The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-11-24

DENOUNCED!
Was the Mckinley Bill by Jas. G.
Blaine. Before its Final Pas
sage by the Senate.
A DRAMATIC INCIDENT IN THE HIS
TORY OF AMERICAN POTLITICS.

The following is an account of a
dramatic incident which took place
before the passage of the Mckinley
bill by the Republican Senate. The
account Is copied from the Colum-
bus Dispatch of Nov. s, 1890, Owing
to result of the election its signiti-
cance is marked and will be read
with interest by our readers:
Senator Joe Blackburn has come
back from Kentucky, and the first
thing he did was to be intervie wed.
This is what he said in regard to
Mr.. Blane's warning against the
passage of the Mckinley bill.
':And now that it is over, l will
tell you of a scene that | witnessed
in which Mr.. Blame was the prin-
cipal actor, scene that tv me was
so full of intensity as to be almost
dramatic, and which will never fade
from my memory. 1t has never
been told before.
1.-The Mckinley bill had been
passed by the House and was on the
calendar of the Senate, though not
yet taken up. 1t was particular
ly warm day in June when Senators
Allison, liale and myself sat i'll the
Senate Appropriation Committees
room, waiting for Mr.. Blaine, with
whom we were to consult, as sub
committee, about the consular and
diplomatic budget. There was pres
.ent no one else, except the clerk Of
he com mittee.
"Mr. Blame finally appeared, and
with him Mr.. Curtis, the accomp-
lished secretary of the Pan-Amer-
lean Congress. The Secretary was
rather IN negligee costume, as suited
the temperature, except as to his
particularly glossy and irreproach-
able silk at-bran-new, shining
plug. The tariff bill, mind you.
had nothing to do with the subject
in hand, but in a casual way |
broached it, after the usual greet
ings had been exchanged. Probably,
| asked Mr.. Blaine how he liked it.
Imagine my surprise-and, shall |
say, gratiiication-when he launch
ed forth torrent of invective
against the act that Mckinley tath-
cred.
.sHe said: This bill is an infamy
and an outrage. 1t is the most
shameful measure ever proposed to
civilized people. Go on with it and
it will carry our party to perdi-
ton
II was feeling considerable inter
ested and said: Il wish you were in
the Senate, Mr.. Blame, to announce
yourself in such terms
Cd wish l were,' he ans wered
IF so would stamp it under my
feet and spit upon it, And then
advancing toward Senators Allison
and Hale, he snapped his fingers in
the face of each alternately, and
with rising infection said: Go on
with your driveling idlocy, and see
to what distinction it will lead the
Republican party. Pass this bill,
and in '92 there will not be man
in all the party SO beggared as to
accept your nomination for the
Presidency
"Then he began to dissect the bill
mercllessly. particularly the sugar
schedule. This he inveighed against
with all his force. / reminded him
that the Senate had improved upon
the labors of the House as regard
ed sugaI; that to protect American
industry involving the enormous
labor of boring the juice, the Senate
had agreed to give maple sugar
growers of New England bounty
of two cents.
This was the first he had heard
of it, and he seemed hardly able to
credit what I told him. 1T is not
true he said. Allison and Hale
confirmed me. i suppose this was
done at the solicitation of Morrell
and Edmund > he inquired. Mr..
Allison re piled in the affirmative.
1t is a good sample Of their state
man Ship said the Secretary, and
then the climax came.
His new beaver was lying on the
table in easy reach. With sudden
blow be brought his clenehed hand
down on it with such force as to
smash it fatter than a pancake,
and then seizine the battered
chapeau he hurled it against the wall
violently. I never saw such an
but it only emphasized
the earnestness with which the Sec
retary argued against the policy
about which his opinion as then