The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1892-03-16

men IN washington VINO are iully acquainted
viii Ex-senator Quay's position on this subject
Those who prepared the address in question
must have been densely ignorant of the facts
| concerning the scope and pnrport OF the resolu-
tion presented to the Senate by Senator Quay
in August 1890, which resolution had in view
and brought about early action upon and the
| final passage of the Mckinley bill on the 10th Of
September following. Senators and Repre-
sentatives from other states are more than
amazed that any one in Pennsylvania, whose
citizens, beyond those Of any other state re-
| ceived such material benefits as the result OF
Senator Quays action in breaking the deadlock
and bringing about vote upon the Mckinley
| bill, should assan him for his course at that
1 time. Here are the facts Of the case which are
of peculiar interest just now:
| The Mckinley bill passed the House May -,
| 1890, and was messaged Immediately to the Sen
| ate. 1t was reported to that body June IS, 1890,
| from the Committee on Finance and was taken
up for consideration July 12 1890 The Demo
/ cratic Senators inaugurated a crusade of elo-
quence their purpose being to talk the bill to
| death. 1t was not because of their objection to
this measure, but because they wanted to pre-
vent consideration Of the Federal Elections bill
II they could keep the Tariff bill before the
Senate until the close of the session, which was
near at hand the Lodge bill would die a natural
| death, as would also the Tariff bill itself
The Senate stood-Republicans A, and Dem
| ocrats, 81. The latter were a unit against the
| bill and i've or six silver men from The West-Re-
| publicans-were in sympathy with them, because
they expected the Democratic Senators to CO.
operate with them in passing free silver bill
To bring the Mckinley bill 10 vote was out Of
| the question, as the Senates rules are entirely
uO1ilye those do.
even having the advantages of a rule for the
previous question
The condition Of things prevailing at the time
was eloquently set forth by the distinguished
senior Senator from Maine Hon William p.
| Frye, in a speech before the Senate, in August
| 1890, in which he said:
Mr.. President We are confronted in this
Senate not by theory to-day, but by con
dition
There is not Senator upon this floor who
does not know that it is. absolutely impossible
| TO pass protective tariff bill through this SEN
ate with an election law, menace to the other
| side behind it, There1s not a Republican SEN
ator here who does not know that between now
and December time cannot be found to pass
both the Tariff bill and an ElectiSh bill There
is not a Republican Senator here who does NOT
know that with the Election bill behind the
Tariff bill there is not time enough between now
and December to pass the Tarin bill alone
1t was at this iuncture that the silent Junior
sagacity, stepped into the breach and saved the
Mckinley bill
The great protection state had become dis
heartened at the Senate's delay and Senator
Quay had been deluged with letters from all
parts Of the State, from manufacturers, tobacco
growers, workingmen ana business men gener-
ally, urging early action. The following extract
from letter TO the Senator from Hon. Thomas
Dolan, the president of the Manufacturers
Club, dated August z, 1890, will Illustrate the
condition OF things then prevailing in Pennsyl-
yania and throughout the country at large
/ sincerely hope that the Senate will be able
TO pass upon the Tariff bill within some reason
able time. II is not possible for you to realize
the great disappointment and the general
feeling Of dissatisfaction that pervades the
district and the people with whom 1 come in
contact in regard to the delay. in passing this
bill At least fifty per cent. of the wooden mills
OF the country are standing idle, and unless
there be an early passage and enactment Of a
protective Dill, they VIII continue 70 stand idle
and additions be made to their number.
Shortly after this, or on the 18th Of August
1890, Senator Quay introduced his famous
resolution, which provided that the Senate
would not consider
ANY business other than the pending bill the
MCKINLEY bill conference reports, general
appropriation bills, pension bills bills relating
To the public lands 20 the United States Courts,
10 the postal service, 10 agriculture and
loltnliAt 10 puuit bulluluE6 ana senate or
concurrent resolutions" and that a vote shall
be taken on the bill now under consideration In
the senate ana upon amendments then pending,
without further debate, the Both day Of
August, 1890"
The purpose of this resolution was to obtain
vote on the Mckinley bin on a fixed day, TO
wit, ON the 3Oth of August, and TO postpone
consideration OF all other measures than those
enumerated until the opening Of the new
Congress in the following December, A caucus
Of the Republican Senators was Immediately
called, to which Senator Quays resolution was
submitted. After discussion his plan was
unanimously agreed TO, as the only way of
saving the Mckinley bill. AT the same time a
paper was prepared 10 which every Republican
Senator present anixed his signature, agreeing
TO vote TO take up the Federal Elections bill
early In the following session, which began in
| about three months.
The Republican caucus resolution, which was
practically Senator Quays resolution with a
fCDntinued on.lSeeOud Pd0e1