Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1888-06-07
THE BoTHERsoME TARIFF.


| a Long Struggle in the Platform Commit
| tee Over tho Vexed Question.
ST. LOUIS Mo, June THE sub-commit-
tee of the COMMITTEES on resolutions kept up
| their deliberations until 3 o'clock yesterday
| morning, and at that hour, almost worn out
| by the fatigue of debate, deferred further CON
| sderation until 9 O'Clock The discussion in
subcommittee was confined solely to the
| tariff and no conclusion was reached The full
committee held long session yesterday. The
proposition to embody plank looking to the
free coinage of silver which was indorsed by
Watterson, was defeated, and German car
ried, by a vote of p to 20, the proposition to
readopt the entire platform of lSSi
In arguing the tariff question before the
committee every state represented took a
hand but the burden of the fight was borne
by German and Watterson. The former in
sisted that a tariff -for-revenue plank would
lose the Democracy New Jersey, Connecti-
cut, and Indiana. He argued principally on
lines of expediency i'll favor of the 1884
plank.
Watterson said he would sacrifice doctrine
for expediency, but not principle, The pres
dents message had committed the party to
free trade and any declaration that was not
in accord with the message would discredit
the party. 1t would place the party in the
position of having withdrawn from stand
once taken. The platform of 1884 was pro
posed and carried as a matter of eXpedfency.
1t was said then that the Democrats wanted
to get into power. Let them get into power
and then they would declare for free trade.
They were in power and now the opportunity
had come.
O'Day, of Missouri, proposed substitute
which was simply the old declaration in ia
vor of n tariff for revenue, with the taxes
fol aFiaS md ban In
and so adjusted as not to tax one person for
another's benefit-that is, not for projections
added to an Endorsement of the presidents
tariff message.
Just before 3 o'clock the committee took
recess until p. M The committee resumed
its session about p. m, and arranged the
details of the platform, adjournng about
o'clock. The platform will be submitted as
soon as the convention meets to-day. The
tariff plank reaffirms the platform of 1884:
indorses the last annual message of the pres
ident, declares it the correct Interpretation
of the platform, and approves and applauds
the efforts of Democratic representatives in
congress to secure reduced taxation.
1t was agreed by the committee to offer
supplemental resolution commanding the
Mills tariff bill and urging the Democrats iK
congress to pass it soon as possible.
After the committee adjourned, Henry
Watterson, in reply to questions by repre-
sentatives of the United Press, said that as
the platform of 1884 was susceptible of a
double meaning it Objectionable to him;
but accompanied, as it will be in this case,
with an approval of the presidents message,
it is acceptable.
Among the resolutions submitted to the
committee on resolutions TO be incorporated
in the platform, was one from O'Donohue, of
ro Inv will bl
oppressed Of every land, and especially of
Ireland 1t received favorable reception,
hut after some discussion it was decided to
omit it from the platform and allow it to be
placed before the convention as a separate
motion