Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1889-12-28
WHEELING, SATURDAY MORNING, DEOEMBHk D, 1889

In fact, he felt that Il would be wise
policy 10 increase that duty. Having
stated that the cosl from Virginia coal
fields was sold in the West Indies aud
Central America, he was asked by Mr..
Carlisle whether, if that were true, the
Virginia coal producers could not compete
in their own country with the Nova Scotia
coal.
Mr.. ImbOden responded in the negative
and declared that an abolition Of the duty
would ruin the coal industry Of Virginia
He then proceeded to argue in support of
retaining the duty on iron ore. He repre-
ssnted not skilled labor but unskilled
labor. The men who worked the mines
in the South were principally negroes.
These people had 10 be provided with
work. II they did not receive work, they
would live on the whites dishonesty. A
negro would not steal if he could get work.
Negroes were the best mine workers. The
North had been made rich by protection;
it was now the opportunity of the South to
become rich. II any body was to he pro-
tected he would rather make an American
rich than q Hungarian, an Italian, or q
Belgian.
Mr.. Flower, of New York, inquired in
references to the remark as to elections in
the South, what Mr.. Imboden meant, that
the color line had to be drawn and that
the gentleman had to vote against his SEN
timents2
Mr.. ImbOden-"We are compelled to
stand together there under certain cOndi-
tions. The tariff sinks into insiguificance.
In the last election voted with extreme
reluctance the Democratic ticket, but l
did it," daughter He (GOn ImbOden)
was a protectionist, he had alwsys been
one, and he believed that if in the South
there could be a square and fair vote on
the protection issue without any extra is
sues, the prOtectionists would Overwhelm-
ingly carry at least four or five southern
States.
Judge Rowling, of Virginia, made an ar
gument in favor of the retention of the
duty on iron ore. HethOught this matter
of protection to the industries Of Virginia
became one of the most important features
in q determination of the race question.
He had been born and reared among ne
eroes, and he counted them as his warm
est friends.
Farming did not pay in Virginia, and
other labor must be supplied to the negro.
When he had labor and received his pay
for it, instead of remaining idle and
thriftless, be got little home and ceased
to be a politician. Protection wss a
source Of strength to the people Of the
South in endesvoring to make better cit
izsu of the negro.
Congressman McOOmss, Of Maryland,
opposed any reduction of duty on bitumi-
nous coal, holding that such reduction
would not cheaper coal but would para
lyze an ell important industry and lessen
the price ofits labor.
o. NJ. Hutchins, of Maryland, coal
operator, who formerly mined in Wales,
testified that if the duty was taken off
coal the Welch coal could not be kept out
of the country. He stated that the wages
received in Wales were not nearly as
large as the miner received in this country,
and although things was cheaper abroad,
the homes of the wOrkingmen were not
half ss comfortable. There was no COM
parison between the condition of the Eu-
glish and American miner.
James Sloan, practical miner OF Mary
land, also spoke against putting coal on
the free list. He did not want the wages
OF Maryland miners reduced to the Scotch
or Nova Scotia standard. He cited a story
descriptive of the condition of a Scotch
miner. One was asked whether he ever
eat beefsteak, and his answer was that he
sometimes saw beef through window,
but that was about as near as he ever got
to it, but, he continued, ''if you dommed
Americ ms would take the tariff of we
might get bit of beef yet.
John Watkin, of Mary land, another
miner, followed in the same line and pro-
tested against reduction OF duty on coal.
John P. O.terson, of Allegheny, advo-
Gated increase of duty on enameled iron.
The committee then adjourned until to-
morrow, when the sugar refners will be
heard.