Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-09-29
sp.etar 1sle~Gm to "a. E,OtHs-.

Special TslSorGm to tA1 RsofsSr.
HUNTINGTON, w. VA, September 2s.
Coy. MacCorkle arrived this afternoon
for the purpose of addressing the DEM
ocrats OF Huntington tonight In refer
ence to certain structures that have
been placed upon his utterances before
the ways and means committee upon
the occasion Of his visit to Washington.
He was accompanied by his private
secretary, Mr.. Scott. A REGISTER re-
porter met the Governor as soon as be
aligned from the carriage. He was
neatly attired in a black suit and car
ried the familiar grip which was his
companion all through the campaign
last fall.
He seemed not In the least perturbed
over the attitude OF his own party press
towards him, and spent the entire after
noon mingling with party adherants in
the prominent thoroughfare. AT the
ST. Nicholas, his headquarters, he was
beselged constantly by old line Demo
Gratis and admirers, and he assured
them all Of his party fealty and ability
to make his position thoroughly under
stood
At the city hall, where the speaking
took place, there was an immense jam.
Whether without just cause or not
the Democracy was considerably
wrought up over his reported utter
ances, and the announcement that the
Governor would speak here brought out
an eager, anxious and intelligent audi
ence, the representative Democracy OF
the city and county.
DR.. II. V. Reese called the meeting
TO order and introduced Major Bennett
as Chairman. lie introduced the Gov
ernor in few words that were exceed
ingly well put. The Governor was
we'll received by the audience and
spoke quickly and resolutely.
His opening words: "Fellow Demo-
Gratis, in every fibre Of my being am q
Democrat, caught the crowd and he
had the closest attention thereafter.
He declared that since he had been
elected and inaugurated he had main
tanned . studied and absolute silence
amidst criticism against his official acts,
but that now, since his party fealty had
been questioned by the journals OF his
own party 10 the State, he deemed II
time to throw off the robe OF silence and
speak out in his own behalf.
He referred TO the great contest In
the State Convention last year aud the
part Cabell county's delegation took 10
IL. and referred to the confidence he re-
posed in the gallant Democracy TO do
Justice and right in all things.
In explanation OF his remarks before
the WAYS and Means Committee at
Washington the Governor said: /
argued for the maintenance OF the
present tariff on coal, and did II because
il IS Democratic doctrine, and when |
was assailed by Democratic editor OF
the State about 1t, simply replied that
he did not know the history OF the
Democratic party.
The Governor then went into an eI-
haustiye review OF the record OF his
marty on that commodity. He showed
that the party under Thomas Jefferson,
its fountain head, had maintained a stlff
tariff on coal; that on down through
every platform and low tarih bill
the party had ever promulgated, the
duty on that product had been steadily
OF a semi-protective character He
showed by statistics that during she
famous low tariff period under the
Walker tariff, coal was on the schedule
at 81. 80 per ton, and that was the Ideal
Democratic tariff theory.
The shout from the audience that
the Morrison tariff bill Of 1884 reported
coal an the free list brought forth the
answer that the bill was digested 10 the
House of representatives., then Demo
cratic by large majority, and that the
Iamented KennA, Senators FAUX
ner. Camden, and the entire West Viz
giuia delegation in Congress, with one
exception, voted in opposition to that
bill.
Then he prod dnced the Mills bill, an
orthodox Democratic document, aDd
showed that under its provisions coal
was maintained at tariff OF Is per
cent. He argued that IL would be
matter OF ip possibility for the Demo-
cracy OF West Virginia to 20 before the
peopIe hoping to win a victory adyocSt-
ing free coal He impressiyely declared:
ave have the matter OF a tarin on
coal an issue against such Republican
leaders as Blaine, Logan, Grant, Hale,
HaWley. Fry and others. whose votes
! have been recorded In Congress in favor
OF free coal. In every campaign In the
State for years have our declarations
bsen mere claptrap TO fool the miners.
Am now 10 be criticized for following
the Democratic principle and prece-
dents. ADD for not lying down with
I,o1an and Hale and other great Re-
pnblicau leaders whom We have been
denouncing all these years"
Hs further said: II denY the state
ments imputed 10 me that l appealed
| for protection. What l did say was
this: That with tue Democratic pre-
cedent before me, we could not hope to
carry the State Democratic upon .
nIatform and campzlgn OF free coal.
Nv nosition Is this: The Democratic
oarty is pledged 70 correct the inequali-
ties of the tariff. Il II correcting the
irragnlsrtties of the tsriffft0 place dnty