Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-24

P. Deegan to preside during the even
ing. Mr.. Deegan 10 few timely and
appropriate remarks introduced Hon.
John o. PeDdleton as the speaker OF the
occasion. Mr.. Pendleton was received
with cheers and begaE bis speech by
going at once 70 the heart OF his subject.
IN the days Of Thomas Jefferson"
said Mr.. PendletoD, there we're no
millionGires in this country and the
wealth of the land was very evenly IL
vided among the people. Up 10 1860
there was no class legislation and we
had begun TO DO regarded as one
Of the most prosperous nations
on the face OF the earth. Then
began the Republican regime and
two years ago IL was shown oy statis-
tics'that 25, 900 men possessed ouer one
half of the total property, real aud per-
sonal, 10 population Of $4,000, 600.
This state OF affairs was brought about
By Republican legislation that permits
the accumulation OF colossal fortunes by
a privileged few, making millionaires OF
those specially protected, while the
great mass Of the people became poorer
aud poorer. It is hard 10 understand
how such a state OF affairs could exist
at a time when prosperity abounded on
every side. Still the fact remains that
under the protective tariff laws 1000
mlllionaires have been created and the
workingman OF to-day is worse OF than
be was when the Democratic party
turned the government over TO the Re-
puolicaus.
When John G.. Carlisle, President
Clevsland's Secretary Of the Treasury,
went down to the Treasury March 4,
1898, be found a public fund that had
been depleted by the misrule OF the
Republican party. This maladminis-
Iratlon on the part OF President Herri-
son brought about the business panic OF
last year. We found an empty treas
ury, the Sherman Dill and the McKln-
ley tariff law. Those three items cOu-
stituted the legacy bequeathed Presi-
dent Cleveland by his political prede-
cessors. This legacy produced the hard
times from which We nave just emerged.
The Democratic legislation OF the last
Congress has put Us back on the road to
prosperity. The Mckinley bill was
probably the greatest of them all, a bill
that produced an artificial stimulation
in the business circles Of the cOuntry.
Ii permitted the mill owner TO wait IN
iii be has secured control OF the
market and then wax fat and
fatter on bis stupendOus profits, but
no benefits Injured 10 the wOrklngman
under this golden shower 10 his masters
house. WHAT do the mill owners care
for the interests Of the laOOring men
who delve in his service? Their pur-
pose, snd the sole aim Of Mchinleyism,
is 70 protect these mil!ionaires in further
increasing their immense wealth at the
expense and mpOverlshment OF the
poor. Tue annual increase Of weatn
10 this country is about $1,000 go, 600
TO be distributed ameng 65,O0J, 900 peO-
pie. OF this great sum, ovIr one half
goes TO 16, 600 men out u the 65, 600, 600.
This is one o. the beauties OF Mckinley
ism; $50, 600, 600 70 10000 men and the
remaining $50, 600, 600 TO the great bulk
Of population, or nearly $4,000, 900 peo-
pie. Then you wonder why il is that
tue W0rkngman is poorer than ever and
why il is that the protected mill owner
riots aud revelS in luxury
that excels the sumptuOus methods
Of the Orientals Of olden times. You
wonder about IL all, but there is moth
ing strange in il because It's the natural
and inevitable working out OF the Nc
Klnley bill.
When the Democratic Congress con-
vened last session 1t was the intention
OF the party 10 legislate out OF existence
the odious aud destructive Mckinley
bill, and introduce in its stead tariff
reform that would let loose the wheels
OF industry and revive the business
prosperity Of the land With this end
10 view the last Congress passed is
tariff bill which cut off the duty on every
imDlement used by the farmer, who
heretofore had TO pay more for his agrl-
cultural implements tnan the manutac-
turer, after paying transportation,
charged for the same implements in a
foreign country. The same reform
was worked out on all lines,
the main feature being TO decrease
the cost OF necessaries to the poor.
Class legislation was attempted 10 be
wiped out, and the rich man was made
20 draw his wealth from It's hiding place,
and contribute MS full share towards
the support OF the government The
income tax makes the Vander0iltS and
millionaire protected mil-Owners shell
out pro rata with the poor man. This
species Of legislation does not please
the million8ires of the country, as 1t
shifts some OF the burdens upon their
shoulders, burdens which the poor have
borne alone in the past The income
tax has come TO stay, and its repeal
could alone mean an absolute surrender
to the rule of the millionaire. But the
reforms OF the Democratic party in
Congress have not been confined to leg
islation. We found in Washington
that the Republicans had been support
ing in times OF peace Gs large
clerical force in the War Depart
meut as when we were IN
the midst Of the rebellion with
a million OF men iu the field. Secretary
Lamont turned out 600 Of these cleri-
cal hangers-on, who had losied through
every Republican administration since
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