The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-07-23

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.sThereupon." said Afr. Vest, Il gave
up my personal opinions and resolved to
support it The presidents letter was
the first intimatiOn to me that he was
against US"
Pale as Death
When Mr. Vest sat down Mr. Jones,
who was in charge Of the bill in the SEN
ate. took the floor. He was as pale
death. He had talked with Mr.. Carlisle
about his plan, and the president en-
dOrsed II as wise.
Il requested him TO explain every
thing to the president said Mr. Jones'
II the president lie told me Mr..
Carlisle had explained all He (Cleve-
landl said he thought we were doing the
wise and proper thing. Among the
amendments thus prepared were those
placing coal and iron the dutiable
list.
II ntil I read Mr.. Cleveland's letter to
Mr.. Wilson, said O1r. Jones, emphatical-
ly. II believed he cordially approved our
action. had expressed to him the
opinion that it must be either this modi-
fed bill or none at all, and he had replied
that in the alternative he favored the
modified measure"
As senator Jones sat down, Mr.. German
arose to resume, but Mr.. Villas interposed
with a series of questions to ones.
In your interviews with the presi-
dent" asked Nit. Villas, were the sub
jects Of coal and iron ever mentioned?"
"Yes. replied Mr.. Jones with explosive
vehemence, "at every conversation be
tween the president and myself coal and
iron we're specifically mentioned"
There was burst Of applause from
the galleries which the presiding officer
had difficulty in checking.
"And.7 continued Mr.. Jones, with
measured emphasis on each word, 'sthe
president never once uttered one solitary
Wcrd against going ahead with coal and
iron in the bill as then in the senate"
ca5
"Did not the president express the hope
at all times that iron and coal should be
on the free list?"
lat all times yes. But it was the ex-
preston Of a hope that the circumstances
would permit its realization.
Senator German next summoned Sen
ator Harris. who left the presiding
officers chair for the purpose as a wit
ness Senator Harris stated that IN con-
versatlOn with MIR. Cleveland, he (Har-
ris) had been led to conclude that the
president favored the passage of the
compromise senate bill, not because he
liked it, but because it was the best that
could be secured.
Charges Fouily Made-'
Mr.. German here res uned with one of
the most sensational references of the
day. The senator spoke of the deep re-
gret that he was compelled to ask the
public testimony Of these senators. But
the time had come to speak. The limit
of endurance had been reached. The
senate had been traduced. An attempt
had been made TO try and gibbet it be-
fore the country These charges had
been s'foully made from distinguished
sources that they must be met and re-
futed. The charges were echoed by men
who chlrped when he talked"
The senators who had been summoned
had fought for the tariff reform when
towards in high places would not sh Ow
their heads.r
Dir. German said he could conceive no
reason for the remarkable action that
had been taken unless perhaps the one
responsible for it was consumed by
vanity IN having the country regard him |
the author Of all that was right in
tariff reform.
As Mr.. German made each reference to !
the paesIdent, there was commOtiOn in
the galleries which compelled the pre-
siding officer to impose constant cautions
against further demonstrations.
Mr.. German next turned his attention
to Senator HIPS speech of Friday en-
dorsing President Cleveland's letter.
'That letter" said Mr. German, s'was a
gOdsend TO the senator from New York. I
1t was the only comfort he had from this
administration" Laughterl
AS the laughter continued, Mr.. Hill |
arose and with good natured delibera-
ton said: I'm the last proposition | will
say that the senator from Maryland is
entirely correct"
Mr. German proceeded to criticise Mr..
Hilps course, and asserted that the New
York senator had throughout attempted /
to thwart his party.
Never before since the Declaration of /
Independence, Alr. German went on, had /
a president of the United States been |
guilty of such violation of the spirit of |
the constitution as had Mr.. Cleveland in |
writing his letter to Chairman Wilson. /
He handed it to Mr.. Black burn and had I
the Kentucky senator read the extract /
from Washington's farewell address +
about the encroachment of the executive I
on the powers of congress as subversive /
Of the principles Of the republic.
pure Men should Have Clean Hands. /
He referred to the great political ex-
citement attending the Hayes -Tilden /
controversy and the fear of the cOncen-
tration of the army at Washington.
Forms of law had averted that catastro- {
phe. There had been, he went on. no I
further concentration of power. Confer /
ence committees had been free from out /
side influences. The liberty Of the sen
ate had been invaded be said in thun-
derous tones, 'though a thousand hire +
lings write US down and traduce US
1he president, he concluded. had said /
it would be dishonorable to tax coal and +
iron. The house. parrot-like, repeated I
the cry. 's1Ken who set up high stand +
ards.~ said the senator, should come to !
US with clean hands"
He urged that the house, If it had been
consistent, would have placed all raw
materials on the free list He enumer- I
ated other raw materials which the house /
had made dutiable. lie denied that it I
was either Democratic doctrine or in ac- /
cordance with Democratic platform doc I
trines to place coal and iron on the free 4
list. He enumerated the amount Of the I
tax on coal placed by different Demo t