The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-06-05

the Committee on Platform, "the Mills
bill will not be mentioned in the Ma
tional Democratic platform, nor will any
particular bill be mentioned. The plat
form will refer to general principles and
not to any particular measure. 1t will
be much more conservative than many
suppose"
TIE PROTECTION ELEMENT.
The two factions of the Democracy on
the tariff question are represented here
for the free traders by Morrison, Henry
Watterson and W. L. Scott. German,
Barnum and Davis, Of West Virginia
seem to represent the protection, or, as
they prefer to call it, in the language OF
the convention, the conservative" side.
1t is very clear that the platform will be
more conservative than Henry Waiter
son would like to have it. 1t will refer
to tariff reform In q general way, and
will undoubtedly endorse the Presi-
dents message. AT the same time 1t is
to be so drafted that its trainers will
hope that the Democrats Of New Jersey,
New York and Connecticut can stand
upon it. Mr.. Henry Watterson's ex-
treme views will be SO disreGarded that
he will fail to secure tue object
which he seeks, and will not be made
temporary or permanent chairman OF the
convention, Mr., WRtteFsaaI in fact, is
not to be permitted to make any i1cepd-
airy speeches before the convention, or
be asked to address it all until after the
substantial work of the convention shall
have been accomplished. The Conven-
ton will, according to present indica-
tions, adopt either the tariff plank OF the
National Democratic ConVelton OF 1854
or that OF the convention OF 1876, the IN.
dications being thatthe one OF 1884 will
be adopted. OF that platform Sterling
Morton, member Of the Committee on
Resolutions and one OF the most pro-
nounced OF the western free traders, said
at the time: "There is Just Il taste OF
the genuine article in it, but | have
noticed n better flavor in the article
taken straight.
"The necessary reduction in taxation |
can and must lie effected without de-
priving American labor OF the ability to
compete successfully with foreign labor,
and without imposing lower rates OF
duty than will be ample to cover the in
creased cost OF production, which exist
in consequence pf the higher rate Of
wages prevailing in this country, Sui
tlcient revenue to pay all OF the expen-
ses of the Federal Government econo-
mically administered, including pen
sions and interest, and principal OF the
public debt, can be got under our pres
ent system OF taxation from Custom
house taxes onsfeWcr imported articles,
being heaviest on articles OF luxury,
and bearing lightest on articles OF neces-
sity. We therefore denounce the abuses
Of tho existing tariff tta!.rif and snhj;cct t:G The
preceding limitations, we demand that
Federal taxation sh4l! he exclusively Tor
public purposes, and shall not exceed
the needs Of the Government economi-
cally administered"
WEST VIRGINIA DEMOCRATS FRIGHTENED.
This does not sound very much like
proposition to read Mr.. Randall out Of
the party, nor does it read like the Mills
bill, II is certainly very different from
the speeches which have been made in
the support of the Mills bill, and is very
unlike the platform which MIR: W. L.
Scott carried from Washington to Harris
burg in his pocket, and forced the Demo-
cratic State Convention OF Pennsylvania
to adopt, but the indications all are that
the hand OF Mr.. Scott will not be seen
in the Committee on Resolutions here
In the same way in which it manifested
itself in Pennsylvania. Mr.. Scott is re-
ported to haye discovered since he mr.
fived here that what the Democratic
party will be likely to need most next
fall will be votes, and thQt votes Gun not
best be got by endeavoring to create two
Democratic parties for each State.
Perhaps the most significant point
about all OF The talk about the tariff
plank is that Senator German, OF Mary
land, is to be the chairman OF the Com
mittee on Resolutions. That certainly
does not mean free trade plank Of the
Mills sort. Mr.. German knows very
much hetter than Mr., Mills does that it
would be very difficult for the Democ.
racy to retain its hold on Maryland with
the Mills bill as it was first introduced,
for platform, and he is quite certain
that West Virginia would be lost to the
Democracy on such a policy. This is
known very well to Mr.. Davis, ex.
United States Senator from West Vir-
ginia, who is here in consultation with
Mr.. German upon that very subject. So
anxious have the West Virgin
ia Democrats become upon this
question that prominent Democratic
leaders in that State say that it will be
necessary to nominate Mr.. Davis him
self for Governor this fall to prevent the
Republicans from gaining control OF the
State on this very tariff issue, and Mr..
Davis is a pronounced proteCtionist, In
faot, Mr.. Scott himself does not expect |
TO see the National Convention follow
in the wake OF his convention in Penn
sylyania. He says that the platform
will probably be drawn up on the lines
OF the Democratic State Convention OF
New York Of May last; that platform |
simply indorscd in the most general
terms the Presidents message. 1t is eX-
pectcd that the platform will also con-
tain specific declarations against trusts.
These planks will, doubtless, be peculiar
reading to the delegates who know that
the chief source OF the supplies Tor the
campaign are expected TO be found IN
the treasury OF tne GOal-lll trust tllc
Anthracite Coal Syndicate and the other
great monopolies in which the Demo.
cratic magnates who are controlling the
Democratic Convention are interested,
scoTT's POSITION.
Mr.. Scott goes even further than to
say that the platform will only refer to
the tariff in general terms, He says, dis
tinctly, that it will not approve of the
Mills bill or mention it, II is not,
hc saws, the function Of the Convention
10 indorse bills, but to declare princi-
pies. Besides, no one can tell what the
Mills bill will be when Congress shall
finally adjourn. All OF which will prove
very interesting reading to Mr.. Mills
and the associates of Mr.. Scott on the
Committee on Ways and Means, There
is an interesting story as to various
PROPOSITIONS relating to the tariff, which
will be submitted to the Committee on
Resolutions. Accordingto thestateMent
of those who claim TO know Mr.; Scott
.,ortnd from Washington with platform