills bill, say
Ing that 1t was in the interests of trusts
and syndicates, and cited the Sugar Trust,
which, he said, was one of the largest.
II not the largest trust in the world that
affected the price of any of the necessities
of life. lie said that while the Demo
Gratis were denouncing syndieates and
trusts, they had the power to take oil the
tariff on refined sugar and thereby
compel the trust to compete with the
markets OF the world. But instead of
that the Democratic party had not the
courage to do it, but under the Mills bill
had left the duty and the tax on sugar
practically as high as ever.
He suggested to the gentleman from
Mississippi, (Allenl that the comic opera
he quoted from was not suited to his
style of voice and form, and suggested
that instead thereof he should sing:
Reckabye Sugar Trust, you're on the tree top,
while we arr In power your cradle will rock,
But II the tariff busts the cradle will fall,
Aud down will come Sugar Trust Mis's bill and ALL
Or, If he insists on rising to that higher
realm of ''Mother Goose" he would sug-
gest:
Little Boy Blue come blow your horn nice;
Blow sheol out Of mutton but do not touch rice
Great applause ON the Republican side.
Mr.. Mason also suggested that the
gentleman hold the infant trust in his
hands and say, Darling, threatened to
roast you the other day, but that was a
blur; and that he pass the infant Sugar
Trust to Mr.. Mills, who would fondle it I
and say, lido not cry, little popsie wopsie.
II your poor little popsie wopsie should
die, we wouldn't have anything else to ,
throw at the Republican party" Il
Nor THE RIGHT KIND OF PRopIGAL. |,
Mr.. Mason, in conclusion, said that the
trouble was that a majority of the COM
mittee, six out of eight, come from States
lately in rebellion; and when he went
through his district and saw the prosper
Gus manufacturing and business men there I