Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1893-09-16
TARIFF REFORM. =
Methods and Men Used
by Mr.. Wilson
CLOSE MANUFACTURES
And Drive Prosperity to Other
Countries.

DSsiuc tho toHiSuy Which, was Pcipe'
trated before the Ways and Means Com
mittee yesterday the effervescence of the
isle of Champagne" is fiat, stale, and
funeral. A young lawyer, John F. Pres
ton, came down from Baltimore bursting
with subsidized tariff reform eloquence
and fell into the hands of Mr. Thomas B
Reed.
The motif of the comedy was furnished
by the prosaic oilcl industry. Two
manufacturers of Philadelphia, Mr. G. W.
Blabon, representing G. W. Blabon & Co.,
and W. b. Potter, of Potter, Sons & Co.,
appeared before the committee to urge the
retention of the present duty on oil cloths
with the usual manufacturers statement
that the tariff had made prices lower to
the consumer and enabled them to pay
high wages to their workingmen, which
they could not do otherwise on account OF
cheap foreign labor.
Then came Mr.. Preston, with a loren
sic frock coat, an appalling array of doc
umentary exhibits, which he spread over
the table, and the statistical speech
aforesaid, garnished with flowery rhetor.
ical flights.
Before the committee realized what was
to happen Mr.. Preston drew himself to
his full height, smote the table an ex-
clamatory bang which Jared the ash
from Mr. Dalzell's perfecto, and announc-
ed:
=" have appeared here at the request
of the chairman of this committee, of the
Secretary of the Treasury,a and of 60,000,-
900 people who are being oppressed and
robbed for the benefit of sixteen manu-
facturers."
Then he paused to glance pointedly at
the two robber.tarif barons from the
City of Brotherly Love and their avowed
accomplices, the Republican members of
the committee. Mr.. Reed dropped his
pen and wheeled around, open-mouthed,
but as no one disputed him, the lawyer
continued:
:" | propose to show that the materials
are produced in this country cheaper than
abroad" he said. 81 propose to show
But the propositionsproving protection
in this instance and in general an econom-
ical fallacy were too numerous to bear
repetition.
eff he could show all that" said Mr..
Reed, "he would show what the Demo
cratic Congressman have tried to show
for fifteen years without success"
1t has been proved to the people,
retorted Chairman Wilson.
The Baltimore lawyer went on to de-
clare that all his propositions could be
proved by indisputable facts and figures
upon which he had expended great study.
Mr.. Reed, soto voce, "he does confess
that he knows it ALL then"
In the compilation of these statistics
he said he had been assisted by Balti
more gentleman in whose ability he re-
posed the utmost confidence
"Ah, what is the name of your silent
partner" inquired Mr.. Burrows.
This name the lawyer did not care to
reveal, but, being pressed, he announced
that he was assisted by Mr. J. Craw
ford Lyons.
He ought to be here" Mr.. Reed said
comically, and at this remark gentle
man rose in the far corner of the room
announcing with dramatic effect, "He is
here
1t was like the moment of SURPRISING
thrills in melodrama when the long los
heir steps forward to confront the usurp
ing villain. AS every man wheeled about
in his chair to survey the latest actor, he
repeated:
Hes here, and, what's more, he was
here in 1890"
After the laughter had somewhat sub
sided, Mr.. Preston started upon another
oratorical flight.
Il come here to this grand inquest OF
the country he began, when Mr.. Reed
jerked his thumb over his soldier toward
Chairman Wilson, explaining, Hes the
coroner"
The roar of laughter at this explana.
ton, uttered in audible undertone, inter
rupted the proceedings for several min
utes. Another flight was commenced
when Mr.. Hopkins broke the thread o
the argument with inquiries as to wha
prompted the Baltimorean to address the
committee. He related that he had shown
his figures and arguments to Chairman
Wilson and the acting Secretary of the
Treasury, both of whom approved them
and suggested that he should appear be
! fore the committee. He was willing tC
admit on further questioning that his
expenses were paid, and that he received
pay 1--WE lawyers, of course, get oul
fees, you know" he said to Mr.. Hopkins
with friendly smile.
81 am here to show that the manufac
turers have been protected out of al
proportion to the interests of the peopl,
at large" he began again, and, after SOM
confusion because he was requested by
member to omit the exordium and pero
ration, he said that he proposed tariff
to secure the largest public revenue will
the smallest private gain.
Mr. Hopkins asked him if he knew
what the tariff on oil cloth had been be
fore the Mckinley bill This he did no
know, but had it somewhere in his manu-
script, and it would prolong his argumen
to answer it out of order, and Mr.. Rec
interposed, with Il mock air of alarm: 81
it will have that effect, you had better no
do it,"
Ignoring the interruption, Mr.. Preston
addressed Mr. Hopkins. "You will Sc
all that when accomplish my point"
Dir. Reed again: " Evidently the Score
tary of the Treasury has accomplished
point. He's very shrewd man"
As Mr. Preston tloundered among hi
papers with various disconnected state
ments, Mr.. Payne wanted to know
whether he proposed to take off the tar
III and shut up the factories.
"Utterly unimportant whether you shu
them up or not" declared the lawyer
Consider the 60,0OOOO0 people ever
trip"
Mr. Reed with assumed earnestness)-
That good point"
Mr.. Preston had something in hi