The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-02-18
CREAM OF THE PRESS.
BRIGHT THOUGHTS FROM JESTER.
BAYS PAPERS.

The straw shows the Way the Wind
! Blows -BIaine's Coquetry-Roger Pryor
ON the Trust Combine Reading Coal
| Barons-The "Irish World'' on Blaine.
The special election held this week In
tie Eleventh congressional district OF
Michigan, to fill the vacancy caused by
the death of Representative Mofatt, IS
most instructive tariff lesson 10 the IKE
publicans of the East who raise the cry
of free trade as the answer To every de-
mand FOR prompt and judieious tarlli re
vision.
The vital issue In the special election
contest was tariff revision, and an other
wise acceptable Republican candidate
was handicapped By the attitude of his
party against tariff reduction, while the
Democratic. candidate boldly espoused
the tariff policy OF President Cleveland.
The battle was verY spirited; a very large
vote was polled much money was ex'
pended by the Republicans TO exhibit
growing party strength in the Repubi-
can States Of the Northwest, TO answer
the predictions of party weakness on the
tariff question made by leading Republic
can organs in that region, and the result
is either an actual or practical defeat Of
the Republicans. -Phila. TINES.
In 1884 Mr Blaine began his presiden-
tial canvass with honeyed words for the
South He set out to break the '' Solid
| South" as he termed it. West Virginia
| ne regarded as doubtful State, and he
| tnrned much of his attention in that di-
rection. Blaine was interested in the
industrial development in West Virginia;
he was director in AT least one railroad
and mining company, and if West Vir-
ginia would give her vote to him he
would make large investments in that
| State.-Stdte.
In his argument at Albany in support
of what is known os the Tammany bill
for the suppression of Trust monopolies,
Mr.. Roger A. Pryor cited decisions made
in this State and elsewhere to the effect
that contracts or agreements intended 10
prevent competition are void because
they are in restraint of trade and con-
trary to public policy. The law" he
said, has immemorially recognized com
petition as a beneficient principle and
monopoly as an evil principle in the so
cial economy" The suppression OF trust
denominations and monOpolies, he as
serted. is clearly within the scope OF the
police powers of the state. The field in
which Mr. Pryor has made inquiry Is one
where great deal of work will be done
in the next two or three years by attor-
neys for competition killing combina-
tons, as well as by representatives of the
people.-N \. Times.
| One Of our exchanges treats at length
OF Mr. Blainc's present coqucttish posi-
ton, and says that " 1t il curious di-
lemma to which some Of the friends OF
Mr. Blaine are reducing him and the Re
publican party as well. They are fairly
represented by Mr.. Frye, who, the day
after the Florence letter was received,
declared that, undoubtedly, Mr.. Blaine
was sincere" and meant every word
that he had said. But the effect of his
letter would simply be to withdraw Mr.
Blane's personality" from tine canvass
for the Republican nomination, and the
party thus freed from embarrassment
would unite on their old leader and call
him again TO command, and he could not
refuse. Now. so far as MI Blaine is con-
cerned, this explanation of his course is
by no means complimentary.
General Manager Whiting of the Read
ing Coal Company gave some interesting
and significant testimony yesterday be
fore the House Investigating Committee
at Washington.
He explained the combine, or, as he
called it, the allotment system in
which the coal barons had banded to-
gether TO limit the output of coal tor the
purpose OF preventing competition and
thereby keeping up the price. Having
admitted, what is obvious, that the
scheme worked to the grea. pecuniary
advantage of the barons, he was asked
How about the consumer In that alot-
meutI"
"Oh, we didn'; consider the consumer"
! Chairman Tillman OF course not. But
| We 10. aud We propose II we can 10 pass a law
that Will protect the consumer whom you
ION EOu-lJeI-
The HerGd has more than once shown
that such a combination is not only a
heartless scheme 10 make money out of
the necessities of the poor, but is crimi.
nan conspiracy, punishable by law
| ". Y HTd!d.
The question whether the Republican
Convention can make a nomination
which will not be interpreted as yielding
to Mugwump dictation has to be met
with candor The Irish World believes
that the nomination of any other candi.
date instead OF Mr.. Blaine would disgust
thousands OF voters who are in sympathy
with what they have conceived 10 be the
Distinguishing principle of the Republi-
can party, nor would these voters be con
fined exclusively to men of Irish blood
This opinion may be in error, but II as
suredly deserves careful consideration
". Y. Tribune.
A river and harbor grab Of SEQ 900 900
is in preparation, and new pensions are
being engineered by the Claim Agents