The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-01-17

For.an Editorial Which was Evid cnt-
%ly Written Without Study of the
Observation-Disclosures Wilson'S Own
~ Past Record Against His Present
Position-A Democrat who Will not
- be Read out of the Party Because
Protcst-an Able Argument for
E.s. the Retention Of the Duty on Coal
The following letter; written by Mr..
Owen S. Mckinney, one of the best
known Democrats in West Virginia,
appeared in the Wheeling Register
of the 18th instant, It is one
OF the ablest and most unanswerable
3 arguments against the free coal propo-
sition in the Wilson bill that has yet
appeared. It is reproduced here for
that reason:
FA1RMoNT, ". VA, January 10.
TO the Editor Of The Reqister:
SIR:-Permit Democrat who feels
lively interest in the future OF his party
in " est Virginia to occupy the neces-
snry space in your valued paper to reply
TO nm article which appeared in Thurs
days issue under the heading, "Ingalls
on coal"
was surprised that so conservative
Democratic paper as the Register IS
4 known to be, should commit itself to
the proposition that because Demo-
crat happens to differ from Hon. w. L.
Wilson's new theory on the subject OF
tariff on coal, that he thereby becomes
unfit for further party recognition. In
other words, that he ought at once 4 to
''move bag and baggage into the front
ranks of the tariff monopolists;" and
further, that by the expression OF his
dissent at Democratic meeting and to
Democrats, he thereby becomes. ZEN
titled to high place among the hypo-
critics and pharisees OF the high tariff
party"
Now permit me to say in nll kindness,
and from Democratic stand point, that
such elimination is not good politics at
this time Mr.. ingalls, is not alone in
his views by any means. The writer
knows personally that a number of men
high in the councils of the national
4 Democratic party are quite as positive
in their convictions against this par
81 ticular schedule of the Wilson bill as
81 Mr.. Ingalls,. In this state we have
81 Democratic governor, and at least one
s. Democratic member of Congress, mem
"a bers of the state executive committee,
ss1he battles of the Democratic party in
many hotly contested struggles. and
S thousands of the rank and file, all pro
#8 testing earnestly against this particular,
81 feature of the Wilson BILL These peo-
3 pie are Democrats, tried and true, and
IS have given, in many instances, signal
6 proof OF their devotion to its cause.
s They are also in favor of tariff reform,
and will cheerfully make auy necessary
eacrifice for the benefit OF their party.
: It will not do to try these men by drum
head court-martial and attempt to drive
them out of their party camp in igno-
lniny and disgrace because they do not
see the wisdom of a measure that has
not vet been passed upon and approved
by the Democratic party.
Bear in mind, if you pleaee, that the
duty on coal is but a single schedule,
and that Democrat may have most eX-
cellent reason for doubling the wisdom
of taking it of the duitable list, even
though he approve every other schedule
{ in the bill. But even if he should be
il skeptical on tho subject of the useful
ness of the whole bill, or any other part
& of it, is he for that reason to be denied
6 freedom of opinion and the freedom OF
b. opinion and the freedom OF speech in
Democratic councils? Democrats have
S always been tolerant of differences of
opinion. This tolerance brought thou
& days of recruits into the ranks OF the
party in the days of Republican pro-
NJ scription in West Virginia. Will you
drive them away from the Democratic
sparty now by blind and unreasonable
attacks upon men who agree with you
on all subject save and except single
- chedulc of proposed bill that has not
yet been decided by the representatives
sof the party to be party measure and
titled and entitled to party support?
There has been already too much OF this
kind of work for party harmony, and, if
st is to continue, 1 fear for future party
gsuccess.
But Mr.. Ingalls, offense consists in
measure that not only has
never been passed upon by the party
sand made q new tenet OF Democracy,
but a measure that has been denounced
by Mr. Wilson himself in quite as Wig
orous language as is mputed to Mr.. In
gals. In every canvass since the Nor
rison bill was suggested, Mr.. Wilson
has argued for the retention of the pres
ent tariff Oh coal when addressing his
constituents here. When the Morrison
bill was under discussion in
tho house and the coal sche-
dule was being considered, Mr..
Wilson opposed in strong terms the
cIause in that bill which placed it on
the free list. He said on that occasion
AS Il uaNS Sd1Is iiSoi q bAii Aot vi y
reduction of taxes. Where this bill de-
parts from its general scheme OF merely
reducing taxes and seeks to enlarge the
free list, it bears unevenly,f and, as [
believe, unjustly upon some OF the in
terests of my own state. To take any
one great industry and transfer it sud
denly to the free list, is to hold ititrib-
utary to all the rest. while depriving it
OF any share in the common protec-
ton. Whatever reduction is nlade
should be made SO gradually as not to
wreck, to disturb or to alarm any OF our
great industries
If this was good Democratic doctrine
then. Why is it not good Democratic
doctrine now?
- Ii free coal hore uueYenlY and unjust