The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-10-29

the Mills bill. [Applause.l There Al
some OF them here, but they amt pet
tioning for the passage of that bill
[Cries OF dispute. Don't you kno
your own business; il it was to your II
terest for this bill to pass, why didn
you say soH
WHO WANTS THE MILLS BILLY
Among you all, among all the labc
organizations, among all the labo
assemblies, among the Knights of Labol
not a single one OF them asked Congres
by petition TO that body, TO pass tha
bill. What manufacturing establish
ments OF my country asked for the paS
sage OF that bill? Tell me.
The foreign manufacturer who send
goods to this Country-theY wanted it Il
pass, the importers wanted 1t to pass
The American manufacturer and thO
American laborer did not. We piled uI
petitions on the tables Of Congress, ii
your committee room, my colleague
ceiling high, demonstrating against il!
passage. lsent them in myself from IN!
constituents, and from other States, bu
/ didn't lay in one in favor OF the passag,
OF that bill. Aud ii the statement!
made in Congress are correct, the ontj
persons who found favor before thl
Ways and Means Committee, the only
persons who were permitted to present
their case, were the representatives o
the great sugar retineries and tho sugal
trust, and the representatives OF grea
foreign importing houses.
The sugar trust could get hearing
but the laboring men OF Wheeling could
not. The foreign importer could have q
chance, but eiie home n.ahuiacturer had
the door banged in his face. II has been
stated, and not successfully denied, that
the representatives Of the sugar trust
wereheard. They were certainly there
it was said by some OF the Ways and
Means Committee, that they had talk
with them in their committee room /;
and 1 know that after that the Ways and
Means Committee changed their sugar
schedule and gave them II better rate.
DEMOCRATIC OPPOSITION TO THE MILLS
BILL.
How was it with your industries?
Were they heard? How were they
handled? They were struck heavily by
the original Mills bill; all OF them Sc
seriously damaged. Many Democratic
brothers in West Virginia were very
much alarmed when the bill was re-
ported. Oh, but some OF them did come
down TO Washington in hot haste. They
sent Democratic politicians. They sent
distinguished Democratic citizens.
They sent Democratic committees.
They sent Democratic editors [laughter]
and they zll said down there what they
thought, aud my friend has realizing
sense about that. Applausc. That
this bill as reported, they said, would |
destroy the Industries OF the great State |
Of West Virginia. Cheers and ap-
plause. What did they 40 then? They |
went into secret session again. They |
made q little change here
and slight one there. They
had in thcir wisdom determed that u
certain rate should be placed on china,
earthenware and pottery, and they de-
1lared that the first one reported was the
proper thing To do, butafter the Demo-
cratic editors and the Demcratic CONF
mittees went down they determined that
they could make II slight change right
there on that question. Applause.
They decided to give them ) per cent
more protection on that industry. /
met some OF them down there myself.
They came to see me. Yes they did.
Laughter. ! was glad to see thsm.
always am. This is what they said.
They said that the Industries OF West
Virginia, and particularly OF Wheeling,
gould not stand the Mills bill. They
said it would close up our establish
ments; they said it would put out our
fires; they said it would turn out our la-
boring men and bring the wolf to every
cabin door.
believed them. Applause.
They said, "Mr. Coil, we know you
ire with US in this tight" [Applause.
They did not have to ask anybody how
voted. Cheers Not much.
They had list in their hand. The
names OF the members OF Congress were
on that list.
They said: as the Mills bill going to
pass, Mr.. Gof?"
said: "Well it is getting awful sQual-
~" Cheers. Who was going to vote
for and who against it? They had this
list in their hands. Wheeling sent many
grand citizens to Washington on. this
matter. Grand citizens they were, some
Of them; would to God We had more OF
Of them. They open up our cities; they
build manufactures; :. they give employ
ment to thousands OF men who earn
their bread by honest toll. said: "Let
me see your list?"
WHERE TIE REPUBLICANS STAND.
They. handed it me and there were
the names OF men who were going to
vote one way or the other when the Mills
bill came up. The list OF those who
were going to vote against it were there.
Thank God all the Republicans were on
it. [Applause,1 l said to them; "My
friends, why did you put the Republi-
cans ali on that side?" and they looked
at me us much us to say, "Great God,
what q question: [Cheers.1 Because
the Republicans are in favor Of a proteC-
tive tariff"
Then they began to ask me which one
OF the Democrats will vote for protection
and against the Mills bill. Well, had
n great deal Of trouble in telling them.
/ Laughter.1 We had two or three or
four in the beginning, but they gradually
driited away. Samuel j. Randall had q
good many followers in the last Congress,
but you routed them, horse, foot and
dragons, my dear colleague, and you
sent Samuel ]. Randall TO the rear.
Cheers and laughter.
Now, all over the State these gentle
men were deeply interested and sent
their delegations down. You had
splendid delegation from Wheeling, and
they worked well, and did what could |
not do: They could approach the throne.
Laughter They could get n hearing. |
They made slight change.
Now, these same gentlemen when they
werc down at Washington said the Mills |
bill meant death to West Virginia. They
got a per cent change of the tariff on
and chinaware, and they came
home and felt n little suiky for awhile,
but after the St. Louis Convention, aud
after they had endorsed Cleveland and
the Mills bill and two or three OF the |
leaders cracked the party whip, they be.