Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-10-12


the list is swelling. This dep'orable
condition of affairs he ascrbed to
| broken promises aud "experimentlng"
| in tariff legislation. He was ''appslled"
ut the condition OF affairs. IN
der the Democratic regime was
introduced a feature hitherto unknown
to our civllization-soup houses.
| The speaker coul dn't resist the inclina-
tion to again pay his respects to the
REGISTER. This time be found fault
because the REGISTER has noted the
| Improvement in business. He admitted
that there was a little squirt" over the
| country, but added that IL is passing
away, and things will be worse than be-
| fore.
| Mr.. Elkins stated that property has
shrunk 10 value IS, 600, coo, coo, owing to
| the fear Of Democratic legislation. IL
cost just that much for the Republican
party TO put down the Confeuerncy, but
in one case the country was saved, and
in the other no person derived any
benefit.
The speaker next took up the Demo-
cratic administration, literally ripping
il TO pieces with his calamity scissors.
Cleveland didn't paralyze the business
OF the country during his first admins
tration, simply because the patriots,
the Republicans, happened TO have a
sufficient number of representatives. In
Congress to defeat the destructive
measures Of the Democrats. The REG
IsTER said the plates were engraved
during the last days OF HarrisOn'S ad-
h0t n
be issued He was q part of that ad-
minstration himself, and he pronounc-
ed the statement a pure fabrication.
The Cabinet officers declared they
would resign rather than consent TO in-
creasiDg the interest bearing debt or
the country. There was no excuse for
il. If the Republicans had continued
ia power, they would have raised the
money in some wayne couldn't say
how-but they would have raised 1t.
Why? Because they were shrewd
fnanciers The whole trouble was that
the Democrats hadn't the capacity TO
manage the government They got into
power through accident and deceD-
tion," and lacked experience.
The speaker held that every party is
responsible for what happens under its
administration. and the Democrats
must take their medicine whether
they like il or not" He neglected to
add that the toughest dose they had to
swallow was McKinleyism. He charged
that the Democrats did not redeem their
promises because the party is hetero-
genOuS mass of contlicting forces. The
cyclone came logically. Cleveland
blamed it on the Sherman act, which
had little 10 do with it. This was re-
oealed and then came the tariff
bill-a measure which NOBODY wanted.
1t was baneful, hurtful, from its in
cipiency.
Here was another opportunity to
croak calamity, and Mr.. Elkins croaked.
He termed the present new era-an
era of low wages, low prices, and low
incomes. A few years ago, every time
the sun went down, there had been paid
in wages forty million dollars. Now
there is four millions less, reduction
Of 10 per cent. to the "poor wage
Garner" which "brings out our sym
uathy." The experiment" is RESPONSE
BILE for all OF il.
He charged that foreign Hobbies, in
the interest Of Nova Scotia coal, and
Canadian LUMBER, received a hearing
before the Ways and Means Committee,
while representatives. Of West Vir-
ginia's interests were turned away. II
West Virginia had had trust-but no.
the mountain air was too pure for them.
Not one furnace was started, not one
mill resumed, not one fire was lighted,
as a result OF the Senate bill
Mr.. Elkins said the Democrats pre-.
tend TO be friends of the laborlng man,
and he took up a list of dutiable arti-
cles to show that under the Senate bill
necessarieS are taxed, and luXurtes are
reduced or come in free-that the bill
was framed in the interest Of the
wealthy classes. Throughout this part
OF his Speech he referred TO the duty as
a ''tax" on the consumer. Two years
ago, in common with other Republican
Stumpers, the burden Of his song was
that the tax was not paid by the con-
sumner. He proceeded down his list as
far as pearl buttons, on which he ad-
mitted the reduction was made IN the
interest Of the poorer classes, and then
stopped.
He discussed at some length the in
Jury to the coal and lumber interests of
the State by removing the duty on these
articles. He spoke of spruce land along
the West Virginia Central which could
not be- bought for S25 an acre before the
passage OF the Senate bill, but which
will not now bring more than SIS. lie
said the REGISTER accused him Of cut
ting down wages for political effect.
He admitted reducing wages OF mine
officials, but said the miners had not
been touched because they are already
so low that they can scarcely live on
what they get. At one mine, instead
of shipping 1000 tons daily. he now
ships POO. He declared that West Vir.
ginia had not derived single advantage
from the tariff bill tor what il had been
forced TO give up. He said gentleman
he did not mention his nams-whO
had pleaded with VIM. L. Wilson for
the retention OF duty on coal aud tim
Der, had been dismissed with the remark
that American worSngmen are better
housed, better clothed, and better fed
than foreigners, and can afford TO work
longer hours for the same wages as the
foreigners. He asked why Americans
don't 60 to England, If free trade is
good thing, aud added that the tide is
actually turning in that direction.
America for Americans" was his doc
trine.
10 closing, for the purpose Of ZEN
thusing" the Republicans, he mentioned
the names OF Dovener and Whitaker,
aud both were cheered, the latter espe-
cially. He talked about the Legislative
.icket,and about the next Legislature
a subject TO which he has no doubt given
. -rnat haaI OF fhnnrht He TALKED