Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-09-06
CHAIRMAN WILSON.
VI the House Ways and Means
Committee
talks On the Tariff Bill to His Com
stitaents in Accepting Re-
nomination to Congress
at their Hands.


MARTINsBURG. w. Va, Aug. 3o.--The
democratic nominating convention for
the Second district met here at la
m for the purpose of renominatinp
Hon. VIM L. Wilson. chairman of the
committee on ways and means. In.ac-
ceptlng the nomination Mr.. Wilson
said, in part:
Inc honor TO which you summon me TODAY
IS not a new one for me to receive at YOUR gen
efouS nanos- So many times has 1t come to
me IN the past-neyer coldly grudgingly-
that should vainly seek for new and stronger
language IN which TO assure you of my increas-
ing gratitude for your approval and support
But IL hitting and suficing words are slow
10 come l beg you not to doubt that I
am more deeply moved and more anectionateIv
touched oy your action to-day than have ever
peen before That action comes at the end Of
one OF the greateet and most momentous
struggles that has marked our political his
tory and IL comes in such a wav as IN s,amn
with Your approval as constituents and demo-
erals the services which your representative
was eaiIed upon TO render for the supremacy
OF democratic principles and the fulfillment of
democratic pledges. 1t is no mock affection
ior nothing could be more blameworthy and
criminal on my part on this occasion. but
the simple candor which is due from me to
you when say that but for what seemed a
duty and call growing out of the struggle
should gladly ask at your hands an honorable
discharge from further public service and per
mission TO take my place once again in the
RANKS OF the militant and ever-faithful demo-
Gratis OF the Second congressional district.
In other campaigns have accepted this trust
At Your hands with a full knowledge of the la
Dor and the strain required for
thorough canvass of SO large and SO
stouuy-conteSted district as our own
but also with confidence in my ability to
meet that labor and strain. To-day can no,
possess that confidence. and in view of the
large and dangerous drafts made upon nv
strength and health, shall be constrained to
ask at Your hands some remission of the labors
of public canvassing which 1 have heretofore
SO greatly enjoyed / shall not, however be
Orone IN the approaching contest. and shall
spare no reasonable effort to meet personally.
Il not upon the hastings. as many of the people
as ! can.
Fellow citizens. this is enough for me to say
OF a personal nature There are other thoughts
that I'll your minds to-day. Boundless as is
your kindness to me, it is something beyond
that which las gathered this great convention
and great assemblage-
The congress which adjourned Yesterday was
charged by the American people with a duty
clear unmistakable. iranScendent: to wreSt
from the grasp of private and selfish hands the
power Of federal taxation; to lift
from the backs of the American people
that burden of tribute to privilege
and monopoly which under thirty
stantly heavier until i. far exceeded their
legitimate and necessary taxation for the sup
port OF the government; to reclaim and make
forever sure that heritage of American youth
which is the true meaning and priceless boon
OF democratic lnStltutionS-eQua l opportunity
in a land of equal rights. This was the in
spring mission which the democratic party
had long sought from the American people
power and authority to perform To this mis-
sion the Immediate representatives of the peo-
themselves earnestly H.
fully. In that work they were at all times
cheered and encouraged by their great leader.
who for eight years in defeat and victory. has
led IN the movement for tariff reform while he
scrupulouSly abstained from interfering with
the work of those intrusted with reform legis-
Iation, he was instant, in season and out of
season. in urging that the pledges on which We
had come into power should be fulfilled in the
letter and in the spirit. and that the blessings
Of reduced and just taxation should be fully
AID honestly secured to the American people.
In this great work your own representative,
thanks to your kindness in granting him
public service, was assigned an important and
most arduous part. No man could fifty under
take to frame a revenue bill for a nation of
seventy millions OF people. unsurpassed in
wealth and in the magnitude and variety of
their industrial and commercial interetS,
purge injustice and monopoly from that sys-
tenn; to replace class exaction by public taxa
ton, privilege by equality: TO tighten the
burden of the people, secure larger rewards
for their labor and freer play for their
industries, without being appalled, by the great
cess of the trust committed to him. and the
thickenlng difficulties in the way of its sue
cessful performance No man could worthily
approach such a work without putting away
from him any petty or personal ambition and
any selfish concern for his own political future.
No man could hope for any measure Of real
success who was not willing to dedicate to such
a task every power of body and mind, with an
humble invocation for strength and wisdom from
the unfailing source of strength and wisdom l
can not claim to have risen to the full height
of this duty. but 1 have never faltered In the
belief that you, my friends and constituents,
expected and desired me to enter upon my work
in This spirit and in this spirit to persevere to
IT'S close. knew that you were tarln reformers
without reservation, knew that the democrats
of West Virginia were not protectlonlstS for
West Virginia and reformerS and free traders
for other states. But even If had known 9TH
erwise 1 should not have gone aside one
step from what was to me the clear
halfway of duty to all the people You
know, for you have followed with watchfui IN
terest the varying history OF our attempt at
tariff reform. You have followed with rising
hopes and hearty approval the action OF the
house of representatives in the framing ana
massage of a measure bearing the badges OF
democratic principles and fraught with prom
Used benefits to all the people You nave Ioi-
lowed with waning hopes and angry olSap-
prevail the tedious and torturous passage OF
that bill through the senate. and seen that
despite a nominal democratic majority In
that BODY the great trusts and monopolieS
were still able to write their taxes in as they
had done under republican rule in some OF It's
most important schedules The burden upon
YOU is the same whether they use democratic
hand or a republican hand as their amenuen-
sis But the wrong to you Is Infinitely greater
when men who bear the commission OF your
own party thus prove faithless to its highest
duties
need not recite to you the successive
stems the material and baneful altera-
quietly passed into law yesterday morn
ing. without the signature and approval
of the president. who was elected upon the
issue of tariff reform. and who anticipated. as
the signal triumph and historical achievement
of his administration the privilege of afixing
his name to a genuine and thorough reform
hill You know by what influences this was
brought about The country KNOWS and MIS-
tory will know. where to put the responsibility
for the partial failure to redeem our pledges 10
the people. and our partial failure to dlSlodge
the great privileged interests from our tarln
T am not sure that this very failure
may not be the harbinger and as
surauce Of the speedier and more complete
triumph Of commercial freedom, than the
smooth and unobstructed passage OF the house
hill would have been. The American people
are aroused as hardly anything else could have
aroused them to the deadly menace that pro-
lection begets to the purity and very existence
of free government They have seen a single
Srea. trust empowered by our tariff laws to
control the production and sale OF
necessity OF life. parcelling out the coun-
try with its partners, and using Its
law-made wealth and power to thwart
l. l,,na hair