The morning call., 1894-01-09
TROUBLES OF THE TARIFF TIN.
kERS.

The Democrats in the House seem to be
in very discrganized condition. The
Ways and Means Committee has submitted
Its tariff bill. A quorum TO consider it was
obtained yesterday after several days de-
lay. 1t looked at one time as though the
Democrats might have to resort to eX-
Speaker Reeds method of counting a
quorum, which would have been bitter
pill for them 10 swallow after all the de-
nunciations showered on Gear" Reed.
The remark is attributed TO leader among
them that revolution must be met with
revolution" The Democrats always de-
nounce new departure, then look kindly
on it when the exigeney arises, and finally
embrace and adopt it. Perhaps a taking
back Of all that was urged in The last Con-
gress on the enormity of recording Rep
resentative who was present but insisted
on an uDc0rporeal existence when be felt
that way was not needed to demonstrate
the general instability of the Democrats on
all questions.
There are at least 100 Of the Democrats
for whom a vote for the proposed tariff
will prove to be political death. These
men have the excuse that that tariff does
not carry out The Democratic platform. 1t
is not the platform for revenue for which
the national convention proclaimed. 1t is
about as far from tariff for revenue as it
well could be. 1t is on the contrary a bas-
tard and vicious form of protection devised
on sectional lines. 1t is said to be entirely
satisfactory TO Mr.. Cleveland. But he can
not very well be substituted for the party.
Besides, there is a growing conviction that
that statesman is not by any means the
profound economist his friends fOndly
pictured. The choice of the recalcitrant
Democrats lies between their constituents
on the one hand and the administration on
the other. The condition OF things in the
districts OF these Representatives thus
placed between two fires is similar in a
greater or lesser degree to what is OBJ
servable here. In California. without dis
tinction of rarty, the following great in
terests are up in arms against the Wilson
bill:
The fruit men.
The wine men.
The lumber men.
The Bative-sugaT men.
The jute-bag men.
The salt men.
The wool manufacturers.
And in addition many men engaged in a
number of other pursuits. What chance
there is for a Representative who wants
to vote for the Wilson bill to make head
way against such varied opposition if he
should again submit his name for re-
election can be calculated otfhand and
without the least difficulty. 1t is reported
that Messrs. GeaTy and Caminetti have
come to the conclusion, as all other Demo-
Gratis from this State in times past con-
cluded, that il will not do for them to
antagoniZe the Interests of their constitu-
ents. Representative Mcguire alone, it is
surmised, will abandon those who voted
for him. If he should do so and venture
again to run in the Fourth District, or the
northern part of this city. an object-lessou
will be furnished intoxicating the wisdom
of sticking by ones constituents.
The administration Democrats at Wash
ingtoD are we'll aware OF these facts. They
know that the only way to M et the wishes
of Mt. Cleveland Is 10 devise some method
Of entrapping the Representatives who
have not forgotten those whom they i'm
mediately serve.
A gOOdly number were in caucus on Fri
day night, but they could not get any other
expression of opinion from all present than
that the bill ought to be considered. The
next thing will be to make that consider
alton favorable to the enactment of the
bill. which may be a more difficult matter.
The outlook for the administration all
around is not reassuriDg. but it is jus. such
a n outlook 8 might have been expected
from incomoetency and ignorance.