The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-01-23
CONGRESSMAN SIMPSON TALKS

Congressman Jerry Simpson, Of Kan
sas, is a free trader. He made a speech
on that line last week and made quite
a hit. He doesn't approve of the Viii
son tariff bill, but will support it as far
as it goes. He is reported as follows
81 am not one of those" he said,
that ever hoped, or believed that the
Democratic party would be able, when
the final test came, to carry out its
pledges to the people to rid the coun-
try of the robber tariff. That party,
like the Republican, is under the con,
troll of the money power, as was shown
when they marched along under the
same umbrella to have themselves
counted against the free coinage of
silver. So now the two wings would
be compelled to act together when a
gus .hTosame up involving again the
int, the money power. The
Peoples party stands to day pledged
to the principle of free trade, and in
the discussion 1 shall speak from the
standpoint of a free trader"
In the course of his attack upon the
protected wool industry Mr.. Simpson
gave an eloquent object lesson of what
he called the result Of the protection of
the " pollen industry, which the gentle
man from Michigan (Burrows) had as
serted kept out European shoddy. He
had walked along that portion of the
market place of Washington where the
farmers took their stand to sell their
products at first hands. After inves-
tigation he selected an average over
coat, which he showed in the House,
which had been bought a year ago for
$40 and which had become go rotten
that it fell to pieces in rags in his angry
hands, as he became wrought up in in
dignation.
Loud applause greeted his eloquent
object lesson.
Mr. Simpson had bought the happy
farmer a new overcoat at the same
price as the old one, and which, said
Mr.. Simpson, would last just about as
long.
Mr.. Simpsons time expired at 4
o'clock, and as he resumed his seat, he
was rewarded with a burst of applause
exceeding any which had yet been be-
slowed upon a speaker"
We believe Mr.. Simpsons head is
level on the tariff question. But can't
understand how he can say a word in
favor of a bill that puts all the products
of the farm, mine and forest on the
free list and leaves the manufactured
articles protected in most instances,
and in every case where foreign COM
petitors would be likely to come in. If
the Democratic theory of tariff reform
1--WE neal the promises) is right, the
Wilson bill is not only "a cowardIy
makeshift" intended to deceive, but is
worse in its practical workings than
any Republican bill ever passed. You
may shoot a man through the heart
and kill him almost instantly, and an
other bullet fired into a less vital spot
would not add to the sufferings of the
dying man nor to the punishment
melted out to the murderer.
The Wilson bill is as fatal as the Nc
Kinley bill, even if it does not fire the
second bullet. If the tariff, as con-
structed by the Republican party, is a
great Chinese wall around America, y
the Wilson bill does not make the wall
any lower nOr cut any gaps. Itleaves
the wall as high, as strong as eve No
honest tariff reformer or free trader
should give such a bill his endorse
ment.
A PREVENTIVE FROM HOG
ruOg EDA