The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-10

FOntlcll bituutlOh III west NlFslnI1 ~
TIewcd-AIr. W. l.. wilson's Record I
Congress-A stntesmanllke DlscuSsIo
of the Grcat Issue of Protection.
Hon. John W. Mason, OF Orator
writes the following letter to the Mo
gantown Post. In it he sounds the Ike,
note OF the campaign in this State. II
says:
II am informed that the Repul
licans OF the Districts OF Battelle an
Clinton, in Monongalia county, hay
done me the honor to instruct thei
delegates to vote for my nomination fo
Congress ut the Convention TO be hel
at Philippi on the oath OF August.
beg to assure my friends through III
Post that ! fully appreciate. the compl
ment they pay me. | am especial
grateful for the endorsement OF IN
friends from Clinton-that being m
old home-the place where l was borl
and reared to manhood. The position
they seek for me is very honorable on
one worthy the ambition OF the mos
distinguished citizen of the Republic
But it is u position | do not desire-on
for which have no taste. assure N,
friends l am perfectly frank when ! sa.
/ do not desire seat in Congress. Their
are n number Of eminent gentlemen il
the District whose learning, ability
tastes and peculiar fitness for the posi-
ton make them desirable candidates.
trust my friends flom Monongalia viii
not feel called upon to insist upon my
accepting a position TO which | an
averse, but will select some one OF TIT
many good and true Republicans OF thu
District to carry the banner OF protec
ton to victory. Whoever the candidate
may be promise him an earnest and
loyal support.
In selecting our next representative
in Congress too much care cannot be
exercised in securing a man who will
properly represent us on the tariff ques
ton. The contest has only begun. The
decisive battle between Protection and
anti-Protection will be fought in the
next House. 1t is needless to say that
this is question OF vital importance to
the people Of our district.
Hon. William l.. Wilson, who seeksto
be returned to Congress, does not in my
opinion properly represent the senti-
ment or the interests OF his people. He
has distinguished himself as one OF the
most eloquent and fearless opponents OF
Protection in the present Congress. We
are Justly proud OF his eloquence and
learning, but regret that they should be
used against the material interests OF the
people he represents. We do not ques-
ton the sincerity or ability OF Mr.. Will
son, but We do challenge his right, act
ing in representative capacity, to vote
for measure which must injure, ii not
destroy, SO many OF thcindustries OF the
people Of his district. Mr.. Wilson makes
no sufficient answer by declaring he is
not Free Trader. The Mills bill, with
which he is closely connected, possesses
more of the features OF Free Trade than
did the Walker law Of 1916. Indeed,
the Walker law was framed upon a
distinctive revenue basis. Mr.. Walker
recommended tariff, which would
produce the "largest revenue ut the low
est rate OF duty" But this law was only
the iorerunner OF free trade. 1t will be
remembered that when the Democratic
party met in National Convention ut
Baltimore on the 22d day OF May, 1913,
it congratulated the country that the
fruits OF the great political triumph OF
lS44," was ''the noble impulse given to
the cause of free trade by the repeal OF
the tariff OF ~ and the creation OF the
more equal, lowest and productive tariff
of 1876" Following up this "noble im-
pulse" this same party in its National
platform OF 1856, solemnly declared that
''the time has come for the people
of the United States to declare
themselves in favor OF free seas and pro-
gressive free trade throughout the
world" (See National Democratic plat
forms Of lS4S and 1861 A tariff law
devoid OF the elements OF protection, will
almost necessarily be an 'impulse" in
favor OF free trade. believe in the tar
if system for its protecting rather than
its revenue producing qualities. When
President Cleveland declares our pro-
tective system to be ''vicious, inequita-
Bile and illogical, he means precisely what
the Democratic party meant when it
enacted the Walker law-that law
which gave "a noble impulse in favor OF
free trade"-an equal and honest tar
ill.," To step aside from the path OF
Protection is to enter the highway OF
Free Trade.
Universal Free Trade would scarcely
be worse for West Virginia than the
present Democratic theory OF free ra%
material. The Second Congressional
District manufactures practically moth
ing which would come under the Demo.
cratic definition OF Finished product"
But it is insisted that rs our manutac'
turcrs would lose by reduction OF the
tariff duty, that this loss should he com
pensated for by cheap raw material: :
But who is to make good the loss to the
persons who furnish the raw material
Why should the men who raise wool
make good the losses OF the men who
manufacture it? Why should the men
who fell the trees on our mountain
sides, haul them to the mills and cut
them into lumber, make good the losses
OF the men who manufacture this same
lumber?
lit be true as commended by the Presi'
dent that the tariff regulates the price Of
dutiable articles to the extent OF the
duty, what effect will this policy have
upon this district? All we have to sell
being raw material will command low
prices. Being compelled TO buy pro
tected articles we must pay the highest
prices. Then il we sell our goods ut free
trade prices and buy at protective tariff
prices, bankruptcy must follow. Using
homeiy illustration, weshall be chopped
off at both ends of the log at the SAINT
time. Such policy would be worst
than "the pestilenCe that walketL ii
darkness" or "the destruction thai
wasteth ut MONDAY"
JOIN W. MASON.
Grafton, ". Va, July 80, lSSS.
FREE WHISKY.