Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-01-23
PROTECTION LOBBY
VERY MUCH DlSHBARTsNED BY THE 10y
ALLY OF DEMOCRATS
Their Caisi Figh! Now is 10 Keep The Tariff Prom
Being Reduced Even Lower Than is Provided
in the Wilson hll-KespiOg Up the Courage
Of the Klcksrs IN Congress
zssetai 7treoram 20 N. Re1...,-.


WAsHINGToN, SANITARY 22.-Thero Is
terribly blue and discouraged lot OF
protection lobbyists in Washington.
ihey are TO be seen about tho Capitol
every day and met in the hotel Hobbies
and cafes at night. They represent all
the Interests which have been ENJOYING
The benefits OF protection for wears,
which benefits the Wilson bill now pro-
poses to curtail more or less in behalf
OF the whole people. The cause OF the
LOBBY lists discOuragement Is the deter
mined attitude OF the great body or
democrats In the House on the cues
tlon OF tariff reform. Instead OF finding
q considerable number OF the Demo-
Gratis fearful that the Wilson bill has
~ ne too far In the way of free raw ma
lerial and reduced duties, the agents OF
the protected manufacturers find, on
the contrary, that n majority OF the
democrats would willingly see the
Tree list still further extended aud
greater cuts made ia duties. Against
this prevailing sentiment of the party
In the House, the lobbyists find II i'm
possible TO make any headway and SEQ
all their plans for having the bill
amended in the Interests of their en-
ployers threatened with utter defeat
worse than this, they are being told
privately by the few Democratic mem
GERS who consent TO listen TO their plans
that their best policy is to keep quiet and
not attempt TO have the bill amended
In the direction OF higher duties.
These members assure the protectionist
agents that the feeling in favor of a
still more radical bill than that reported
by the Ways and Means Committee is
In reality even stronger than might be
Judged from the votes taken on the
hoor the past week; that MANY
democrats who at heart are
out and out free traders
are standing by the committee because
they feel IL is their duty to do so as
loyal Democrats, and because they re.
alize that in a great reform Of this kind
the wisest and most statesman-llke
course Is TO make haste slowly. But
attacks on the bill from protectionist
quarters and attempts to amend it in
the direction Of higher duties anger
these Democrats who believe the mea-
sure to be very moderate and con-
sentative one and impel them to break
away, as so many did in the steel rail
question, and vote for striking of of all
duties So the lobbyists are warned
that their best policy is 10 let well
enough alone and be thankful they are
getting as much as the bill allows
them. That this sort Of talk from mem
DerS VINO are IN some degree friendly
10 them has a most uiSheartening effect
on the agents of the protectiouists need
hardly be said, so they are ready TO
give mp the House as a highly unprom-
islng field for McKinleyite PROPAGANDA
just now and turn their weary faces to
the Senate, where they hope TO find
more sympathy and comfort. All they
will try TO do in the House from this on
Will be to keep up the courage OF the
Few Democrats who have expressed
an Intention 10 vote against the Wilson
~bTll ~ ISN'T amended to suit them. II
the can do this, the protectlonists will
be happy, for they fear that if the bill!
should 60 through the House by 4 solid
or practically solid Democratic vote,
the effect might be such in
the Senate that even the pro-
tectionist Democrats there, who are
quite independent now, because II will
be four or five years yet before they
will have to seek reelection,
might Become timid about mang-
ling the bill in the interest of the tariff
beneicaries and the great corporations.
Ehe whole effort OF the protection lob |
'by from this on will be to keep up the |
courage OF the kickers in the House. so /
that the bill may not 60 to the Senate |
with too much Of a hurrah.