The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-01-13
YESTERDAYS HOUSE.
Jerry Simpsons Speech on the Tariff
Question.

Jerry SiutpsOhs Speecn Oh tne ldriu
Question.
BY The associated Press.
WASHINGTON, Jan. BIN the house
late yesterday afternoon the tariff debate
was continued, Jerry Simpson Of Kansas
following Mr.. Payne.
Jerry Simpson of Kansas, the leader of
the Populists, then took the floor and
loosened a broadside against protection
and trusts. He said that while he in
tended to vote for the Wilson bill there
were many provisions in it which he did
not approve Of. He was not one Of those
who ever believed that the Democratic
party, brought to the test. would carry
out its pledges, for he knew, while there
were honest Democrats, the action of the
Democratic party, like that of the Re-
publican party, was controlled by the
money power. This was illustrated in
the repeal of the Sherman law at the
extra session.
'The Peoples party" said he. Stands
on platform pledged to the principle of
free trade When we say we believe in
equal rights to all, special privileges TO
none and that one industry should not be
taxed to support another. interpret it
to mean that men shall be left at liberty
to trade wherever they can better their
conditions and no industry shall have any
advantage"
The intolerable burden put upon the
agricultural classes through the indirect
system Of taxation bad been one OF the
potent causes which had produced the
present condition of affairs. The farmers
of the country in 1850 owned GO per cent
of the wealth, So per cent in 1860, 40 per
cent in 1880 and 80 per cent in 1890. The
agricultural classes had been burdened
and the value of the property decreased by
tse taxation that had gone to enrich the
manufactures under the protective sys.
TEN. The prices of all sorts Of farm prod
ucts have fallen until they are now at
the lowest point in tho history of the
country.
But great as has been the decline in az.
ricultural prices the fall in the value OF
farm lands las been greater STILL not
withstanding the fact that the area of
arabic lands as relative to population il
rapidly decreasing. Free trade he con-
tended, would not only open the addi-
tional markets to the agricultural prod
ucts, but would enable the farmers to
purchase the goods which they must buy
in the cheap markets Of the world, where
the product, which they raise, must be
sold
A Case In Point.
While Mr.. Simpson was discussing the
condition of the agriculturist he created
great amusement and applause by treat
ing the house to an object lesson in reply
ing to the statements Of Mr. Burrows the
other day. Mr. Burrows had answered
Mr.. Wilson's criticism of the heavy 300
per cent duty on low-priced cloth by de-
claring that the cloth was shoddy and
cow hair, such as no manly American
would wear. Mr.. Simpson a few days ago
fou0d poor farmer in the Washington
market place. He bargained for his
clothes, took the farmer to a clothing
house, rugged him out In brand new
suit and carried his old rags to the Capt.
tol, where he Haunted them
There it Is" he shouted lifting
on high a tattered old overcoat fringed at
the edge and bespangled with great
patches. The house and the galleries
cheered. II bought that of farmer who
told me he had left home at IL mt mid
night and driven % miles TO sell his prod
uct in your boasted home market This
is an object lesson. There is a sample of
what men wear under the beneficent sys-
tenn Of protection" he continued, holding
the coat toward Mr.. Burrows.
1T is made of shoddy and rags, seer'
Here he ripped il up the back. yet" he
added, II can find its duplicate on the
backs Of 1,0O0, 900 men in this country"
Where did he buy it!" asked Mr.. Can.
non (Rep.. 1llsl
He bought 1T n year ago in this city
for ~, and bought a new suit to take its
place for 5000"
us IL American or importedi" asked
Mr.. Cannon.
IL don't know" replied Mr.. Simpson.
II don't care; but IL is the product OF
American prote ection. No one can deny
IT,"
Mr. Simpson concluded with an appeal
TO the people to ring out the old and ring
In the new order of things
Mr.. Daniels Rep.. n. " argued against
the bill, Mr.. Mcdowell (Rep.. Pa fol-
lowed and Mr.. Mciklejohn (Rep., Neb.)
closed the debate for the afternoon session
In opposition to the bill
At the evening session Mr.. Waugh
CRep.. Tnd.) and Mr.. Hermann (Rep.. Or.)
antagonized the bill, while Mr.. McKaig
Dem. Md and Mr.. English Dem, N.
j. supported IL. The latter was accounted
one OF the kicking Democrats At 1890
the house adjourned.