Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-10-14
The GovERNOR AND The COAL
TARIFF.

The wheeling REGISTER claims or at
least pretends 10 be the leading organ OF
the Democratic party in this State, and
yet when Gov. MacCOrkle goes 20 Wash
ingtOn, stands up before the Ways and
Means COMMITTEES, and, before the whole
country, distinctly takes a position on the
tariff issue in direct opposition 70 the plat
form OF his party, the REGIsTER, though
not approving, so excuses and palllatos the
Ofense as TO neutralize the effect Of It's dis
approval and 10 render its influence as a
party organ, in this particular case at
least, well nigh worthless.-GrcenbrtG In
dependent.
Our contemporary has not read the REG
IsTER as carefully as one would be led
to believe from It's criticism. The REG
lister has criticised Gov. MACCORKLE
and has many times condemned his pO-
sition on the coal tariff,
1t was, however. but justice to the
Governor to state his position correctly
which the ccounts of his testimony be-
fore the Ways aud Means Committee
did not do. That be made a mistake in
appearing before the Ways and Means
Committee under the circumstances is
admitted by all, probably by the Gov
ernoE himself, but that he ap-
peared there as an opponent
Of Tariff Reform is wholly untrue.
Our Greenbrier contemporary makes
the mistake OF placing the Democratic
party on q free trade basis. II is not a
free trade party. Free trade, in fact, is
impossible while it remains necessary to
raise by tariff taxation so large a pro-
portion OF our revenue. This taxation
eglitqbly distributed is sufficient on a
arif -for-revenue.only basis to protect
and more than protect every industry in
the country. While the manufacturers
received their share Of this incidental
protection Gov. MAoCoRKLE was IN
willing that soft coal should not receive
its share, in just proportion, also.
That is all there is in it. The REG
IsTER believes, and has frequently sta
ted, that the Governor was wrong in his
assertion thar free coal would injure the
coal Industry Of West Virginia, and our
position is su~bstantiated by the state
ments Of large soft coal operators and
dealers in West Virginia and in the
East. According to these, in the in
creased traffic in coal that would result,
while Nova Scotia might gain some
trade along the border and the coast,
the United States would gain three
times as much in Canada, for Nova
Scotia coal is far inferior to u coal
and can compete with it in but very
few markets. while on a free and equal
basis the United States could drive
Nova Scotia out Of many markets.
NO Aust FOR CONCEALMENT OR
ALARM.
Morgautown is suffering with a mild
epidemic Of typhoid fever.
The agent Of the REGISTER, Mr.. r.
R. RICE, is one Of the victims, aud is
confined 10 his hume, and eight mem
bers OF his family are either i'll or con-
valesclng, while others at the West
Virginia seat Of learning are suffering
with the same disease.
Little has been printed about the
state Of affairs at Morgantown, because
the ever Jealous tradesman is afraid
to let the real facts be known lest it
should hurt his business a little. He
never takes into consideration the fact
that news leaks out in more ways than
one, and in such cases probably in an
exaggerated form.
Morgantown's fever epidemic is moth
ing unusual for any w Clarksburg
and other towns were similarly afflicted
a wear or so ago, and many deaths were
the result. The cause was attributed
to all sorts of things, but none Of the
theories was absolutely correct. Clarks-
burg is a healthy town, and is so to-day.
Morgantown is also naturally a health
fuI place. But these conditions
will occur every now and then, and
no effort on the part Of the people,
it seems is able to prevent it. All places
are more or less liable at certain perl
DDS.
The people should not be afraid Of
the truth. Many in MOrgantown are
an. and the fact cannot be concealed.
That they are i'll is a pity, but other
towns have been and will be similarly
afflicted. Attempted concealment is
folly.
Sour Of the Chicago papers are at