The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-01-17
"I believe that the result of the next

election hangs on the action OF this
House in this matter. What would be
the result of similar election to-mor-
row. The November elections have
told US that we would Re beaten out Of
sight, and the reason of this, is that
we have doue nothing to redeem our
pledges or shown any disposition to do
so. I am far from asserting that the
bottom cause of the present distress is
the tariff. 1t is something greater
than that-it is the monopolization OF
land, the natural opportunity OF all
employment, the natural prerequisite
of all wealth, and such distress must
recur again until we come to the only
true mode of raising revenue, the only
full free trade-the single tax. But 3
quick and sharp reduction of taxation
and breaking down of the trusts and
monopolies that have grown up from
the Republican tariff will give large
present relief and start again the
wheels of industry. 1t is the part Of
political sagacity for US to cut off taxes
so quickly as to make the head ofevery
trust in the country swim.
Every Republican member will op-
pose this bill, every Republican paper
! will denounce it, every ring and trust
will fight it just as strongly, just as Bit
terly, just as persistently as they would
oppose the bill that I would ike to in
troduce. That bill would be short and
simple. It would read:
"Section l. All import duties and
corresponding internal revenue duties
are hereby abolished and all officials
engaged in collecting such duties are
hereby discharged.
Sec. 3. The Secretary of the Treas
ury is hereby directed to sell all custom
houses and revenue cutters and pay
the proceeds into the Treasury.
"Sec. 8. This act shall take effect inn
mediately.
"Such bill would excite no more
protectionist' opposition than this poor,
timid little Wilson bill will. But it
| would not be sneered at, and it would
arouse mighty support that this bill
cannot get"
In conclusion, Mr.. johnson said:
"Mr. Cleveland missed the golden op-
portunity to give quick response to the
popular will by not calling US together
to abolish protection on the day of his
inauguration. The serious question is
whether it can now be done in time to
have effect before the next election. If
it cannot the Democratic party will!
lose one branch of Congress, if not two,
and will begin its travels into the will
derness again-to stay there, I hope,
till party having the courage of Dem
ocratic conviction arises. / know that
there are many Democrats here who
are not in sympathy with the Demo
cratic platform, and are at heart pro-
tectionists. The part of political wis.,
dom for them is to go over to the Re-
publican party, where, in the struggle
now beginning over economic issues,
they really belong. But, at the worst,
there are some of US who believe what
we have professed, and to whom Dem
ocracy means nothing if it does not
mean free trade. Let US, at least,
stand together to cut the protectionism
out of this bill. If We cannot succeed,
we can at least show our hands. There
is political destruction in timidity.
The only political safety is in courage"
While Mr.. Johnson was pleading
with the House to put steel rails on
the free list, Mr.. Dalzell (Rep., Pa.) in
terrupted to ask if be was not manu-
featuring rails under the protection of
patents.
Mr.. Johnson-I am glad you asked
that question, for otherwise I could
not have got the facts into this discus
sion. T did have three patents upon
processes used in our mills at Johns
town. The courts, very wisely, I think,
declared two of them void; the other
has been rendered useless by a change
in the fashions.
Mr.. Dalzell-Is not Mr.. Moxley
president Of the company with which
the gentleman is connected, and does
he not possess lO2 patents?
Mr.. Johnson-Mr. Moxley is presi-
dent of our company, but think the
gentleman understands the number
of patents he holds. It is nearer 2022
than 102, I should say. But not one
of them has been taken out abroad,
and there is nothing. so far as they are
concerned, which would prevent any
rail whatever made abroad from COM
ing into direct competition with our
product.
Mr.. Da.zell, displaying certificate,
asked Mr.. Johnson if his company was
not paying its employees in scrip.
Mr.. Johnson-Well, I will answer
that question. We pay our men higher
wages than they can get elsew here,
because we believe it pays US to have
the pick of the trade. Last summer
we found our customers (the street
railroad companies) suffering from the
effects of bad Republican legislation.
They had bonds, but no money, and
could not get any. We agreed to take
bonds in payment for rails in case we
could get our men to help carry the
burden. We presented the case to them.
and asked if they would prefer that
we shut down or that they take one
third of their wages in cash and two
thirds in scrip, you may call it, but
really evidences of their part owner
ship of the bonds. They unanimously