Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1888-11-22
THE TARIFF MESSAGE.
Some Statements Which Are Ad-
yanced as Inside History.
MR.. WHITNEY OPPOSED TT.
He. Says The New York World, Was the
Only Member of the Cabinet Who
Considered 1t Inadvisable-NIan-
ton Marble Its Real Father.

New YoRK, Nov. % The World prints
the following dispatch from Washington as
the true story of how President Cleveland
came to send his famous tariff message to
congress:
'sThe inside history of the tariff reduction
message sent to congress by the president
last December has not yet been written, and
it is of some interest Indeed, in view of the
defeat of Mr. Cleveland and of the opinion
Of large number Of persons, right or wrong,
that the result was due to the tariff message,
it is desirable that the people should be in
formed of all the circumstances connected
with that new departure of the administra-
tion
s'President Cleveland is the putative father
of the child. but the real author of its being
IS Mr.. Manton Marble. For twenty years
Mr., Marble has been eager to force tariff re-
form into politics as distinctive ISSUE He
devoted much time TO the task of bringing
the president round to his views of the politi-
cal revolution which would sweep over the
western states If the Democracy only had the
courage and sense to make a bold fight on the
tariff issue; not through meaningless
plank in q convention platform, but through
aggressive action on the part of the president,
who would unquestionably be the candidate
compel the recognition of the issue in the
contest Mr.. Marble points out the position
held on the question by western newspapers
and western politicians, and quoted The
World as favoring tariff revision and tax re-
duction so earnestly as to urge a special
session in congress for the consideration of
that important policy
tsMr. Cleveland was not entirely convinced
by Mr.. Marbles arguments, but was disposed
to believe that they had some strength and
well deserved consideration. Mr.. Marble
found an effective ally in Mr. Henry Waiter
son, who supplemented the appeal of his
friend in his own impulsive and imIetuous
manner Meanwhile members of the cabinet
were approached and urged to favor the pro-
position of presidential message, stripped
bare of all outside adornments, and placed
before congress and the country as naked
tariff revision proposition from the consider
alton of which neither party, nor any indi-
vidual of either party, could escape. In a
short time afterward Mr.. Marble laid before
the president his draft Of message such as
he advised. This was the origin of the much
discussed document which in the opinion of
many persons settled the presidential con-
test. As transmitted to congress there were
some changes from Mr.. Marbles composition,
but the main features were preserved and in
some of the idiomatic expressions the ex-
editors style can be easily recognized.
sWhile these discussions were going on
Secretary Whitney was indisposed and abb
sent from Washington. On his return to the
capital shortly before the assembling of con-
gress he received letter from the president,
who expressed a desire to ses him as soon as
possible. Secretary Whitney called at the
White House, and in a private interview
Mr.. Cleveland submitted TO him the draft of
his proposed message, which was then pre-
pared. The revelation was a surprise and
a shock to the secretary, whose keen percep-
tion and accurate political information at
once suggested to him that, however wise
and commendable the propositions advanced
might be in the abstract, it was not the right
time to cast them upon the country. He
frankly expressed these views to the presi-
dent as the first impression made ON his
mind by the message Mr.. Cleveland was
evidently considerably surprised and disap-
pointed at the position taken by the secre-
tary. He told Mr.. Whitney that the mes
sage had already been discussed by the cabi-
net, and that his remarks were the first hos
tile expressions he had heard in regard to it.
He desired that the secretary would take a
little time to reflect ON the matter and see If
he could not find reasons to warrant change
in the views he then expressed
ssAt this interview Mr.. Whitney at once
discovered and pointed out to the president
one instance in which the alleged facts adj
vanced were not correct, and the reasoning
built up on them was fallacious and open to
destructive criticism. The president was
surprised at the information and made note
of it for inquiry. Mr.. Whitney was found
to be right, and the message was modified