The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-08-28
AIMED AT THEM.
Senators Think Cleveland's Let
ter Was for Their Benefit.
But They Do Not Care to
Speak Of 1t.
HOPED TO BE SPARED.
Congressman Sperry Hoped for
No More Letters.
Members of House RidicuIe the
HOPED TO BE SPARED.
Members of House RidicuIe the
Presidents Attitude.
Some Members Commend His
Letter to Catchings.

WASHINGTON. Aug. 2S.-The few sena-
tors at the capitol today refused to ex-
press any opinion for publication on the
letter Of President Cleveland to Mr..
Catchings The Democratic senators
said they had nothing to say but they
seemed to feel that it was aimed at them.
Z he Republicans said there seems to
be no necessity at present for them to
get into the fight in the ranks Of their
opponents and they would not be quoted
regarding it.
Members of the house were not reti-
cent as the senators were.
Representative Sperry (Dem., Conn.,
who opposed the bill said
81 was in hopes the president would
spare his party the infiictiOD of another
letter. i he tariff bill is distinctly a party
measure, and according to the presi-
dents letter to Mr.. Wilson it is a measure
permeated with sperfidv and dishOnor."
If that is a correct description Of the bill,
I do not see on what ground the Demo-
cratic party can ask TO be continued in
power.
alt seems by the second letter that the
tariff discussion must be continued. This
position must be very disquieting to all
the business interests Of the whole coun-
try. The democrats this fall are placed
on the defensive by these two letters.
first defending policy of ''perfidy and
dishonor." and second, by threatening all
the business interests of the country
with further attempts at tariff legisIa-
tiOn.
Every campaign speaker this fall is
compelled to defend his party against
the allegations contained in those two
letters, or else defend the president
against the allegations in the letters
themselves. My own opinion of the bill
is that there is no perfidy or dishonor in
the bill ITSELF or in the motives
of the senators instrumental in its
passage 1t is more mature and
equitable measure than the Wilson bill.
and will produce "A revenue which the
Wilson bill professedly would not and
that is what tariff bill is for.
ut is to be hoped that the president
will not write any more campaign dOcu-
ments for the Republicans. pending the
coming election"
Representative Johnson Dem, OhiO),
said: "The effect of his failing to sign
the bill and writing a letter, will be to
intensity and continue the fight against
protection-not protection as he puts it,
but Democratic protection"
": "The presidents letter will
meet with the unqualified ap-
provaI from all true friends of
revenue reform and especially on the
party policy there outlined and the pro-
rrarnme of aggressive action, first
against trusts and then in favor Of free
raw materials and in favor of every 9TH
er Democratic principal to reach the full
fllment of which the ranks of tariff COM
bination must first be broken"
Representative Mcguire Dem. Calif.):
I consider the letter very val
liable contribution to the Dem
ocratic literature of the campaign,
because it will remove from
the minds of the people generally
the impression derived from the presi-
dents letter to Mr.. Wilson that the tariff
bill as amended by the senate was re-
garded by him as vicious and its enact
ment pertidious and dishonorable.
"His present letter specifically points
out his objections to the meas
ure while fully conceding its
merits as great step in
the direction of true tariff reform and as
affording a new and excellent point of
vantage in the fight for Democratic
principles'