The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-08-24

earth. They fortified him with Free
Trade speeches OF the good old Demo
cratic, Free Trade times, when calico
was worth fifty cents yard, and whisky
sold at FIVE cents quart. His great
Democratic heart swelled with indigna-
ton. They formulated plan. He was
to first crack the Free Trade whip. He
to lead off with n message attacking the
protection policy. Carlisle, the Free
Trade Speaker, was to appoint South
ern Free Trade
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE.
They were to formulate bill in the in
terest OF Free Trade, and pass it, II posi-
bic; but If they could not pass it, they
could at least commit the party to its
support, fight this battle on the issues SO
raised, and then make the bill law in
the next Congress. So far the plan has
been strictly adhered to.
The President wrote his message. He
commenced with sensational attempt
to frighten the country about surplus
revenue, and followed with q TRADE
against manufacturers, wornout plati-
tHdes about tariff duties being tax on
the consumer, large re.Statement Of
exploded theories about the farmers
having to pay more, in consequence OF
the tariff, for their farming implements,
and about the increased cost of clothing
and other necessaries; more than coun-
tGrbalancing all the advantages arising
to laborers from increased compensation.
Mr.. Carlisle appointed his committee
and here let me call your attention to
the men who compose it. It consists OF
thirteen members. Five OF them are
Republicans, but they have not been
allowed to be heard in connection with
this subject. The Democratic members
would not even consult with them, or
allow them to know what they were do
ing or proposing TO do in this matter.
In fact, the Republican members have
been no part OF the committee, and it
was not intended they should be. 1t is
not necessary, therefore, to consider who
they were. They were not part OF the
plan. The eight Democrats constituted
the committee, and the whole of it. To
them was entrusted the right to formu-
late the policy and mold the legislation
that was to affect, in the most vital way,
the great industries of this country-a
country that has population
OF sixty millions Of people, fifty millions
OF wealth, 100000 manufacturing estab.
lishments, in which 5000 millions OF
dollars are invested, aud in which three
million Of people are employed, who
make and put into the markets OF the
world an annual product amounting to
[, 1000 millions OF dollars in value. And
not only was this committee TO legislate
for the interests Of these industries and
wage workers, but also for the eight
of farmers for whom these men
create home market TINT takes more
than ninety per cent OF all their pro-
ducts, and also for 100000 men owning
100000 sheep and producing nearly
800 million pounds OF wool annually. |
You wouid naturally expect men to be
chosen for such responsible work who
represented constituencies importantly !
identified with the great interests to be
Such men would be most
likely to have just pride in their coun-
trys greatness, u proper conception OF
its advantages, and enough business
sense to know how to promote its vel
fare.
The following table, compiled from the
last census, shows the number OF manu-
establishments OF all kinds in
each of their respective districts, togeth-
er with the amount OF capital invested,
the number Of employees, and the total
OF Wages pNid annually: