Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1888-07-05
THE CAMPAIGN.
II Is Opened in Lively Fashion in the
National House Of Repre-
sentatives.
Chairman Mills Attacks and Mr.. Kelley
Defends the Republican Plat
form.
[Associated Press Report.l

on the tariff bill ON Thursday. apd was dis
cussing motion to strike from the free
list oil vegetables not otherwise provided
for. The motion was favored by Messrs.
Brewer (Mieh.) Brown Va.) and Farquhar
IN. " . who contended that the admission
OF vegetables duty free would enable Cana
dians to undersell American farmers OH the
border Mr.. Mills (Tex.) called attention
TO the fact that potatoes were specifically
provided for In another part OF the bill.
The clause. he contended was In the inter-
est OF the consuming classes, and he queried
where the Republicans would be willing TO
reduce taxation. Mr.. Brumm Pa.) sug-
gested that they were ready to reduce in
ternal taxes. and Mr.. Mills replied:
Yes. you want free whisky. You do not
say In your platform that you want to re-
duce the duties on sugar and rice. The con-
vention has overruled what you have con-
tended for. Your party commands you to
go for free whisky. We go with you TO the
country on that question. We demand a
reduction on the things which enter into
consumption as necessaries. and demand
that taxes shall remain on whisky as they
are to-day.
Mr.. j. ID. Taylor, OF Ohio, challenged the
statement thUt the Republican party was In
favor OF free whisky All classes OF the Re-
publican party were in favor OF abolishing
internal taxes because they believed 1t to be
unwise as system. Under the circum-
stances. a man who would coldly and With
his judgment in his hand assert that the
Republican party was in favor OF free whis-
ky might be developed, according to the
Darwinian theory. four countless cycles of
time. without mounting intellectually TO the
position Of a brevet,ass. Laughter and ap-
plause on the Republican side.l
Mr.. Mills said he was not astonished at the
tenderness OF the gentlemen on this ques-
tion. It was well known that the majority
OF the Republican party was opposed to the
extremo position which the Republicans
had taken at Chicago 1t was well known
~ kbearr
Kelley represented q minority. and when
the convention at Chicago was lashed and
scohrged TO take a position for free whisky
no one sooner than the gentleman from
Pennsylvania sent congratulations to the
convention for coming to the heroic stand
which he had occupied. For the first time
at Chicago had the Republican party cUmo
boldly and taken the position before the
American people in favor OF keeping the
taxes on the necessities of life, and de-
manding that the Treasury should be emp
tied by taking the tax of whisky. That was
the position that party had taken before the
American people, and no amount OF dis
claiming would convince the people that
that party, il in power. would not take the
tax of whisky and leave it on every article
Of necessity. [Applause on Democratic
sidel
Mr.. Kelley Pa) denied that he was in
favor OF free whisky. He advocated the re-
peal OF the war taxes which Jefferson had
denounced as an Internal system. He had
demanded that the Democrats carry out
their platform of 1884. which promised an
abolition of the internal taxes. The gentle
man ffom Texas (Mills) could not deny that
~ was .ne =. .o0a ~
distiIlers OF the South that they should be
relieved from national surveillance and
supervision. He had asked that this great
source of revenue be remitted TO the people
| OF the States, and under State law. to the
municipalities OF the State; and those gov
ernments which bore the burden OF crime
and vice and insanity should have whatever
revenue might be justly derived from u
source so fruitful of crime and misery as the
| whisky business.
Mr.. Spinola IN. ~ said party should
be judged by its acts; and it'was stated in
newspaper that 81. 30 extra barrels OF beer
| had been consumed in Chicago during the
sessions of the convention. [Langhter.l
That was a pretty strong piece OF prima
facie evidence that the Republicans were in
favor Of free rum.
Mr.. Owen Qnd.) suggested that the beer
was intended for visiting Democrats. but
Mr.. Spinola denied that Democrats went to
| such places.
Mr.. Reed CMe.) thought that the gentle
man from Texas did not mean to be belived
| when he said that the Republican party was
| for FREQ whisky because the gentleman
knew that there would not be enough DEM
ocrats left to make up an electoral ticket in
half the States OF the Union il they had con-
Hdence in his statement. ILaughter.l The
| gentleman knew that the position OF the
Republican party on this subject was too
simple to be turned in this way; but IL the
Democratic party should ever commence a
campaign without false statement
its own friends would not know
was that after having tried every
other method Of reducing taxes consistent
with the maintenance OF the system Of pro-
lection. II the Republicans had to choose be-
tween internal taxes and the protective sys-
tenn, they would stand by the system OF pro-
lection for American industries. The Legis-
lature of Virginia, which was two-thirds
Democratic, had adopted resolution de-
clarlng 1t to be the duty OF Congress to Sc
cure the repeal OF the internal revenue sys-
tenn. Was the Democratic Legislature OF
Virginia in favor of free whisky? No Demo-
crat had been elected i'm Tennessee who was
not pledged to use his best efforts to secure
the repeal OF internal taxes. Was the Demo-
cratic party Of Tennessee in favor OF free
Mr.. Weaver Qowa) criticised the internal
revenue plank OF the Chicago platform. and
declared that the issue could not be shirked
and that there could be no shuffiing.
L am Democrat" interrupted Mr.. Wise
Va.) "and am I'm favor Of the repeal of the
tobacco tax" Applause on the Republican
side.1
Mr.. weaver--This bill provides for re-
duction Of that tax; but say to the gentle
|
OF the repeal OF the internal-revenue taxes
is not the position OF this bill"
Mr.. Wise-"My position Is the position OF
the National Democratic party in 1884. and
the platform of 1888 indorses the platform OF
1884"
Mr.. Cannon Qll.) said he was willing TO
stand by the Chicago platform as whole,
but he was not willing to stand upon sem
tence picked sout here and there and con-
strued by the enemy. The platform de-
manded appropriations for the rebuilding oi
the navy, for the construction OF sea-coasi
and other defenses, for free schools. and foI
the payment OF pensions. Ii then declared
for free alcohol used in the arts, and the res
peal of duty on articles not produced in this
country. When all this was done. IL further
reduction was still needed and choice had
TO be made between the protective system
and the internal system. thon. and then
alone. the Republican party placed itself or
record as favoring the further removal o.
internal taxes rather than to interfere with
the wages of labor and the diversity OF in
dustries OF the country
Recurring again to the text OF the bill Mr.
Mills presented committee amendments
placing on the free list German looking
glass plates, brown and silvered and strik-
ing out plums and prunos. which were
adopted.
M. buchanan OF New Jersey moved tS
strike out chicory root. acorns. and dande.
lion root. The motion was defeated. as wa
one made by Mr.. Vandever OF California x
strike out cocoa. and another presented bl
Mr.. McKenna OF California to strike out figs
Mr.. Bynum OF Indiana from the Commit
tee on Ways and Means moved to strik.
out pulp for papermakers' use.' Adopted
Mr.. Farquhar Of New York offered m
amendment striking out books and pam
phlets printed In other languages than En-
glish. Lost.