Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1888-05-08
Hon. VIM. L. Wilson on. the
Tariff.

Hon. VIM. L. Wilson, Representa-
tive in Congress from this district,
and member of the Ways and
Means Committee, spoke in advocacy
of the Mills Tariff Bill last Thursday.
OF his speech the Washington Critic
says:
The House then went into Com
mittee of the Whole on the Tariff bill,
and Mr.. Wilson of West Virginia took
the floor in favor of the bill.
He refuted the statements ofthe OPP
position that the Ways and Means
Committee had secretly laid before
the House tariff bill which they were
ashamed to acknowledge. He said
that great private interests, the cop
per barons, the steel-rail and iron
kings, had been allowed, under the
system of protection, to lay burden
some taxation upon the people The
most complete definition of protection
is, in the words of Colbert, on tax
alton: "The art of plucking the
goose so as to get the greatest amount
of feathers with the least amount of
squealing." But the goose had
sauealed at last, and would continue
to squeal until it awakened every
sleeping sentinel at the Capitol and
the shackles of excessive taxation
were knocked off the people.
Mr.. Wilson commanded the atten-
ton of the whole House and was in
terrupted at frequent intervals by
prolonged applause. In a spirited
colloquy with Mr.. Lodge of Massa-
chusetts he scored some decided
points, and it was some time before
the chairman could silence the APP
plause and restore order. Mr.. Bou-
telle then inquired of Mr.. Wilson
what was the average rate of wages
paid farm hands in West Virginia.
Mr.. Wilson replied: ''.They are
not as high as they would be if we
were relieved of a protective tariff. -
Mr.. Boutelle insisted that this was
not fair answer, but Mr.. Wilson de-
.clined further talk, saying he would
accept Mr.. Boutelle as an cxplana-
ton of the fact that Maine mans
labor was worth anly two-thirds as
much as Connecticut mans. This
sally produced a perfect storm of
laughter, in which the Republicans
Joined, and it took some time to re-
store quiet, when Mr.. Wilson pro-
ceeded without further molestation.
He was followed by Mr.. Dingley
of Maine in opposition to the bill.
The Baltimore Sun, in concluding a
full column report of the speech, says.
In conclusion, Mr.. Wilson said:
This fight will go on. There will
be no industrial peace in the country
until the tax laws are established
upon basis fair to all. Applase.
We will keep the country rocking
from ocean to ocean until we secure
justice and fair dealing among all the
citizens. You may strike down that
tribune of the people ut the other
end of the avenue, who, putting
aside all ideas of prudence, spoke
out that ringing summons that rallied
the people as nothing else ever did.
You may strike down the leaders of
this fight as you struck them down in
the last Congress and the previous
Congress. Those who hold the STAN
dard may fall, but other hands will
take it up and move forward. The
spirit of our intelligence is behind us.
The spirit of liberty is behind US
All we can hope for the destiny and
greatness of this country urges us
forward, and in the language of our
Speaker, Whoever may faIter, who
ever may fail, the people of the coun-
try mean that its glorious destinies
shall be preserved, that they shall be
transmitted unimpaircd to posterity,
that the country shall not belong to
monopolists on the one hand or to
communists on the other, but shall he
as it was designed to be, of the
people, for the people and by the
people.
AS Mr.. Wilson concluded he was
rapturously applaude by his party
friends, while many Republicans
joined in the compliment, and amid
cries of '.Vote," "Vote." members
crowded around Mr.. Wilson and
warmly congratulated him upon his