The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-11-30
wTIEEI.ING, NOVEMBER 80, 1901.
The srcnlscrship and FREQ Trade.

The Spcakcrship and FREQ Trade.
As will be seen by our Washington
dispatches this morning, the speaker
ship contest is growing very interest
ing. Just now it is afTording some
lively entertainment for the galleries
and tho prospects are 1t will grow
wildly exciting rs the time for tho bal
loting draws near. True to its record,
tho Democratic majority, is showing
the country just how incapable it is OF
harmonious action when it has large
majority, and if there is not 4 hair
pulling match within two weeks the
signs are misleading
Even now tho feeling between the
two leading candidates and theirfriends
is very bitter, and some wicked things
are being said. Some OF tho remarks
INDUCED in indicate that the contest
has resolved itself into a campaign OF
personal abuse. The most significant
feature ana perhaps the most interest
ing, is the peculiar bearing the fight has
with reference to the tariff. and Mr..
Cleveland's candidacy for the prcsi-
dency. The ex-President is understood
TO be backing Mr.. Mills, notwithstand-
ing that gentleman's free silver views,
and that naturally rifles the Crisp men,
and they vow that Mr.. Cleveland
will hear from them in future
II Governor Hill is wise he will
take advantage OF the situation. He
certainly will reap some benefit as the
matter stands. The feeling between
the factions is so high that a reconcilia-
ton seems impossible, and the Demo-
cratic majority in the House OF Repre-
sentatives will enter upon its work as a
house divided against ITSELF with the
presidential situation complicated in q
way that may result in the introduc-
tion OF some new features.
1t appears that Mr.. Crisp, although a
Democrat, is not enough OF free trader
to suit the majority, particularly those
who seem to belong to the Cleveland
household. True he is tariff re-
former" and voted for the Mills bill and
against the Mckinley bill. He never
was accused before OF being 4 protec-
ZIONIST. However, he represents q
manufacturing centre and that is an
objectionable ofense in the eyes Of the
Cleveland-Mills combine. Their abso-
lutte free trade tcnets are everlast-
ingly opposed to manufacturing
communities. Their mission is to
crush the life out OF American manufac.
turing industries and any man who will
represent a manufacturing district is no
true Democrat, no matter il he does pro-
fess to endorse his party's platform. He
is a suspicious character. and ii given
control OF the house might engineer
legislation which would keep the mills
and factories going, give employment to
American workingmen and provide Il
market for American farmers. 1t is a
pity that Mr.. Crisp does not represent
a manufacturing district in Great Brit
ain. Perhaps, in that case, the Clcvc-
land-Mills faction could forgive him.
So. at last, these so.called "taritl-re.
formers" are showing their hand. They
want absolute free tradc--no compro-
mise. They didn't say SO when they
we're before the country, for election,
and Mr.. Cleveland has pretended not to
so that far in his public utterances.
But the decree has COMO out from them
that Mr.. Crisp must be defeated be-
cause ho represents manufacturing
district. 1t is not enough that he is Il
Democrat and believes in his marty
platform. He is from manufacturing
town and that damns him. Down with
tho mills and factories; up with Roger
Q. Mills and free trade! That is the cry
OF the Cleveland Democracy. 1t will
elect Mills, perhaps, and the Democracy
Mt last will stand committed, not to
tariff reform" as protested, but to free
trade, pure and simple.