New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-09-21
Mr.. MASON'S STRONG WORDS.
CONVINCING ARGUMENTS OF THE ORATOR.
SPEAKING TO wogK1yGMEy AND GIVING THEM

SPEAKING TO WORKINGMEN AND GIVING THEM
GOOD ILLUSTRATIONS.
ANY one who has once heard exRepresentative Will
lam f. Mason speak wants 10 hear him again. II Is
not frothy eloquence, which attracts or holds only
for time the attention OF the numberless audiences
which Mr.. Mason has addressed in this campaign; 1t
Is a sincere, fervent presentation Of tangible facts
In such lucid style that every word and every Idea
sinks home into the minds OF his hearers At the meet
ing held last night in Brookes Assembly Rooms. by the
Republican lid Assembly District Association, the good
owrk done by Mr. Mason not at variance with The
results OF his former speeches. He has invariably had
some OF those who have heard him come forward after
the meeting and say that he had convinced them on
the great issues OF the day Last night, after Mr..
Mason had finished his remarks, workingman Of
Intelligent and thoughtful appearance who had voted
for Cleveland four years ago. said that he should vote
for Harrison and Reid. Another man, who is worker
In pearl-button factory, told Mr.. Mason that four
years ago or more he had to abandon his trade
He could make only 81 10 day. He said that he
had gone back to the business again. and working by
the piece made 30 so day in factory In Newark
He said he exception. Other workmen made
as much, and employment given to all who knew
the trade.
When the meeting was called TO order by Charles H.
Murray, there were present between 800 and 400 men,
They Of the class that would be most affected by
free trade, for they were nearly all wOringmen one
Of their own class, a workngman, who carries
card Of Typographical Inon No. g. Will
lam p. Griffith, first addressed the association
He talked to his hearers freely and frankly,
dustes had proved TO them, that nearly 90 per cent
OF every article in Is cystalzed labor, and that
twice the amount Of wages was paid for that labor In
this countrp that paid for it in European countries
Mr. Griffith spoke fervently and was frequently In
terupted by the cheers of his audience.
Mr.. Mason was then introduced by the president
I'm dicftp Utc nod
Congressman and as n who had risen in life by
reason Of his Industry and ability Mr.. Mason was
greeted with applause and after few words OF ap-
probation to the chairman for the Introduction said
among other things:
al can prove by the leading Democratic paper that
I am a prophet. Last night predicted that Senator
I'LL would have for his opening chorus 4 am a
Democrat He had not told me his opening, but
knowing that was all there left for him 10 say,
guessed mt It, (CheersD l repeat what 1 said last
night | want TO ask him. Are you standing on the
platform OF four years ago. the new one this year
In 1884, your conventions platform was an argii-
ment I'm favor OF protection. You said: IN making
reductions of taxes 1T IS not proposed to inJure any
domestic Industry And again you say in the same
platform: MANY industries have come to rely upon
legislation for successful continuance so that any
change Of law must be at every step regardful OF
the labor and capital thus involved
Then, Senator. your platform In 1883, on which you
stood and received the KICKS OF the CANDIDATE because
Won were more popular than he, said Our domestic
Industries and enterprises should not, and need not
be endangered by the reduction of tariff etc. but
on the contrary fair and careful revision OF our
tax laws with due allowance for the difference OF the
wages OF American and foreign labor
Now, senator, again say, were you right then, OF
are you right now when you declare protection a
fraud UNCONSTITUTIONAL and that the Govern
ment has no Constitutional power to collect tariff duties
rIt1v WaI nnf hic
Democratic doctrine of tariff reform" to free trade'
made against the protests your frendsi Was 1t not
demanded by the Free-trade wing OF your party, as
the price Of your defeat Did your friends not
support the report OF the committee on resolutions
which declared for protection to American wages,
the same as your platform Of 1884, which have
quotedi
They forced a candidate on the New-fork Democ-
racy and will you can you'll ask earnestly, but
always respecfuly-can you allow them to force
change OF platform OF prncplesi You state frankly
ard correctly one great difference between the two
great parties on constitutional construction. Your
party believe, as you say, "nothng can be done
under the General Welfare clause.' The con-
structlon your party gives would have prevented
calling ont troops to save the Union, would prevent
ne nation from spending cent to prevent the
spread of cholera, which Is not mentioned IN the
Constitution You state the tariff difference frankly
and fairly Unfortunately for your position the
supreme Court has decided the question our way
and even the dreadful Mckinley bill has been passed
upon in points except the bounty to sugar. In
the case OF Field ". Clark, 49, United States Re-
ports.
now come to and accept your challenge. You
saw after accepting the Mills bill as part OF your
patform: Il make the statement and challenge
ntrdIction OF its truth that there not single
manufactured article mentioned in the Mills bill, upon
which duty reduced. upon which there was not
still left duty sufficient TO represent the difference
I'm wages paid In this and foreign countries LOT the
labor involved in It's Production
| accept the challenge and Will show you wherein
you are wrong-I haven't time to correct al your
mstakes-here a few Tke schedule ID, wood,
etc the act Of I7s3, which the Mills bill sought to
amend made a tariff timber hewed and saved,
spars ETC. 20 per cent The Mills bills reduced II 10
absolutely nothlng-on the free list 80 1t did Win
score, Of manufactured lumber articles. including all
kinds of lumber, boards timber, lItns, pallngs,
shingles hubs for wheels ETC., etc. Is there dilicr
foreign countries You know there IS. II they
on the free list you right when you say the Mills
bill s left duty to represent the difference ssh paid ald
not an article OF Manufacture Is to the farmer a
finished product, and is raised, washed and prepared
for market by his labor, and your Mills bill gives him
no protection so with salt. vegetables, ETC. so with
tin plates and pearl buttons. Your whole system OF
tariff for revenue tax on tea, coffee spices
and things we can't produce our protection covers
every article manufactured or produced In this country
and means to every man VINO strikes eow or sDyes
with any man In your business who works Tor hall
your pay In any other country In the world CHEERS
Mr. Mason In the course OF his remarks. requested
any one in the audience to ask him In what way the
Mckinley bin had increased prices lees nus replies aes We're
heard EXPLANATIONS Of THAT'S so,' 81 never looked
at i that e@ n Sc the meeting wGi s @G ndDS Ss
association will hold during the campaign.
GASLIGHT COMPANY'S CHARTER.