Daily Texarkana Democrat., 1893-12-18
A COMPLETE FIAsCo.
The Attempt to Impede Democratic
Tariff Reform Proves Wholly
Abortive,

Inc Attempt to Impede Democratic
Tariff Reform Proves Wholly
Abortive,
Definite news comes from Wash
mgton, contadcting previous reports
ola decided antagonism toward the
tariff reform measure, on the part OF
certain Democratic congressman, from
Northern and Eastern States. These
advices also announce the first overt
attempt within Democratic lines,
toward an organized opposition to
Democratic tariff reform. This at
tempt, it is said, was made by certain
Dolder or more desperate spirits
among the so-called Democratic OPP
pOnents Ofthe measure, with view
to testing the real dissatisfaction
which was reported to exist among
Southern congressman. With this end
in view the leaders of the movement
attempted to summon the discomfort
ed element into council
The chiefs in the movement were
Sperry of Connecticut, Schermerhorn
and Ryan of New York, Hines of
Pennsylvania, Cadmus of New Jersey
and Ikirt of Ohio. These gentlemen
are from districts which have grown
fat on protection aud they want it
continued, though they are Democrats
and as such are pledged to the Demo-
cratic platform. They went about
among the Congressman aud selected
all who had been making signs or ex-
pressions of disapproval of the bill as
special subjects of their pleading to
unite in opposition to it.
They met with a chilly reception.
Their work among the Southern DEM
ocrats was exceedingly discoura0ing.
Many Of these Southerners have been
very noisy in regard to the injustice
done to the wool growing, lumber,
coal and iron industries by putting
them on the free list and some ofthem
showed a disposition to fight the bill,
but the leaders of the opposition
movement as named above could get
none of them go in conference to de-
wise ways and means to carry on the
fight. The Southerners hope that a
caucus will be held and they can make
their fight under its cover. If they are
beaten in the caucus they will make
no further fight. If a caucus is not
held, or if it is held and amounts to
nothing, then they will offer to amend
the bill, and, being defeated in this,
will vote for it.
The six gentlemen named above met
however, and afterward claimed that
they had twenty-five other kickers, as
those Democrats who protest against
the bill are now called at their back,
but these twenty five did not material
ize and will not materiaIze. Any one
can see the absurdity of their move
ment when it is stated that the one
objection of the eastern Democrrts TO
the bill is that it does not give enough
protection TO the manufacturers Of
that locality TO keep them alive, while
the objections of kickcrs from the
other parts of the country, particularly
from the South, is that the bill is ore
which pursues the policy ofprotection
for the eastern manufacturers.
The meeting held can be put down
as liasco' 1t is said that the noble
six finding no such report from the
Democratic side 0 the House as they
expected, appealed to the republicans
for aid but the latter are fighting a
bold and open battle. They Informed
the Democratic dissenters that they
wanted no conference from them and
! .t,.4 iLo;, ,,lt;n,afutn uoe now ouI all
the time that such Democrats who
were dissatisfied with the bill would
be welcomed to the republican ranks
to be subject when there to the re-
publican management of the republi-
can side of the question. This, too,
was most discouragng.
While there is impatience with the
committee on ways aud means at its
delays in bringing in the bill, dissatis-
factions is over certain schedules, un-
satisfactory because changes have been
made in the original draft OF the bill
The conclusion on all sides is it will
20 through the House pretty much as
il now stands with the exception OF
the treatment Of sugar add it will be
mt through not under the whip but
under an iron rod. There are great
many Democrats, who, though diSsat-
isGed themselves with many features
of the bill, are yet out of patience with
others who are dissatisfied, and will
insist that the measure go through