Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-07-26

conferences with Secretary Caris
and oftentimes with Mr.. CleyeIau
himself.
No material sacrifices of principI
were made. The result was, as H.
had declared on previous occasio
democratic measure which in hi
OPINION leaned toward the radica
tarlH reform sentiment, and which h,
thouSht would receive the support O
democratic house, senate and pres
Ident. He believed then, as he be
lived now, that he had authority fo
that statement. He charged directl,
that every one Of the senate amend
ments had been seen by Secretar,
carlisle and scanned by him before
they were agreed upon. He drew
from his desk and read an interview
Wth Secretary Carlisle, on April 80
III which the secretary of the treasury
gave the same bill his sweeping EN-
dOrSement
That interview, said Mr.. German
softened the hard places for those
who were trying TO harmonic differ
ences. 1t did much to aid the demo
Gratis of the senate in getting together.
He did not believe that the democrats
| would have ever gotten together had
1t not been for that interview.
! The secretary of the treasury nee
eSSarily spoke in a great measure for
j the president in matters relating to his
department. On the morning follow
ing the publication of that interview
the papers announced that the pres
, Ident was in entire accord with his
secretary of the treasury. If that was
not true then the forty-tWo democratic
senators on this side of the chamber
had been misled. As a compromise
Mr.. German asserted that the bill as
completed was satisfactory to not a
single solitary human being in all
/ It's details; but as d whole. as scanned
by the secretary of the treasury and
the president, as looked at by US it was
acceptable as the best bill that could
, be passed
There was no suggestion anywhere
either from the president or the sec
/ rotary Of the treasury that the bill as
modified was a violation Of the dem
ocratic principle. With dramatic en-
phaSis Mr.. German called on Messrs.
Vest, Jones and Voorhees, to bear tes-
tlmOny as to whether his statements
had varied a hairs breadth from the
truth.
Let the people have the TRUTH" he
said as he paused.
Mr.. Vest arose. He began by saying
that he had not himself seen the pres
ldent since the repeal of the Sherman
law last summer, but with the secre-
tary of the treasury he had frequent
conversations. Mr.. Carlisle had re-
peatedly and distinctly stated to him
that the greatest possible calamity
that could happen would be the failure
OF any bill. He had distinctly stated
to him that no difference in rates
should be allowed to stand in the way
of the contamination Of some change of
tariff reform. His colleague, Mr..
Jones, had seen both Mr.. Carlisle and
Mr.. Cleveland, and they had both de
clared that the bill was acceptable to
them. The bill did not suit him (VesO
He knew it must have the support OF
the administration to pass it, and he
asked Mr.. Jones if the president would
throw the weight of his influence in
favor of it. Mr.. Jones reported that
the president had said to him: II am
willing to do anything to pass the bill
through congress.
IF we 60 into this fight, the presi-
dent must be behind u.s." Mr.. Vest
had said Mr.. Jones replied that he
was. 'Thereupon," said Mr.. Vest, Il
gave up my personal opinions and re-
solved to support it. The presidents
letter was the first intimation to me
that he was against u.s.
When Mr.. Vest sat down, Mr.. Jones,
who was in charge of the bill in the
senate, took the floor. He was as
pale as death. He realized, he said.
when the bill came to the senate, that
it could not be passed in that form and
he had gone to work with infinite la
Dor and pains to interview every dem
ocratic senator. He ascertained every
objection they held, and had carefully
noted them. He had talked with Mr..
, Carlisle about his plan and the presi-
dent endorsed it as wise.
Then he Jones) prepared the amend
ments in consultation with Mr.. Car
Isle. The secretary was thoroughly
informed as to the situation, and he
JONES' had said to him: Il will not
90 one stem further if the adminiStra-
ton is not behind me-"
II requested him to explain every
thing to the president" said Mr.. Jones.
II saw the president. He told me Mr..
Carlisle had explained all and he
! (Cleveland) said he thought we were
doing the wise and proper thing"
Among the amendments thus pre-
scented were those placing coal and
iron on the dutiable list. Until /
read Mr. Cleveland's letter to Mr..
'T believed he cordially approved of
our action. | had expressed to him
! the opinion that It must either be this
= modified bill or none at all, and he
! had replied that in the alternative he
| favored the modified measure.
AS Senator Jones sat down Mr.. Cor
man arose to resume, but Mr.. Villas in
terposed with series Of questions tc
Mr.. Jones.
In your interview with the presi
den," asked Mr.. Villas, were the sub
jectS of coal and iron ever mentioned? 2