Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1890-06-21
AN "ARTFUL DoDGER."

Hon. William L. Wilson, of the
Second West Virginia district, who
aspires to be Mr.. Carllsle's successor
to the leadership of the Democratic
side ofthe House of Representatives,
is an artful dodger nwhen it comes
to discussion OF the question OF
applying his free trade theories to
the leading industries of his own
district.
A little less than two years ago
Mr.. Wilson was on the stump in
West Virginia advocating his own
candidacy TO return TO Congress,
and championing the merits of the
Mills Free Trade bill. In his speech.
es in this State he claimed the credit
OF having induced the Ways and
Means Committee, of which he was
a member, to retain the duty on coal.
after that body had, in its original
draft, placed that mineral on the
free list. Whenever Mr.. Wilson was
confronted with the question wheth-
er or not he would apply the free
trade principle to coal and wool
alike he evaded an answer. He was
preaching free wool while telling his
constituents, who are largely Deepen
dent on the coal for industry, that
he had saved coal from being placed
on the free list. The inconsistency
of his positions is obvious.
Last Saturday during the debate
on the Mckinley bill, Mr.. Wilson
fully sustained bis reputation as an
"artlul dodger," when Mr.. Dingley
put a question to bin. Our distin-
gulshed preventative was eloquent.
~ advocating free raw material, and,
as a :: clincher," was quoting Daniel
Webster as an authority, when Mr..
Dingley interrupted him, and the
following interesting conversation
ensued:
Mr.. Dingley. Will the gentleman
pardon me for question Iwould
like to know if the gentleman is in
favor ofputting coal, the crudest Of
all materials, on the free list7
Mr.. Wilson, Of West Virginia. |
am in favor of putting any article
on the free-list along with "a general
bill reducing duties. Applause on
the Democratic side.
Mr.. Dingley. VIII the gentleman
answer my question specifically?
Mr.. Wilson, Of West Virginia.
When you come even to my position
in your bill of reducing all along
the line. | will consider that propo.
sition.
Mr.. Dingley. Now, will the gentle.
man give me specific answer to
my question, because that will test
the matter?
Mr.. Wilson, Of West Virginia. |
will put coal or any thing else on the
free list along with a bill making a
comparative reduction of taxes up
on those who use and produce it.
Mr.. Dingley-But did the gentle
man report coal on the free list when
he made the reductions?
Mr.. Wilson, Of West Virginia-I
was not the only Trainer of the bill.
[Cries of " Ali" on the Republican
side. l expressly apologized for
that bill on the floor Of this House
by saying that it did not fulfill our
full duty to the people, but that we
had gone as far as we could at that
time.
Mr.. Dlngley-Now, will the gen
tleman inform me-
Mr.. Wilson. Of West Virginia
Now, Mr.. Chairman, | did not bring
in any bill increasing duties on lime
or anything else in my district. My
district produces wool and is a great
lumber district.
Here the hammer tell.
1t is to be regretted that the ham,
mer fell at this juncture. 1t might
have been interesting for the public
to know how Mr.. Wilson got out of
the hole Mr.. Dingley dag for him
and into which he fell headlong.
Perhaps if the debate had continued
our scholarly statesman would have
been able to har mOnlze his pro
LESSONS before his constituents with
his theories expressed on the floor
of the House Of Representatives,
"but we doubt it."-IntelLigeacer.