Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1892-10-29
BEcKs GREAT TARIFF SPEECH.
Hon John j. Phe1an Talks Upon State
Issues and HARMONY

| Nun Oohh q. Fnelan Talks Upon State
Issues and Harmony.
City hall was crowded last evening
when the Canadian band had ceased
playing and Chairman Hynes of the
town committee announced that G. G.
Commerford had been chosen to pre-
side at the meeting, and read the list of
vice-presidents. Mr. Commerford made
a short Introductory speech, refuting
some republican statement that had
been lately made, and presented James
nj. Beck of Philadelphia, as the first
speaker: Mr. Beck was not in the best
of health, but nevertheless made an ex-
cellent speech, setting forth clearly and
logically the views of the democratic
party in the present campaign. He said
in part:
"Fellow citizens You are going, in
common with the rest of the people of
this country, to decide the great ques-
ton, shall the taxing powers of the
country be used for the benefit of the
few or the many, for public or for pri-
Vate purposes? There is q vast differ
ence between these uses; the difference
between antipodes and ourselves, the
difference between a monarchy and a
republic, between limited and an I'M
limited government.
when the friends of the Mckinley
bill announced that with an OVERLOOKING
treasury, and without respect to the
need of revenue for the country, they
could use the taxing power for the few
and against the many, they stated the
republican side of this great question.
The democratic side is directly opposed.
The republican position is simply home
markets for home products; that of the
democratic party. the markets of the
world for the products of the American
working man. Come sooner or later,
this position of the democratic party
must inevitably come, for the great ex-
cess of our production over our con-
sumption we must find some way to get
rid of. Senator Hawley said, and used
1t as an argument for protection, that
we have ninety-three per cent of our
raw material at home, while England
must come three thousand miles for
| that raw material. That fact is one of
the greatest reasons for Mr. Cleveland's
| message.
The speaker illustrated an effect of
free raw material, saying that England
| exported $3.50 worth of woollen goods to
every dollars worth that our country
| exports. ''Why is this? Have you not
the capital? Have you not the ma
| chlnery? DO you not work more hours
Yes; but the raw materials of the
| woollen goods are taxed more than any
| other industry.
"Our republican friends four years ago,
and up to a short time ago, were claim
ing that it mattered not how high the
tariff was, for the simple reason that
tariff Is not tax, and the consumer
| does not pay it; but, that the exporter,
the foreign merchant, pays it. Statistics
| show that last year England sent to this
country over $19,000,000 worth of
woollen goods. On this amount tariff
of upwards of $18,000,0 900 was paid. Do
hot u La 49,.
sum for this blessed privilege of doing
that amount of business.
President Harrison's famous Chicago
speech was quoted, in which the man
who wears cheap coat is called cheap
man, and Mr. Beck said that he could
not agree with the statesman, "for if
you make prices higher, you lower the
consumption and when the consump-
ton IS least the wages are least"
"When two work ingmen are looking
for one job wages are low. but when
the manufacturers are looking for one
workingman, wages are high. 1t is the
law of supply and demand that regu,
lates wages, not tariffs. England's con-
dition should not be compared with
Americas. Let her be compared with
her continental neighbors and it will be
found that in countries having the
highest tariff the labor is far more de-
graded below England than that country
is below America.
81 am content to leave the result with
the workingmenIon the 9Th of November.
They are alive to the necessities of the
hour. Everywhere democratic watch
fires are burning brightly. 1t has gone
out that the state of Connecticut is in
doubt. I cannot believe that you will
refuse to join the procession of sister
hoods in the march to victory. We
want (IOnnQptiont with ITO nny1 in uio-
tory as she has been with us in defeat.
We are going to win this fight. We can
win it without Connecticut, but still we
want Connecticut" The speaker closed
with an earnest appeal to vote for
Grover Cleveland.
Hon John j. Phelan of Bridgeport was
next introduced. Mr. Phelan told of our
qulrements, and how similar constitu-
tions, held by sister states, had been dis
carded. He showed by facts and figures
how legislative assembly in this state
representing only one-fourth of the
people may elect the state officers. The
time has come when minorities should
cease to rule majorities; when one
fourth of the people defy the other
three-fourths. The advisability of elect
ing the county commissioners by the
ballots of the people was shown fully.
The manner in which they are APP
pointed was gone into in detail. They
are nominated in the county caucus and |
ratified as presented in the legislative
body. Mr. Phelan told of his election by
the people by a majority of sos votes
over all other candidates and how he |
had been restrained from taking Iofice, |
which is so we'll known to readers of the |
DEMOCRAT, and expressed his determine |
ZION to fight for his rights until the l
last hour of the last day of the session. /
He asked the people if his opponent on 1
the state ticket, Mr. Judson,. should be l
rewarded for the part he had /
in that prodigious fraud, by being /
elected to the Office of secretary Of |
state. eve rest our cause with the peo-
pie, we appeal to you again to be hon.
ored with your confidence. Elect the
legislature by all means. Vote for your
honorable candidate for senator, Charles
G. Root. Vote for your representa-
tives. Drop all notions of personalities,
drop all differences for duty's sake.