The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1894-01-18
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
The American Tobacco Company
and the Cigarette Tax---Repre-
sentative Bryan's Able Speech
on the Tariff---Josephus Dan
ials and the Public Printing

and the Cigarette Tax---Repre-
sentative Bryan's Able Speech
on the Tariff---Josephus Dan
iels and the Public Printing.
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 18th '94.
EDITOR GOLD LEAF In your issue of
the eleventh inst there appears an ex-
tract of a letter from the American To
bacco Co. which | trust will fail of its
object. 1t is evident that the Cigarette
manufacturers have issued these instruc-
lions in the hope and belief that it will
result in frightening the producer and
dealers and that they will petition Con-
gress, through their Representatives. and
Senator's, to strike out the cluse which
imposes tax of fifty cents per pound on
cigarettes.
Now let's see how this thing works. The
Wilson tariff bill reduces the revenue of
the Government many millions of dollars,
and to meet the deficit Congress must
place a tax on some other article or
articles. The manufacturers do not
want the tariff reduced because as it
stands it puts dollars in their tills. The
stockholders in protected manufactures. 1t
in circle. AS l have said, | sincerely
hope our people will not becaught in this
trap and send great long petition to
Congress condemning the tax. This
is only a ruse on the part of the Ameri-
can Tobacco Company. Out OF the tire
mendous profits in cigarettes the manu-
facturers can well afford to pay this
extra fifty cents a pound, and they will
pay it. | don't believe a single pound
less OF North Cardinals bright leaf will
be consumed or that it will bring one
dollar less to the purchaser.
The effect OF this letter OF the cigarette
people will be, [ hope, to open the eyes OF
a great many who have been too ready
to condemn the Democratic party for
not giving the people relief from the
our own land, as it were. If at first
sight it should cause us to finch and
fly with a petition to Congress, even
while our Representative is Offering it
some other Congressman from a wool
producing section is Strengthening out a
petition from the sheep raisers of his
district, then comes Mr.. Haines with
book OF gigantic proportions filled with
| the protests of the shirt and collar manu-
| facturers of Troy, n. Y, then the iron
miner, the coal miner, the spinner, the
weaver, "the butcher, the baker and the
candle-stick MAKER and the Lord knows
what not, all with their petitions and
| protests. Reduce the tariff. Oh, yes!
reduce the tariff, but don't touch our
| particular product, because If you do
| you will pauperlZe our whole com munlty,
And when we look over the lists Of these
"particular products we find that it
| includes every article in the Wilson bill
| and some to spare for coming genera
| tons.
Consider, now, the position in which
| these things place our Representatives,
and our party. OF the party is expected
tariff reform, but our respective Repre-
sentatives must see to it that our partic-
ular products are let alone.
| The tariff, am almost ready to be-
| lieve, is all wrong. The Wilson bill is
not SO radical a measure as | would Ike
| to see from Congress, but it is a long
stride in the right direction and [ hope
it will prove only a stepping stone to
greater and still greater reform, until
the markets of the world are opened to
our people, until the keels of our mer-
chant marine shall pillow the waters OF
every cline and the people in uttermost
ends OF the earth shall buy OF the prod
ucts of our farmers and factories.
| One of the best speeches which [ have
heard on the Wilson bill was that Of
Representative Bryan, OF Lincoln, Ne
| braska, delivered in the House Saturday
Carolina, and especially the farmers,
would read it closely. Mr.. Bryan is a
most excellent speaker, his voice is clear
and full and his gesticulation is beyond
criticism. Knowing that SO good a
| speaker would "hold the boards people
| filed the galleries to overlooking and
even the floor of the House was thrown
open to accommodate the friends OF the
Representative who could not find seats
elsewhere. When Mr.. Bryan arose there
was not a vacant seat any where, but
notwithstanding the throng all made
talk in the galleries and throughout the
House was hushed and every one &C
corded him the closest attention. His
argument was full and convincing. Blow
after blow he struck with telling force
the hydra headed Mckinley monster and
when he had finished, after holding the
audience for two hours, it seemed to me
there was nothing more to be said.
The Indications are certainly favorable
to the appointment OF Josephus Daniels
as Public Printer, and l believe that if
he exerts himself his appointment is
assured. He is eminently fitted for the
work, and would discharge the duties of
the office, am sure, to the entire salts
faction OF all parties concerned and with
honor to himself, his native State and
his country. Since his sojourn in Wash
ington his career has been a series OF
qualifications if not surprises to his many
North Carolina friends. Appointed less
than six months ago a clerk in the office
of the Chief Clerk, he has been promoted
successfully to Chief of the Appointment
Division and now Chief Clerk of the In
terror Department, a position of great
trust and responsibility. In every capac.
ity he has proven his ability and fidelity
sidered one of the brainest men in de
partment service simply repeat what
[ have heard from score of men who
are in position to know.
GEO. NJ. NEWELL