Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-01-25

speakers were Hon. w. G. P. Breckenridge,
OF Kentucky; Hon. Melbourn H. Ford, OF
Michigan; Hon. Henry Watterson, OF Ken
lucky; Hon. NJ. D. Harter, of Ohio, and a
number of local speakers. President Stokes
in his address said that the presidential
election turned upon tariff reform and j.
P. Townsend's g resolution indorsing Cleve-
lands message was adopted. Hon. w. e.
P. Breckenridge then responded to the
toast Tariff Reform" Mr.. Breckenridge,
referring to his own recorded stand against
the abolition of the tax on tobacco, said
he would rather have it re iuced than that
no action should be taken in the matter OF
tariff reform. He spoke in scathing terms
of the concessions to railways and said the
public credit had been handled by corpora.
tions enjoying peculiar privileges so that it
was loaned for private emolument. This
very month wool manufacturers and so.
called wool growers met to determine a
wool tariff to be adopted by the Congress
of tie United States for their benefit. 1t
had
NEVER OCCURRED TO THEM
that there were sixty million people who
might be concerned in the matter. Mr.
Breckinridge asked how long the people
would allow the wool to be pulled over
their eyes in this matter. The Reading strike
he attributed to the bad working
of the present iniquitous system. Con-
gresham Ford, OF Michigan, spoke on the
s.Farmer and the Tariff Then came
Henry Watterson, editor Of the Courier
Journal. His subject was: The Plat
form and the Outlook" He said: The
platform is the message, the Presidents
message. The outlook is most encourag-
ing considering how the painted harlot OF
protection is whistling to keep her courage
up as she stalks across the graveyard OF
false VOWS and broken promises she has
made-mainly to the work people. lshould
call it assured. For more than year
my
FEAR HAS BEE,
that we might not be IDLE, in advance OF
our national Convention, to close ranks
and move in solid column against the
e emy on distinct lines Of our own deliber-
ate choosing, and as believe that nothing
clears the political atmosphere like plain
speaking right out in meeting, have given
the administration and the country dis
agreeable persistency and sincere candor.
1t was obvious to my mind that unless we
could agree IN Congress we SlOllQ not agree
in convention. The tariff plank in the last
national Democratic platform vas not in
tended to be straddle,, because, although
the platform committee had been adroitly
packed in the interest of protection OF the
revenue, the reformers we're still strong
enough to hold their ground and to carry
all their points. But it was made to seem
a straddle, hence nothing short Of a decla-
ration which might Lot bear two construc-
tions would satisfy the
DEMAND OF REFORM
in the national platform and this could not
be obtained without fight and a possible
split. Just in the nick OF time the Presi-
dent me to the rescue with the wisdom OF
an impetuous courage and the craft OF
sense deriving it's strength from its
This brave and honest man,
this puzzle to the politicians and contra
liction OF all experience, with single
stroke OF his pen has done what might Tor
years have baffled the efforts OF the great
st sta tesm II and philosophers. By that
act he has revers, the situation from one
of cowardly indecis on to one of euthus-
asm and confidence. Upon lines OF that
l would rather be beaten than win
upon those OF living substitute. But we
shall not be beaten" Hon. Nj. D. Harter,
general manager OF Il Mansfield manufac-
turing industry. responed to Ohio and the
Tariff" Local speakers followed until
ate hour.