Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1890-11-27
MAJOR M'kINLEY TALKS.
The Great Republican Leader
Gives His Opinion Of the
Recent Election
By No Means Should It Be Consid-
cred as a Rebuke to Pro-
tective Principles.
He Says His Tariff Measure Had
Not Had a Fair Trial-Ohio'S
Gerrymander.

On being asked to what he ascribed the
republican defeat last Wednesday, and
what influence the Mckinley bill had on
the election, the author of that great meas
IRE replied: There were a variety of
causes. 1t was an of-year, and the first
general election after the presidential cleo
ton vf 1888. There was a large STAY at
home vote of republicans. This is made
more manifest as the official returns are
announced, and is not at all unusual at the
first congressional election following a
great national contest like that of 1888.
Patronage, always an element of weak
ness of the party in power, doubtless had
something to do with the Indifference of
republicans. 1t will no doubt be found
that number of republican candidates
for congress were defeated because of the
dissatisfaction of the republicans with
the distribution of the p0stofices and
other federal offices. 1t would be a marvel
if this did not account for some of our
loss. How much, of course, | don t know
THEN WE LOST HEAVILY
in the south. In the present congress we
have twentythree republican representa-
tives from that section. In the next house
"
exceed a half dozen. This loss will not,
assume, be chargeable to the tariff
"Ohio was gerrymandered most unjustly.
While the republicans carried that state
this year by $4,000 majority and upward
lives in the next congress out of twenty
one. The minority party, you see, will have
two-thirds of the representatives in the
81
clear loss to the republicans of eight re.
publican repre- sentatiges by larceny under
the form of law. Maryland was also ger
rymandered so that the republican party,
which has three representatives in the
present house. will have none in the
next.
THE farmers alliance in some of the
western and northwestern states, whatever
else may have helped 1t, seems to have
contributed to the defeat of the republican
party in these states, while In Wisconsin,
as Judge from the press reports, purely
local question, IN nOwlse connected with
the national issues, carried down the re-
publican majority. In Pennsylvania a
democratic governor was elected, not up
on any national or purely party question.
but from causes altogether local and of
course II no way
RELATED TO THE TARIFF.
| do not know to what extent the new
tariff law influenced the elections this
year. 1t is said in some quarters that it
had much to do with the republican losses.
This may be true, but if true it is not be-
cause of the law itself, out because of the
misunderstanding Of its provisions among
the people and of the studied effort of
the free traders, at home and abroad, to
misrepresent it. Every enemy of protec
ton seemed engaged In deluding the peo
pie concerning both the text and the effect
of the law. The alleged marking up of
prices was most telling agency of decep-
| ton, and excited much prejudice against
| the W.
at must be remembered that the law
was less than a month old when the cleo
| tons occurred. It's effect could not be felt
or shown by actual experience. The free
trade partisan, moved by selfish consider
ations, had his opportunity and improved
it. Falsehood took the place of fact and
imposed upon the credulous people. Goods
were said to have gone up in prices which
had heen placed on the free list in the new
law, and many articles where duties had
been reduced, were said to have gone up,
all because of the new law.
Now that the elections are over the law
will be better understood and must tell its
own story in actual operation. Time alone
will vindicate it or condemn it. Misrep-
resentation and deception will no longer
avail. Those who care to know its exact
provisions can do so Ev examination of
the law itself removed from partisan con-
test or prejudice. The loss in the house of
representatives to the republicans this year
is not phenomenal.
MR.. BLAINE rs CREDITED
with saying that from the administration
OF John Quincy Adams TO that of Aorh-
ham Lincoln the house of representatives
first elected after presidential election has
been adverse to the administration. We
know that since 1874 the republicans have
had four years and the democrats twelve
years in control of the house of represent
atives. In 1882 the house was taken from
the republicans and given to the democrats
by the majority of eighty-two.
1--WE lost the presidency In 1884 and the
house of representatives and regained them
in 1888 upon the clear and we'll defined
issue of protection against revenue tariff.
The contest of 1888 was made upon pro-
tective platform and the people recorded
its verdict in that behalf. 1t was between
protection as embodied in the senate tariff
bill and free trade as embodied in the Mills
bill, and the voters gave emphatic approval
of the former and emphatic condemnation
of the latter. Congress responded to that
victory in the new tariff law, and upon its
work the people have not passed judgment.
They did not pass upon the new law at the
recent election. They could not have done
so because no time had been given for its
trial. 1t had MOI been tested. If the
verdict of the people Nov. 4 had any re-
lation to the new law it was upon repre-
sensations made to them which were with
out foundation In fact.
The people, in my judgment, will
stand by protection. They always have
when the issue has teen presented fairly.
Our own history in the past gives the
highest testimony of the value of this great
doctrine The future of the country will
bring new triumph to the system which
has already made US the greatest manu-
featuring nation of the world, nation of
well paid workingmen, a nation of happy
and prosperous homes, Offering the widest
opportunity to the masses and the best re-
ward to human effort and endeavor."
ALL ABOUT THE SAUSAGE.