The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-07-27

i danger OF running counter to democratic r-fn.
| ciples." desire only TO suggest that Il IL mas
| desirable that sugar should be taxed, las a
| legitimate and logical article of revenue taxa
ation.'' as he now says. it seems strange that
the president did not IL his last annual mes
sage make some intimation, suggestion or
Recommendation TO that effect
| He Endorsed the Wilson bill explicitly IN his
| message, although 1t provided substantially
| for free raw sugar He permitted the house to
pass that measure without word of protest,
suggestion or advice that there should be
| tax upon sugar, which has come to be largely
regarded as one Of the necessaries Of life Sec
rotary Carlisle. the trusted financial oficer Of
his cabinet, speaking on the question ably ex-
cathedra outlined with great care the es-
| sential provisions Of the proposed tar
| III reform bill. but made no recon-
mendation whatever for tax upon
sugar. While free sugar was being carried
I through the house, the administration re-
| manned quiet and passive, but now after the
house has acted and the country has bean led
| TO expect free sugar the administration shows
| its hand and declares for duty upon Ii. I am
not antagonizing its suggestion; am simply
stating the facts Of recent history. Under the
existing circumstances-with an income tax
| retained in this BILL voted for the sugar be-
fore, and shall do so again. In my Judgment
| the house cannot now honorably retreat from
its position in favor of free sugar. The presi-
dent on this suggestion came too late. The
senate must recede from its amendments
Mr.. Hill, in closing his speech, called
attention to the fact that the president,
who had been so often quoted in the
tariff debate as favoring an income
tax, had at last come out in no uncer-
tain tones against it. He trusted the
presidents words would have their eff
feet He (HilD wanted to perfect this
bill He knew it was claimed his
wishes should not be consulted because
he did not intend to vote for this bill
He never should vote for it so long as
it contained the income tax, but he
wanted to see it made defensible.
Mr.. Hill in a most dramatic manner
concluded by declaring that unless the
democrats of the senate yielded they
would go to the wall. and the presi-
dent would GO to the front
Mr.. Vest Repiie..
Mr.. Vest took the floor when Mr.
Hill was seated. After the speech of
the senator from New York. he began,
it was subject of congratulation that
he and the president had at last found
platform on which both could stand.
The lion and lamb had at last laia
down together and were led as little
child by the ways and means commit
tee. He left to the other side which
was the lion and which was the lamll
The senator from New York had said
that free raw material was a cardinal
principle ofdemocracy. The president
went further and declared that failure
to place free raw material on the free
list was democratic perfidy and dis
honor. Why did not the senator
from New York vote for free wool, he
asked.
Il did not vote on several motions
when the bill was in committee" re-
piled Mr.. Hill. but distinctly voted
for free wool in the senate
IF my very soul was thrilling and
pulsating for free raw materials" re-
torted Mr.. Vest. sarcastically. lat the
peril of my life l should have been on
hand to vote on every roll call for the /
cardinal principle of the democracy"
Mr.. Vest then proceeded to read the /.
letter of acceptance of President Cleve- 4
land in 1892. pronouncing in favor of
freer raw material. Yet now he de- /
nounced freer raw materials as perfidy /
and dishonor
Mr.. Vest declared he had been the 4
presidents second. he had defended /
him on the floor of the senate when /
his friends could have been counted on /
the fingers of one hand. Where did .
the president get the right to dictate
to congress? To denounce one branch /
of congress to the other? Did he en-
body in his single being all the democ-
racy, all the tariff reform sentiment in |
this country? Mr.. Cleveland was big
man, but the democratic party was
greater than any one.
1t had survived jefferson, Madison,
Jackson; it would survive Grover
Cleveland.
Under what clause of the constitu-
ton did Mr.. Cleveland get the right
after bill had been sent to full and
free conference between the two
houses to make an appeal to his party
friends to stand by his individual
views?
Mrs. Madison had said in her memoirs
that the capitol had been placed at one
of the avenue and the White house at
the other to prevent the president from
exercising an undue influence on the
legislative branch of the government.
If the president could send word to his
friends to stand firm, he had the right
to send his cabinet ministers here to
coerce members of congress; he had
right to do as he had during the fight
over the repeal of the Sherman law,
punish recalcitrant members of his own
party.
1t was a moekery to talk of a full
and free conference when one of the
conferees came to the committe room
with the orders of the president in his
pocket. Mr.. Vest spoke with bitter
ness of the presidents denunciation of
the senate bill. which had been passed
after four months of such toll and re-
sponsibility as he should never assume
again. Yet, he said, those who were
instrumental in harmonizing the differ
ences and bringing about its passage
tariff reformers before Mr.. Cleveland
began his phenomenal career-had
been arraigned as traitors who sought
to dishonor their party.
1erSOndliN- lne olll Clu not suit HILL
He was n radical tariff reformer. but if
he could not get all he would take
what he could get.
Il give it as my opinion" he de-
clared in conclusion, that we pass
this bill or nothing"
To question from Mr.. Aldrich Mr..
Vest replied: when l first saw the
presidents letter placing on us the
odium of framing a bill that means