Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-09-11
AIR. CAMDEN AND THE TARIFF BILL

/ AR GARDEN AND THE TARIFF BILL.
THE REGISTERS interview with Sena-
tor CAMDEN should be carefully read
not only by his friends but by all those
who have felt at all disposed TO criticise
the Senator for the course he pursued
in regard to the Wilson tariff bill. Mr..
CAMuEN's course has been misunder-
stood and frequently miSrepresented.
and IL is bat due him that his own state
ments should be given to the public and
that he be placed in a proper attitude
before the people whom be has repre-
sented in the SerS,es
Mr.. CAMDEN does not deny having
given his unqualified support TO the So
called Senate bill, but emphasizes the
fact that he was not opposed TO the
Wilson bill, aud that no did not vote
for the Senate bill in preference to the
Wilson bill 1, was simply choice be-
tween the Senate oil and the Mckinley
law, and be preferred the Senate bill as
a measure OF relief and great i'm
provement on the Mckinley law. That
conditions should have existed in the
Senate which would prevent the pas
sage Of the House bill could not be
helped by Mr.. CAMDEN, and under the
circumstances be did the best be could
by voting for the most radical measure
OF relief which could possibly be passed,
and for which action he is entitled to be
placed in the front rank OF tariff re-
formers.
Mr.. CAMDEN, who has been charged
with having attempted TO prevent the
I lowering Of the duties on coal and iron
ore, presents unQuestlouable evidence
from all the Democratic members OF the
committee 70 show that all such charges
are untrue, aud that no never once
opposed a reduction Of the duty on a
single article in the entire BILL
On the contrary, when the tariff bin
was in caucus for the purpose Of getting
I IL in shape to pass, Mr.. CAMDEN cast the
only vote be had an opportunity TO cast in
favor Of free iron ore. He never asked
10 have the duty on coal retained aud
only favored the 40 cents duty placed
on it by the Senate because such was
necessary to admit of the passage OF
the bill. He stood ready at all times to
vote for that oil which would
bring the greatest measure Of
relief to the people and which could
pass.
Mr.. CAMDEN was at all times in sym
PATTY with Mr.. WILSON, the author Of
the bill, aud 90 the most friendly terms
with him, aud their frequent consulta-
tions show thst Senator CAMDEN was
not by him considered as in any way
opposed to the passage Of the bill.
As has been frequently stated in the
REGISTER before, no Senator was more
persevering or more influential in
getting the compromise bill 10
shape for its adoption than
was Senator CAMDEN, his whole
effort being to secure the speedy pass
sge OF Democratic measure Of relief.
That this measure did not wholly con-
form 20 his ideas of tariff re-
form or those Of the party was not
his fault, nor can be be charged with
having departed, by his vote or in
/ fuence, from the Democratic idea any
farther than was necessary to secure
the repeal OF the odiOus Mckinley law
and the substitution Of Democratic
law. The Senator has at all times
! borne in mind the condition as well as
the theory which confronted him, and
MAS done the best he could under the
rcumstahees, for which he should re-
e uustinted praise, rather than
Marsh criticism.