Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-11-23
THE TARIFF MESSAGE.
INTERESTING GOSSIP ABOUT THAT NOW
FAMOUS DOCUMENT,

Special ". Y. World.

CptGtut We . W.
WASHINGTON, November 20.-The in
side history Of the tariff-reduc!ion me.age
sent TO Congress By the President Last De-
csmher has not yet been written and 1t Is
of soms interest. Indeed, in view OF the
defeat Of Mr.. Cleveland and of the opinion
of a lags numbsr of persons, right or
wrong, that the result was due to the tariff
message, it is desirable that the people
should bs informed of all the circumstances
connected with that new departure Of the
Administration.
President Cleveland is The p1tative
father of the child, but the real author Of
its being is Mr.. Msnton Marble. For
twenty years Mr.. Marble has b en- eager to
force tariff reform into pliucs as q dis
tinctiys issue. He devoted much time to
tie task of bringing the President round
to his views Of the political revolution
which would sWesp over the Western
States if the Democracy only bad the cour-
age and sense to make 8 bold fight on the
tariff issue; not through q meaningless
plank in q convention platform, Dut
through aggressive action on the part Of
the President, who would unqusst!onably
bs the candidsts of the party for re-elec-
ton, and would thus compel the recogni-
ton of the issue in the contest. Nc. Mar
he pointed the position held on the ques-
ton by Western newspapers and Western
politicians.
Mr.. Cleveland was not entirely convin-
ced by Mr.. Marbles argument, but was
disposed to bslieve that they n some
strength aud we'll deserved consideration.
Mr.. Marble found an effective ally in Mr..
Henry Wattersop, who supplemented the
appeal of his flisnd in his own iDpul:iVe
and impetuous manner. Meanwhile mem
bers of the Cabinet were approached n
urged to favor the proposition of q Pnsi
dsrtisl message, stripped blre OF all out
side adorDments, and placed before Con-
gress aud the country as o nake1 tariff re-
vision proposition from the cor Siderstiou
of which nsitser party, nor any Individual
of either party, could escape. In a short
time afterwards Mr.. Marble laid before
the President his drafG Of message such
as lie advised. This was thu origin OF the
much-discuts document, which IN the
opinion of many persons settled the Pres
idential contest. As transmitted to Con
gress there were some changes from Mr..
Marbles composition, but the main feat
urts were preserved, and IN some OF TIE
idiomatic expressions the ex-editOr's style
can be ta3iIy recognized.
While these discussions were going on
Secretary Whitney was indisposed and ab-
sent from Washington. Ga his return to
the capital shortly before the assembling
of CoaGr,ss he received q letter from the
President, who expressed a desire to ses
him as soon as possible. Secretary Whitney
called at the White House, and in q pl-
yats interview Mr.. Cleveland Submitted to
him the draft of the proposed message,
which was then prepared. The revelation
Was q surprise and a shock to the Secretary,
whose keen perception and accurate p)l!d-
cal information at once suggested to him
that, however Wiss and commen3able the
prorositions advanced might be III the alb
stracs, it WIS rot the right time to cast
them upon tie country. He frankly ex-
pressed these views TO the President as the
first Impression made en- his mind by the
message. MI. Cleveland was evidently
considl rably surprised and disappoirt'd at
ths position taken by the Secretary. lie
told Mr.. Whitney thai the message had
already been oiscussed By tie Cabinet,
and that his remarks were the first hOstil3
expressions ne had beard in r6gId to 1t.
he desired that the Secretary would take
q little time to ref. ct on the matter snd
see if he could not find reasons TO warrant
q chsnSe in the views he then expressed.
At tdis interview Mr.. Whitney at once
discovered aud pointed out ID the Presi'
dent one iu portsnt instance 10 which tee
all, u ftc.s advanced were not correct,
ard the ragoning built up On them was
fslia,ious and open to destructive criti'
cism. TIE President was surI riSed at the
information snd made q rOte OF 1t Tor IT.
0uiry. Mr.. Whitney was lound to be right
sud tie message was modified accordingly,
Tue Cabinet WIS then csllsd together in
special meeting, at which the message was
again considered, Mr.. Whitney and oil thu
members being present. The dlscusslor
which ensuad was warm aud prolonged.
Il fscticn seemed ouly to have confirmed
Me-. Whitney's views Of the inexpediency o
the policy aud when he spoke he expressed
mia opposition in no uncertain terms. d.
believed it was most il judic;oJs to give
the Republicans an issue such as they mos
de.irei, and which they had repeatedly
tried 10 falsely force on tie Dem
Dorsey when they were selrchin!
auxiCusly, and up to that thu
vainly, for a W.T. cry. He insisted that th,
merits and justice of thu policy rec)m
msuded in tie message had no part in tn
discussion; that the real point wss whethe
il was iudicious to urge the policy on III
Eva of a Presi6e a.ial election, when theT,
would net be time ero1ga st c)muard o
the party to combat p1judicP, to oye'
throw false charges aud to educate IN
minds of the working people up to an IN
Outstanding Of their true Interests. MI
Whitney insis ed that without this dlrec
issue in tte spproschirg canvass the Oppo
sition would have nothing 10 do hus I
make q fight by stacks on the genera
llicy ard character CT the AdmlnlstTa
tration. and on this thsre cou'd be no ques
ton of their defeat. TIE result would b
the yindi .stion Of the Administration, sn
its patriotism aud integrity wO1ld becom
historical through the discussions OF I'd
canvass Mr.. Whitney urged the polio,
of first winning the b title and then seem
ing the rtformsaud relief s)ught during II
four years Of the next issue.
) The other members of the Cabinet oppo'
ed Mr.. Whitney's position and prged tn
expsdiency of the message az that time
BIT it was reserved for Mr.. Villas to q sal
Mr. Whitney's views with a force wbic
= ancroached ON the limits OF courtesy. Tn