The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1894-04-28
ELTON. APRIL %, 1894.
THE WILSON BILL SHOULD GO TO
THE PEOPLE,

1t Is safe to assert, that if the Wilson
Bill were to be submitted to a vote of
the people, it would be overwhelmingly
rejected by them.
1t may also be fairly questioned
whether in many States there is even
majority for it in the Democratic party.
The number of Democrats who are
earnest in its behalf is small the num-
Der of them who are Indifferent to its
fate and who will not lose any sleep if
it fails, is large the number of them
who are opposed to it Is daily becom-
ing larger.
There is probably no State in the
Union where it would be possible today
to summon the full Democratic
strength of past years to the support OF
this measure at the polls; this weak
ness has already been made apparent
sin New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New
Jersey and Rhode Island, and it exists
everywhere in more or less degree.
Even among the representatives OF
the Democratic party in Congress the
same ragged-edged conditions prevail.
Senator Hill and Senator Smith have
openly put themselves in opposition to
it each Of them has distinctly declared
that aside from the great and crowning
iniquity of the income tax the bill is
wrong because it does not provide
sufficient protection for the mainten.
ance of American wages. They have
the sympathy, and not unlikely may
have the open support, of other Sena-
tors of their party.
IT It were not for the power of the
Cleveland administration in forcing
reluctant party leaders into line with
policy which they know is certain to
be condemned by the people there
would be more Hills and Smiths in the
Senate to express the discomfort and
the disgust of Democratic voters, and
especially of Democratic workingmen,
over this measure.
The conclusion to be drawn from
these conditions is plain. Not only
the entire Republican party want the
Wilson bill killed but very consider
able proportion of the Democratic
party are in sympathy with that de-
mand. The bill, in short, is minority
measure. The policy of the Cleveland
leaders is to force it on the country,
and this they can do only by bare
majority of the Senate obtained in
past season of temporary success. if |
they can DO it at all.
Under these conditions the friends
of Protection in the Senate will be
justified in resisting the passage of the |
Wilson bill at every point and with all |
the parliamentary weapons at their com.
mand. They must fight it on that line |
If it takes all summer. All thought OF |
compromise or surrender should be |
dismissed from consideration. A de. |
cided majority of their countrymen will |
expect them to make a stand to the
bitter end, and will sustain them at the
polls. If the people are in favor of
the Wilson bill. as the Democratic
leaders contend that they are, let it be
demonstrated at the polls 10 Novem-
Der, and the Republicans then acquesce
in the verdict and allow the bill to
come to final vote.
1t is within the power of the Repub-
llcans of the Senate to defeat the Will
son bill by resisting every attempt
which the Democrats may make to
fasten closure rule upon them. They
should take the ground in substance
that this measure is not only source
of ruin to our people but that it has
been conceived and is now pushed in
defiance OF the people and that the
taking of final vote upon it should be
suspended until the people have had
their opportunity to pass direct judy
upon 1t at the polls.
II the Democrts shall elect a ma
jority OF the House of Representatives
on this great issue six months hence,
the Republicans may then give up the
fight, but not till then.