The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-04-12
CRISP ON THE TARIFF

AMERICUs, Ga, April 1l.-Congressman an
Crisp, who is a candidate for speaker of
the next house, makes the following reply
TO the statement that he is not in sympathy
with the tariff reform wing of his party:
Il have seen the article charging that ]
am not tariff reformer, and hence not IN
line with my party on that question.
From the time entered congress and cast
my first vote for Mr. Carlisle for speaker
until this hour | have aided every effort to
reduce taxation. have given earnest and
not reluctant support to all efforts in that
direction. Every member of congress with
whom | have served is aware of this. Not
one such can be found who entertains any
doubt of my position.
Il always have been tariff reformer.
1t is said / have not been recognized as a
leader in the fight for tariff reform. Well.
in the house, so far as there is any leader
ship, it is on the part of committees in
respect to matters of which they have
charge. The ways and means committee
has charge of and reports on all tariff bills.
A representative not member of that
committee Is not expected to take so
active part in the consideration of a tariff
bill as the members thereof This is well
understood Necessarily, then, members
of this committee have most to say on the
subject.
Now, ] have never been n member of
the committee on ways a means, but |
have nevertheless been tariff reformer
have spoken and always voted for bills
looking in that direction. 4 representa-
tive not on the ways and means committee,
and hence not specially charged with the
preparation and presentation of tariff bills,
is not likely to be so conspicu-
ously connected with such measures
as members OF the committee, but if such
representative heartily sympathizes with.
and speaks and votes in favor of tariff re-
form, and does all he can with propriety
In furtherance thereof, he may Justly
claim TO be considered a tariff reformer,
even though he may never have been so
fortunate as to be assigned place on the
committee on ways and means. Now, I
have always been in favor of tariff reform
of reduction of taxation, and | have in
public addresses in Massachusetts, in New
York, in Maryland, in Virginia, in every
county in my district and elsewhere.
argued IN favor thereof | have spoken
and voted for 1t in the house. What more
could do TO indicate that | favored tariff
reform?
Those members of congress who have
served with me will be as much surprised
as was when they see me classed with
the protectionists. Indeed. have received
several letters from friends who were in
the east and who are elected TO the next
house. earnest and active tariff reforniers.
too, coudemuing in the strongest terms
this effort TO mislesd the new members of
congress as to my position on the tariff.
and expressing the opinion that the object
sought to be advanced thereby would not
be aided by such a course. | SUPPOSE
hope at least-that those members Of con-
gress who are not familiar with nv record
on the tariff question will investigate it
for themselves L have been eight years in
congress, aud my votes and speeches are of
record, accessible to all. / am perfectly
willing to stand or fall as tariff reformer
by my record, but | object TO being as
signed false position by those who are
more concerned perhaps in advancing the
interests Of some particular candidate
than they are in dealing justly and fairly
TO all
But enough. This charge, or iusinua-
ton, is too absurd. Ny speech OF Nav last
in the house, printed in the Congressional
Record. and accessible to all who wish TO
see it, is sufficient answer"