The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-05
The importance OF
The heSt Congress
From the Scranton Truth.

While all the political orators and news
papers are directing their arguments to
the presidential election 1t may be worth
while to remember that congress VIII DO
the pivot of power. and that the ability
to enact tariff and currency laws Will rest.
after all, with the national legislature.
With sufficient majority TO make 1t in
dependent Of the will OF the executive.
| congress can pass any law it may set its
mind to. while 1t is not in the power OF the
president to enact single statute. now
ever anxious he may be to coin campaign
promises into legislation.
1t Is evident. therefore, that 1t Is TO
congress the people must look Tor tne
realization of their hopes. and that the
election of congressman who are known
to be in harmony with the popular will on
the great questions of the day Is OF the
| most vital Importance. II is particularly
! essential and important that the industrial
sections of the country stand firm for the
! election of representatives who will stead
fastly support the doctrines of Protection
and sound money. No false sentiment
should tempt wage-earners or business
| men to squander votes on candidates who
are committed to the ignis fatuus OF Tree
silver. or the ruinous policy of free trade
If the free coinage crusade carried with
II guarantee that all wages would be
doubled just as soon as the country went
to a silver basis there might be some
plausible excuse for asking the toiling
masses to vote for the 53-cent dollar; but
in the absence of such 4 guarantee We
fail TO see how any silver orator or organ
can consistently ask the breadwinner to
vote for q money standard which will in
crease the cost of living without carrying
| with it a corresponding increase in wages
or opportunity for investment.
This congressional district owes it's prog
ress and prosperity to the industrial pol
ley OF Protection. Various futile efforts
have been made by theorists and others
unfamiliar with the facts TO deny this
proposition. but it cannot. be cOntradicted.
Four years ago an ingenious web of So
phistries was spun to convince the un-
thinking that free trade was the great
panacea for all our national shortcomings,
but the lesson learned on that occasion
should be sufficient to demonstrate the In
furious nature of that destructive doc
trine and convince the people that they
want no more of 1t.
The candidacy of William Connell for
congress furnishes all who believe in Pro-
| lection and sound money an opportunity
to vote for a man who Is in thorough har-
mony with the interests and traditions Of
| this valley. His election will give this dis
trict representative at Washington
whose views are entirely in accord with
the best sentiment Of the country, and
the substantial welfare of this region. If
the next congress should have a majority
of men like William Connell the business
| interests Of The country, in which we are
all concerned, would be well cared for and
| common sense could count on a victory
at every roll-call.
With president and congress favorable
tI Protection and sound money, this
| country would soon be in the enjoyment
of substantial era of prosperity, and
such a result Is well worth working for.