The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-07-27
Vest, Of Missouri, Started In to Reply TO the
Rhode Islander, but Soon Was Completely
Knocked Out, Getting 1t on ALI Sides
Holman's Followers Hate the Worlds
Fair More than They Love Illinois.
Business of Both Branches of Congress Con-
ducted on the Pyrotechnic Order, with
Bourbons Losing Their Temper.
WHO WILL SNATCH 1T UP?

WASHINGTON, july ZO.-fTOm Out OF the
Senate chamber to-day there came cry
that before another month will be echoing
and re-echoinR all over this broad land;
from ocean to ocean and from lakes to the
gulf-the cry of reciprocity and protection.
1t was Senator Aldrich, of Rhode Island.
who voiced the shibboleth, and when ho
hurled the fire-brand into the tariff-for-
revenue-only camp there was great
scramble of sleepy theorists to dodge and
escape lts blazing fury. 1t was truly the
first shot of the great campaign
meet that the shell should have
crashed through the senatorial battlements
Of Bourbon free trade and fallen in the
midst of the self-complacent. but abso-
lutely indefensible Senators, standing for
those who have chosen to risk the pros
perity of this country for the sake of going
before the people with battle-ory based
on q speoious but absolutely ruinous
argument. Mr.. Aldrioh did not have the
battle all his own way, for there were
studied endeavOrs to disconcert him and
lead him astray by firing broadsides of
small shot In the shape of irrelevant
queries from Senators who felt the sting
of his thrusts, but he reloaded his guns
with the ammunition thus furnished by
the enemy and trained his batteries so we'll
that they were silenced and retroated In
bad order until their champion, Carlisle,
can review the speech and come forward
in reply.
SENATOR ALDRICHs SPEECH.
The presiding officer had laid before the
Senate Mr.. Hale's resolution as to the
relative effects of the Republican policy of
protection" and the Democratic policy of
"taritf for revenue only" and MIR. Aldrich
proceeded to address the Senate on that
subject. He said that the tariff question
was to become, by common consent, the
leading issue in the approaching presi-
Dental campaign. The lines between the
two great parties upon this question were
clearly defined. The Investigations made
by the finance committee of the Senate
clearly established the fact that decline,
instead of an advance, had taken place In
tho prices OF the necessaries OF life and the
resulting cost of living since the adoption
of the act of 1890. 1t was very Significant
that, while the cost of living in the United
Stateadeclined for the period covered by
the lnyestigation of the finance committee,
the cost of living In England increased 1.9
per cent.
At no time in our history had the earnings
of the American people been as great,
measured by their power to purchase the
comforts and necessaries OF life. as they
werc TODAY. Measured by the same stand
ard, they were vastly greater than those OF
any other people In tho world.
Referring to Mr.. Vests assertion that
never before the present time had there
been such disturbances Of labor, or of such
hostile and inimical relations between en-
ployer and emplove, Mr. Aldrich presented
statistics of strikes in each year from 1880
to 1880, inclusive. in the United States.
in 1880; whereas IN Great Britain" said
he. "the paradise of tariff refOrmers 3,16t
strikes had occurred In 1890" AS to the
prostration of agricultural interests about
rich asserted that Mr.. Vests statement
was Numerically opposed to the actual
facts of the case. The farmer to-day, with
an equal number of bushels OF grain, or
pounds of meat could buy more and better
clothing. machinery or supplies than ever
before. Mr. Aldrich olosod his speech with
an eloquent recital of the benefits Of pro-
tectlon.
VEST GETS TANGLED UP.
Mr.. Vest replied to Mr.. Aldrich. Refer
ring to the question of strikes In Great
Britain and In the United States. Mr.. Vest
said that it was marvellous, from Mr..
Aldrich's position, that the workmen in
Great Britain were not all in arms against
the employers In face of the trouble at
Homestead, the Senator from Rhode Island
had represented that there were the most
amicable relations existing between en-
ployers and employed In the United States.
Under that Senator's theory the United
States should be a paradise for the work
men and there should be no discomfort
Either the American workmen must be-
Mr.. Vest said, an Anarchist by nature, or
else he was to-day oppressed and robbed
by his employer. In the face of the
recent massacre at Homestead. the
Senator from Rhode Island alleged that
the wages of those w0rkingmen had been
increased under the operations of the tariff
act of 1890 AS to Mr.. Aldrich's remarks
about agricultural prosperity. Mr.. Vest
asserted that the price of farm lands which
was the test OF agricultural prosperity. lad
steadily gone down in Missouri and the
other largely agricultural States.
Mr. Paddock denied that statement SO
far as the State of Nebraska was concerned.
Mr.. Davis put in n like denial on the part
of the State OF Minnesota and Mr. Allison
did the same for the State or Iowa; MI.
Pettigrew having risen to put IN like de-
nial for the State of North Dakota, Mr..
Vest remarked jocularlv that he believed
he would have to swear In all the Repub-
Iican Senators.
Il am willing to be sworn in" said Mr..
Allison.
I'm the State that represent said Mr..
Pettigrew, agricultural lands have In
creased in value during the last twelve
months 90 per cent"
"Of course they have.n Mr.. Vest retQrted,
because they were entered at Sl.@ an
acre"
I'm the State of Washington" said Mr..
Allen, lands that were bought two years
ago at government prices are now sold at
So Sl5 and S25 acre."
No doubt of it," said Mr. Vest. Il was
in your State q fcw years aso when they
were asking 81 coo an inch for lands in Ia
coma Seattle and other places" Laughter.
In referring to the question as to whether
the import duties are paid by the foreigners
or by the American consumers Mr.. Vest
quoted tho letter written to Mr.. Mckinley
by the Irish car-driver in w ashlngton. who
had to pay So duty on dozen pair of socks
sent to him by his old mother in Ireland,
saying that he had read Mr.. Mckinley's
speech stating that the tax was paid by
the foreigners, and asking TO what foreign
government he should apply to have that
So refunded.
will the Senator read McKinley's re-
ply" said Mr. Pasco.
IF IL ever comes, L WILL" Mr.. Vest re-
sponded. amid laughter.
The debate was continued by Mr. Allison
and Mr.. Palmer. Mr.. Allison said that be
was In favor of such rates of duty as would
equalize conditions, and that was all the
purpose of the Mckinley aot.
The debate lasted between four and five
hours and at its close the resolution on
which it was based was laid on the table.
TO he taken up again when Mr. Carlisle
shall DO ready to answer MH. Aldrich on the