Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1888-09-07
A LIVELY AR RAIGN N EN- I
HON. GEO. D. WISE REPLIES TO
HON. JACOB YOST ON The
BLAIR BILL,

HON. JACOB YOST ON IHE
BLAIR BILL.
In the House of Representatives on
Monday, while the Deficiency Bill was up
for consideration. Hon. Jacob Yost by
unanimous consent made speech on the
Blair bill in which he arraigned the Dem
ocratic members for not passing 1t. On
the same day Hon. Geo. D. Wise replied
to it. and gave the record of the Republi-
can party on the Blair bill from 1880 down
to the present moment. We copy a por
ton of his speech showing that record:
Mr.. Wise.-Mr. Chairman, I ask unan-
imous consent of the House that may
occupy this floor just as long as the gen
tleraan has, if choose to do so.
The Chairman.-The gentleman from
Virginia asks unanimous consent to &C.
cupy the same length of time occupied by
his colleague.
Mr.. Kelley.-I hope it will be granted.
dered accordingly.
Mr.. Wise.-Mr. Chairman. when 1 en-
tered the Hall this morning. it certainly
was with no intention of making a speech
on the Blair bill before the end of the day.
It did not occur to me that when a bill
making appropriations for deficiencies IS
under consideration it was the proper
time for the discussion of an educational
bill, unless I should be actuated by the
same purpose which animated my collea-
que, to make up for his own deficiencies.
Laughter and applause on the Democrat
ic side.7 If chose to go into his record 1
might appeal TO it to know what he has
done for Virginia, either on the subject
of education or anything else. Laughter
and applause on the Democratic side.
I say be is appealing TO his record to
show what he has done. We all under
stand the purpose of this. The gentle
man a opponent is in the field and it be-
comes necessary for him to deliver on this
floor political speech to be used in the
campaign. I thank God that the people
of Virginia are not so ignorant as to ac-
cept dodge like that for his deficieD ces
in bis services to them as their represen.
tative. Laughter
I do not propose on this occasion to ad-
dress myself to the merits of the Blair bill.
IL Is known to the members of the House
that am in favor of it. 1t is also known
to the members of the House that my peo-
pie are in favor of it. When [ came to
this House in 1880 the Republican party
was in a majority in every branch of the
Government. Warren J. Keifer. of Ohio,
occupied that chair, and this House was
Republican by a clear majority. The SEN
ate. too. was Republican by clear major
States was Republican.
Mr.. Payson.-By large majority.
Laughter
Mr.. Wise-I repeat they were in a
majority in every branch of this Govern
ment. The Blair bill was then before the
Senate. The Blair bill was then before the
House. Did they pass it ? No. Why not
Because they lied when they said they
wanted it. Laughter and applause on the
Democratic side.
They had an opportunity to pass it.
They had. repeat, an opportunity to pass
it. But what did they do? Did they pass
it? Oh, no! Now let US see. The gem
tleman from Virginia just now arraigned
the honorable gentleman from Texas Mr..
Grain for reporting bill to the House for
the distribution of the public money In
aid of education on the basis OF popula-
ton. Why, he has forgotten the record
of his own leaders. It was John A Loga
the Republican candidate for the Vice-
Presidency in 1884, who offered that
amendment in the Senate to the Blair bill,
and on the floor Of the Senate championed
it. declaring that he was not in favor of
taxing his people to pay for Ignorance in
the South on the basis Of illiteracy. Let
him take that home to Virginia with himl
Laughter and applause. His own can
didate for the Presidency was the
first man who wanted the distribution of
the money from the public Treasury in
aid of education on the basis of population.
And why is the gentleman from Virginia
in favor of it at present? He has told you
the reason; because he gets 80 much mon
ey. [Laughter.] 1t is a question of dol.
lars and cents with him and nothing more:
it is not question of principle. Renew
ed laughter.]
In the Forty-eighth Congress that bill
was before the Senate again, and then Ma.
hone. of Virginia, was Senator. Thank
God he is not now. Renewed Laughter.
Malone, of Virginia, was there. L have
the vote here in my hand to show what
was done. and when that vote was taken
in the Forty-eighth Congress, Malone
voted how? All. Mr.. Chairman. Malone
is reported absent. Renewed laughter
He was not paired. We asked him in Vir-
cinia, "Why is 1t that you we're absent
on this important occasion. when the
| Record shows that you we're there both thu
day before and the day after ?" He en-
deavored to dodge the question. There il
no other word to describe it. Renewed
laughter He tried to get out of it, and th,
other Republican Senator from Virginia
one FL. H. Riddleberger, came before thu
public and testified that Malone was alb
sent because he was opposed to the bill
Laughter and applause on the Democratic
side. And that is your leader. Laugh
ter You want to educate the ignoran
people of Virginia and you are following
man-your ''boss'-whO. when he has al
opportunity to vote for the bill, on the ties
timony of one Of Virginia'S Senators
lodged the issue. Laughter and applaus
on the Democratic side.
Why, heard two gentlemen just nov
on the other side of this House. on th
Republican side. applauding Mr.. Yost.
have the record here on them. Let US Sc
how it stands. In the Forty.ninth Con
gress that bill, that Senate bill, was re
ferred to the Committee on Education
Mr., Willis, of Kentucky, not Republ
can but Southern Democrat, called for
conference of the friends Of the Blair bill
and was one of that number. We di
cussed the matter, and agreed that th
proper method of procedure was to TAX
the Blair bill as 1t passed the Senate an
reintroduce it again, and on the day {
Its reintroduotion to make motion to r.
fer it to the Committee on Labor. Tn;
is the way that it got to the Labor Con
mittee. 60 tell the people of Virgin
l -