Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-28
RACE QUESTION AND TARIFF.
How the Two are Bound Together In
the South.

Gen. 1mboden Of Virginia was given hear
ing before the ways and means committee after
TIVE STAR's report closed yesterday He proved
interesting witness. Being a democrat on
the race question and republican on the tariff.
he informed the committee that he had voted
for Mr.. Cleveland for President under protest
Mr.. Imboden said he was a protectionist; he
had always been one; and he believed that if
from the South there could be a square and
fair vote on the protection issue, without any
extraneous issues, the protectionists would
overwhelmingly carry at least four southern
states.
Mr.. Flower of New York inquired. in refer
ence to the remark to the elections in the
south, whether MIR. lmboden meant that the
color line had to be drawn and that the gentle
man had to vote against his sentiments
Mr.. Imboden: I'VE are compelled to stand
together there under certain conditions. The
tariff sinks into insignifcance. In the recent
election / voted. with extreme reluctance the
democratic ticket; but / did it,"
This reply caused a good deal of amusement
In the committee.
Mr.. Carlisle asked whether, if that were true,
the virginia coal producers could not compete
In their own country with the Nova Scotia coal
NEGRO MINERS IN THE SOUTH.
Mr.. Imboden responded in the negative, and
declared that an abolition of the duty would
rum VIC COdA INDUSTRY VI he lncn
proceeded to argue i'll support of retaining the
duty on iron ore. He represented not skilled
labor. but unskilled labor. The men vino
worked the mines IN the south were princi-
pally negroes. Those people had to be pro-
yided with work. If 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. They
were practical. industrious and faithful if they
were paid promptly and treated kindly.
PROTECTION A SOURCE OF STRENGTH.
Judge Bowling OF Virginia, made an argu-
ment in favor of the retention of the duty on
iron ore. He thought this matter of protection
to the industries of Virginia became one of the
most important factors IN n determination of
the race question. Farming did not pay in Vir-
ginia. and other labor must be supplied to the
negro. When he had labor and received his
wages for il, instead of remaining idle and
thriftless he got a little home and ceased to be
politician. Protection was a source of strength
to the people of the south in endeayoring to
make a better citizen of the negro.
MARYLAND's MINING INTERESTS.
Representative McComas of Maryland next
addressed the committee on the coal and iron
ores question, favoring the retention of the
present rate of duty. He presented several
resolutions and petitions from the coal districts
of Maryland praying for the protection offered
by the present law.
Owen Kitchens, a miner from Wales, told
the committee that since he came to this cUun-
try he had earned much more and lived better.
and thought that on the whole the laborers of
this country were in much better condition
than those in England.
James VI. Sloan. Maryland miner. protested
In behalf Of the miners of his section against
the reduction of the tariff on coal.
Mr.. D. p. Ottershaw OF Allegheny, Pa, en-
gagged in the manufacture of an enameled iron
for signs and other purposes, urged the COM
mittee to raise duties on these goods.