Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-10-11

Mr.. Wilson, the representative in
Congress from this congressional
district, takes delight in posing as
the friend of the people as diStin
guished from corporations and CAPT
talsts. A searching examination of
his record III Congress will show
that he cares very little about the
interests of the citizen, and especial
ly the farmer, when he gets on op
portunity to vote in their interest.
HE FAVORS BOGUS BUTTER AND
LARD.
One of the gIeatests evils Of which
the farmer has complained in recent
years has been the manufacture OF
bogus butter whereby the genuine
article is greatly reduced in price.
In 1886 Congress passed the Oleo.
margIne bill which was intended to
protect the farmers in every section
of the country. 1t was bill simply
to protect the farmers from fraudu-
lent butter manufactured and placed
upon the market at a low price. Mr..
Wilson voted against this measure
on its final passage, and in favor of
all the amendmets offered to weaken
it.
In August, 1890, the Compound
Lard bill passed the House Of Repre-,
sentatives. 1t was intended to pro
tect the farmers who made lard
from fraudulent article made and
placed on the market. Mr.. Wilson
was present at the time of the pas.
sage of this measure, but declined to
vote. The Speaker in order TO make
a quorum for the passage of the bill
was obliged to count Mr.. Wilson
present and not voting.
HIS POOR RECORD ON THE SILVER
QUESTION.
In August, 1886, under the admin,
istration of President Cleveland, a
bill was reported in the House by
Mr.. Bland, of Missouri, providing for
the free coinage of silver. 1t was
defeated on a yea and nay vote,
there being one hundred and twenty
six votes III its favor to one hundred
and sixty three against it. Mr.. viii
sons vote is one of those recorded in
the negative. 1t will thus be seen
that only four years ago he was OPP
posed to the free coinage Of silver.
In June, 1890, under the admins,
tration of President HARRISON silver
coinage bill was presented in the
House of Representatives, and Mr..
Bland moved to recommit to the
committee with instructions to re-
port back a bill for the free coinage
of silver. Mr.. Wilson was one of
one hundred and sixteen who voted
in favor of the measure. There were
one hundred and forty votes against
it. Hence 1t will be seen that Mr..
Wilson changed front and voted for
measure against which he voted
only four years before.
When the present silver law was
reported back from the conference
committee to the House it was adopt.
ed by one hundred and twenty two
yeas to ninety nays, Mr. Wilson be
ing reported as one of the ninety in
opposition. Thus 1t will be seen that
in 1886 he was squarely against free
coinage of silver. whereas in 1890 be
was squarely in favor Of it; and it
will also be seen that he was oppos-
ed to the increased purchases of sill
yer required by the present law.
His position is not ouly of fat con.
tradiction, but he stands upon record
as having opposed wise legislation
by means of which the prices OF all
farm products have been vastly in.
creased.
HIS RECORD ON TEMPERANCE.
The Supreme Court of the United
States held few months ago that
persons had right to import beer
from Illinois into Iowa and sell it in
the latter state, and that in the
absence of Congressional permission
to do so the state of Iowa had no
right to interfere by seizure or other
action in the prohibition of the i'm
portation or sales by non resident
importers. 1t was at once proposed
that Congress should give to the
states permission to interfere, in or
der that each state might coatrol
this question in its own way, aud in
August, 1890, snch a bill was finally
passed by both Houses, the vote 10
the House of Representatives stand.
ing one hundred and nineteen for,
and ninety three against 1t. Mr..
Wilson voted against the bill. His
vote was not only direct blow to
all temperance legislation, but it was
qualification of his position on the
question of the states rights.
HIS POSITION ON THE BANKRUPTCY
BILL.
One Of the most important meas. |
ures passed by the present Congress
has been the Bankruptcy bill,
measure demanded by all the bust
ness interests of the country. In
July, 1890, while an Involuntary /
Bankruptcy bill was pending in the .
House, Mr.. Culbertsop, OF Texas, /
moved to substitute for it Volun
tafy Bankruptcy bill. The former
measure rendered Liable to bank. /.
ruptcy proceedings everyone the
payment Of whose commerclal
paper WAS suspended and not re /
snmed within fifteen days. The
latter permitted and protected vol .
untary assignment for the equal
benefit of creditors. Mr.. Cul6ert. /
sons measure was rejected upon a
vote of seventy four in it its favor
and one hundred and twenty five
against it. Mr.. Wilson voted against
1t, and Immediately thereafter vo;.
ed for the Involuntary Bank
fu2tcy bill. His regard on this mat.
ter is one of great importance. as
the position taken by him is harsh
and severe toward all honest but un-
fortunate debtors.
Il