Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-09-21
MILLS AT RICHMOND, IND.
The Democratic Leader PourS Forth His
DenunciationS Upon Nh. Blaine.

RICHMOND, Iud., Sept 2O-The demon
stration here today on the occasion of the
appearance of Hon. Roger q. Mills, the
Democratic leader of the house of repre-
sentatives, was abundantly gratifying to
the local Democracy. Judge Abbott pre-
sided at the meeting and after songs by
the glee club he introduced the speaker of
the day.
Mr. Mills ON rising was greeted with a
ringing round of cheers and at once began
his speech. He.quoted at the beginning
from Mr.. Blaine's New York speech that
capital was able TO take care of itself;
that the question of this campaign was
one of labor. Labor from the skin TO the
core and from the core back to the skin
again. Mr. Mills said he would accept
the definition and he proposed to show
that the Democratic party was now, as 1t
always had been, the true friend OF labor
and of the laboring man, a proposition
which evoked thelirst outburst of applause.
BY way of proof he cited the enormous
taxation imposed by the Republican party
during and after the war until the income
began to be beyond the needs of the gov
ernment. He then called attention to the
fact that when the Republicans began TO
reduce the burden they did not begin TO
take the taxes off of the poor. but did off
the rich. The income tax, for instance,
which was one affecting but few of the
poor people of the country, and they are
all well TO do, was among the first remoV-
ed by the Republican party III its haste to
favor the rich while protesting to be the
friend of the toiling masses. In the same
line,was their treatment of the tax on
railroads ami other wealthy corporations.
They were all relieved of taxation, as he
sarcastically said. because the Republican
party was so deeply concerned for the wei
fare of the laboring party. On the other
hand the Democrats proposed 10 remove
the tax from the clothing of the people.
from implements of labor wherewlth the
laborerS earn their subsistence. ana from
other articles which went TO make up the
present enormous taxation OF labor, to-
gether with an unnecessary surplus. THIS
efert met uniform opposition from The
Republicans, and Yet Mr.. Blaine would
have the people believe that this is cam
paign in which the question Is one
of labor and that the Republicans
are the only friends OF laborers
1t was indeed a question OF labor, but the
true friends of labor were found in the
Democratic party. Mr.. Mills was emphatic
in his declaration that the Democrats did
not propose TO give the nation free
whisky; that 1t was understood that If az
attempt was made TO remove the tax or
whisky he Democrats We're determined (
fight it out on that line if it took all sum
mer and the fall. Continuing his proof o.
the proposition with which he be
gan MIR Mills denied that the
Democrats favored free trad,
and quoted the very small reduction
of the tariff as protfered by the Mills bill
why" said he, 1--WE propose to reduce til,
tariff from a. per cent to 425s per cent
That is no more free trade than was TIT
reform made by hard drinker TO total ab
stinence when he reduced his drains from
a. TO I25t." Mr.. Mills went on with diff
ferent articles enumerated in his bill OF
which there was a reduction OF the tarlf
to show how in each case the protection
which the Republicans insist on did no
protect the workmen and that in ever
case the benefit of the protection went t
the manufacturer, the master and not th
man.
/ will repeat question that have ask
ed. The duty is s6..2 on ton pig irol
and l say that 50. - went right down int
the pocket Of the iron owner, and il
there yet Now let any laborng man, an
friend of Harrison and Morton, any Re
publican tell me how l can assist th
laborer 10 get that 50. - out of the pocket
of the manufacturer and put it in his an
Twill vote for Harrison and Morton an
free whisky.