Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-09-19
SENATOR j. n. CAMDEN.
HIS Altitude Upon the Recent Tariff
Legislation.
S.l.i1i h IVLrriiaq Reqisicr.

PARKERsBURe W. VA, September 10
A correspondent Of the Register this even
ing obtained from Senator Camden an in
terview on current political matters. He
found him at his office and received from
him the cordial greeting which the distin-
guished Senator has at all times accorded to
members of the press. He was engaged
with mass of correspondence, which he
Immediately put aside upon being told the
purpose Of the reporters visit He express
ed himself as being gratified at the results
achieved by the recent Congress in the many
salutary measures for the public good which
have been enacted into law. He especially
emphasized the fact that it had restored the
freedom of elections by the repeal of the
odius election law had made all money
equally taxable under the law restored
confidence in our currency and finances;
had made a reduction in the public expen-
ditures of $4,000 900 for the current year,
and had given, by SCATTERING the protected
interests. to all the people of the country
an opportunity Of living cheaperand better.
He expressed himself as particularly pleas
ell al the enthusiasm with which the DEM
ocrats of the Second Congressional District
had endorsed by an unanimous nomina-
ton, Hon. William L. Wilson, and express
ed the hope that his sea voyage would re-
store him to good health after his long and
laborious efforts i'm the interests Of a reform
Of the tariff.
Your correspondent asked the Senator If
he had any objection to discussing, through
the columns Of the Register disposition on
the recent tariff legislation, to which he
promptly responded that he had not, and
was glad of an opportunity to explain not
only his own position in that particular,
but also TO state some Of the embarrassments
which were encountered in the passage OF
the tariff bill. He said his own position on
the subject had not only been misunder-
stood but largely misrepresented through
out the State by persons who either willful-
lv cared to do him an injustice or thought
lesslv had done so without taking the time
necessary to inform themselves upon the
subject The fact is, said the Senator, Il
defined my position in a speech delivered
bv me in the Senate so far back as the 3lst
of last May in such Unmistakable terms
that no fairly informed man could have
misunderstood my position. then stated
4 recognized from the very beginning
that the imperiled business interests of the
country demanded the earliest possible pas
SAGE Of tariff bin, to which the Demo
cratic party stands pledged by its political
platform. indorsed by the people at the polls
by an overwhelming vote, placing the Dem
ocrats in power in all branches Of the gov
eminent
" Approaching the necessities and obi
cations of the party have stood ready at
all times to vote for the Wilson bill as it
came from the House, or for any bill ap-
proved and united upon by the Democratic
majority in the Senate, it being evident from
the very small majority in the Senate that
no bin could pass without a united vote of
the Democrats in this body. l have been
willing to subordinate my own especial
views in order to unite with the solid vote
of the Democrats i'm this body in the prompt
passage Of a BILL
I'm another part of the same speech I
said
81 repeat, Mr. President, that have
sympathizcd in the very strong desire for
the most speedy action possible, for no sec
ton Of the country has suffered more from
the depression in its industrial interests
than the people Of my State, and have
been ready to yield much of my own con-
victions in order to accomplish a speedy
result.
Mr. President, being thoroughly inn
pressed with these convictions, when the
tariff bin came from the House to the Sen
ate and was referred to the finance commit
tee of this body and when I was asked by
members of that committee what changes,
if any, were necessary to make the bill sat
isiactory TO myself and the constituency
which I'm part represent, my reply was
that had no changes to insist upon as con-
ditons for thesupport ofany bill that would
be satisfactory to the finance committee;
that what I most desired was the quick pas
sage of a Democratic tariff measure upon
which the entire Democratic majority in
the Senate could unite and to that end
would unSelfShly contribute what l could
towards reconciling conflicting views and
Differences of opinion.
you viii observe that 1 stated emphat-
ically i'm the Senate that I was ready TO vote
for the Wilson bill as it came from the
House, or for any bill that could be united
upon by the Democrats and passed in the
Senate. In support Of my position on this
subject which has been called in question
by those who seem determined 10 misrep-
resent me and to question my sincerity,
addressed letter to Senators VOORHEES,,
Jones and Others, of the finance committee
of Senate, to which I received this reply,
which / hand you for publication
UNITED STATES SENATE.
w AsHINGroN ID. c., Aug. %, 1894
HoN.J. y. CAMDEN:
Uelr ST. Tn reply 90 your request that
We state whether, at any time during the
recent tariff struggle YOU made any demand
for changes I'M the bin as q condition for
your support of it, We take pleasure in
stating In most positive terms that you did
nothing of the kind, but. on the contrary,
from the very first YOU said TO Us upon all
occasions that YOU would support the Viii
SON bill a. 10 came 20 the Senate or any
bin which the finance committe Of the Sen
ate would report and which would COM
maud the support of the Democrats.
So thoroughly were YOU IN accord With
MS I'm our efforts TO get the best bin possible
ont of the complications which embarrassed
rs tina, we relied on your Judgment and
consulted YOU freely in reconciing differ
ences and promoting harmony, and your
.eF.