The Coconino weekly sun., 1893-10-26
WILSON'S PREDlCAMENT.
The Responsibility of Formulating a Dem-
 ocratIc TariT Bill.

1 The Responsibility of Formulating Dem- ocratIc Tarif Bili.
 The situation of Chairman Wilson, of the ways and means committee, is peculiarly exacting and perplexing. He is charged with the important duty of formulating tariff bill on democratic lines, and it is practically impossible for him to ascertain just what are dem- ocratic lines, or how he is to reconcile the various conflicting views that his party is thrusting upon him. The Chi cago platform tells him, to be sure, that protection is unconstitutional in all of it's applications, and that the present tariff law is "the eliminating atrocity of class legislation" But many democrats insist, nevertheless, that protection is constitutional when it relates to certain local industries, and that some of the atrocity of the Mckinley law is an indispensable bless ing to this or that particular part of the country. The democrats of his own state want duty on bituminous coal; those of Ohio want one on wool; those of Vermont want one on marble; those of New Jersey want one on silk goods; those of Alabama want one on iron; those of Louisiana want one on sugar and rice; those of California want one on fruits and wines; and so it goes through the whole schedule of dutiable products. Every democrat is ready to denounce protection in the abstract, but not in its bearing upon special in- terests. Each one desires all the ad- vantage that can be derived from it by his own state and does not hesitate tn modify his free trade convictions to that extent
 It will thus be seen that Chairman Wilson's task is about as difficult as He cannot hope for favorable action on his bill unless he frames it in accordance with the wishes of those who are to vote upon it: and if he makes all the concessions that are asked, then it will retain most of the existing duties, and add q number of new ones. It is un. doubtedly his desire to prepare free trade measure and put his party squarely on the basis of unconditional hostility to protection; but there is not the least probability that he will dare do so. Such bill would encounter fierce and resolute democratic oppo- sition in congress, and even if it should be passed it would most likely be ve- toed by the democratic president. The situation is discouraging one for him from every point of view Turn in what direction he may, he is sure to find democrats clamoring for protec- tive duties, and protesting against tariff reform when it touches their To- cal interests. He is not allowed to take a comprehensive and impartial course in the matter. There are ob- structions at every step of his under taking, and it is his friends, not his enemies, who are thus making life burden to him. He is expected to carry out the doctrines and promises of the Chicago platform, and yet he is ad- monished that he must not inflict in- jury upon any one of long list of pro- tectcd industries, because of the loss of votes that would surely follow in as many different localities. It remains to be seen how he will extricate him. self from this disagreeable position. and what sort of tariff bill he will finally construct for the amusement of the country.-St Louis Globe-Dem-