New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-01-19

no MEASURE EVER AROUSED SUCH OP-
POSITION As THE WILSON BILL.

THE sIGNERs OF PETITIONS TO CONGRESS con-
DEMNING THE PROPOSED LAW ALREADY
NUMBER OVER 2j00oo-CIIARAcTEh
or THE PROTESTS
by TTrEGrArH TO THE TRprNv
Washington. Jan lS-The protests filed daily by
worl.!ngmen and manufacturers against the passage
of the Wilson Tariff bin number. on the average
not less than l~. They come from every Pi'' OF
the country and enlboiy the views Of all SORTS OF
people. Many Of the petitions are signed by i"rm-
crs a class which the Wilson bill preiends to want
10 benefit more than any ether The other uaS' ior
instance Mr.. Brosius Of Pennsylvania flied TWEEN
ty-two different petitions. each signed by from
twenty-five to one hundred farmers, from single
county in his State. Western Representatives. no
tably from Ohio Iowa. Illinois and Nebraska, nave
similar records TO show. The protests however,
are not confined u any single class OF Industry
In fact. it would be difficult, point out a single
item in the wilson bill to which some objection
has not been raised since II emerged from the SUD-
terrancan recesses Of the Capitol.
An examination OF the list OF protests filed on a
single day In the House alone will demonstrate INC
variety Of the Industries menaced by Democratic
reform" Take January ~. for instance. ON that
day there were left In the petition box of the House.
according to s rules eighty-eight protests against
either the whole or parts OF the Wilson bill or
these six We're signed by manufacturers Of wooienS'
three by s!lk-weavcrs two ny builders OF ioco-
motives four by manufacturers Of toys. six oy
shelters OF iron ore. one by canning establsh'
ment one 10y a manufacturer of pencils three by
coiton-spnnerS two by MASTERS. four by uphoi-
sterers IF furniture-in all ,hirty-two petitions.
But these petitions are only those which protested
against certain provisions in the bill Not less than
thirtyfour were received which condemned the Dill
in toto. Among these latter was one signed by
5000 employees Of different mills AZ Passaic. In New
Jersey Twenty-Five petitions were sent In by farm
ers engaged in the raising Of tobacco.
II is Interesting 20 note also that these petitions
came from all over the country. and were not CON
fined 70 what are ordinarily known as the mani
siding In Ohio. Illinois. Iowa. West Virginia virginia
Minnesota. New-Iork. Ncw-Jersey. Michigan Massa
chusetts. Connecticut. Pennsylvania and New Mex
leo. Even Florida = represented by petition
against the proposed reduction % duty on lead
In the senate the number Of petitions Is not 50
great that received by the Uouse-and for OBJ
vlous reasons. The petitions will not begin to pour
In upon that body until after 1t has taken upShe
measure for consideration. In the time.
however it receives a goodly share Of these peii-
each day on The avoragc Like those nled in the
House they are signed by ali sorts and conditions
OF people. by workingrcn, manufacturers and farm
ers and by persons who apparently have no direct
interest In the question except in 50 far as II may
in their opinion. affect the general welfare OF the
Democratic speakers in the House very fond
Of asserting That those petitions are OF little or no
value IS Indicating tne sentiment II wage workers.
inasmuch employees almost forced. under
threats OF dismissal discipline of some kind or
another 20 sign these documents. such assertions
have been mal~ with frequency u late and win
such dsr, gard OF truth To call for the protests
TO know whereof they speak There IL NO one bet
Ter qualified for instance. To speak this point
than senator Iilwiey himself S)uih"rr-born. but
hy training ana almost lifelong association NV
Engander Of the best type In presenting the other
day the memorial OF nifty citizens Of Bozrahvillc.
Conn all workers. In NJ mills AZ M plaGr pro
drew attention 70 the following significant words
with which the memorial began.
I've the undersigned OveT~eerS ana operatives IN
the ROZrahve mills. irrespective of political party.
and women acting as free agents and indie
pendent Of the suggestions Or the request " our
Continuing Senator Hawley said. II In the
public press uiterances IN various places which ]
cannot properly mention. implying that the peop"
who sign these memorials by myrlals are Ordered
to DO Any man familiar with New knslhn,i
society ct least Che rest OF the country can speak
for itselD knows nat no greater insult could be
given TO the operatives IN any NIL han 70 har.
which could be distorted into practically an order
| 10 them II would Great" an instant rebellion
even n 1t were one In which they themselves would
! What is true II Connecticut AMI other New
England States j. probably true. too OF most Of the
Western States
Whlle 1t is lmpractcahe 10 tabulaie all the pro-
| tests against the passage ~ The Wilson hiIl re-
/ criyel so far this cursory analysis Of the me
4 'hi''" accurate lI'i ~ MIR rnr'c''f ana ul'
! character 81 the men who sign them. c'ns"rvl
iiYr estimate places il" number ~ protests i'i IN
| Senate ana House sine" congress mot IN ~" nrSt
! week OF December AZ no. FAR from go Assuming
! thot they signed by only -. persons each
they would represent IA" protest or l&h"" people
most u them heads Of families. no doubt. ana
with others dependent upon them for SUPPORT
age The number - signatures ~ many cases
runs into the thousands i Is ~ violent presunp-
! nal protests fled and t. b" hl'd before Congress
against the Wilson bill ~ running into III" millions
/ IL h. doubtful whether any other measure aroused
much hostility a. this has. Certainly none
|