Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-19
Never Had Any Fear Of the Election
Result in Michigan.
TARIFF LEGISLATION NEEDED At ONCE
Thinks the Grade Crossing Bills
Could Be Passed.
TIL E STREET RAILW AVS

chairman of the District Of Columbia COM
mittee. has arrived in the city, and is get
ting ready for a busy winters work in
Congress. Senator Mcmillan has had
very arduous term of political service dur
ing the campaign just ended, but emerges
from it in good health. and he looks as
ruddy and as hearty as can be.
Seated in his Office at his comfortable
home on Vermont avenue, he talked in an
interesting manner with a Star reporter
today upon number of subjects. The one
uppermost In his mind at this time, of
course, is the magnificent victory which the
republican party won in Michigan. and to
which, as Is well known, although he is too
modest to acknowledge it, he contributed
by the part which he took In the manage
ment of the campaign.
Had No Fear of the Result.
i never had any real fears about the re-
suit In Michigan" said the Senator, al
though some very alarming rumors were
circulated outside of the state. When l
got back to Michigan in the fall and look
ed over the reports from the different sec
ttcns Of the state, l felt confident that we
would win by thirty or forty thousand ma
Jority. AS 1t was, we came out with fifty
two thousand and over. The reports which
seemed to be unfavorable to the republi-
cans. and which were circulated about
Michigan before the election, probably
grew out of the fear of detection in the re-
publican ranks over the silver question
There was no doubt that such detection
threatened us. and in a serious FORM / be-
lieved, however, that this would be offset
and more than offset. by the gains to be
made from the gold democrats. 1t was a
curious campaign in many respects. The
other side made the fight upon peculiar
lines. They employed men not orators or
fal TO
stand on the street corners and make
speeches to the crowds assembled there
We could not tell how much this was af-
fectlng the labor vote. The Sound Money
League, however, offset this method of
campaigning by similar efforts, and there
We're monday meetings on the streets of
Detroit, and in the other cities, such as had
never been seen before in the political his
tory of the state.
u think that the republican victory in
Micnlgan was largely attributable to the
sound money democrats. In a great many
cases they voted the republican ticket
straight. There were other democrats who
voted for Mckinley on other questions be-
side the financial issue The young men
especialiy, seemed to come to the front
with an eagerness in this direction They
were more afraid of Altgeldism and BRYAN
ism than they were of even silver The at
tack on the Supreme Court and the general
ed their anxiety. and they rushed in throncs
10 the support of the republican ticket"
Recognition of Gold Democrats.
do you think the administration wi1,
recognize the gold democrats in appoint
ments?' the Senator was asked.
mot in the cabinet" he replied II don't
see how 1t could be done. They NAV be
recognized in minor appointments. I don't
think the gold democrats expect it. They
voted for Mckinley out of patriotism and
in behalf of the best interests of the coun-
or 1nir ],
ton of reward through patronage It
would be an insult to them to suppose such
a thing
DO you think the gold democrats who
voted for Mckinley will stay with the re-
publicans?" Senator Mcmillan was asked.
Il hope so," he replied. II earnestly
nope that our party will shape it's course
upon the tariff question especially to en-
able these sound money democrats to stay
with us. I want to see a tariff based upon
such conservative lines as will enable it to
be at cnce measure of protection and yet
not obnoxious to the most advanced demo-
Gratis. There is a large element in the
democratic party that has come in recent
years TO understand that the tariff must do
two things: it must protect the American
laborer and the American farmer and it
must yield enough revenue to run the gov
ernment. We can pass a bill of that kind.
which will be perfectly satisfactory to the
believers in protection, and yet would
not be opposed by the advanced democracy.
kinley bill. The time for that kind Of
measure has passed, and the men who in
past years have insisted upon extreme
legislation will not be permitted to have
their way now. The western farmer must
have some measure of protection as we'll
as the eastern manufacturer The miners
of the west must not be thrown into COM
petition with Cuban labor because manu-
facturers In the east want>free Iron ore."
Tariff Liquidation.
What tariff legislation do you think can
be effected at the coming session Of Con-
gress?" Senator Mcmillan was asked.
Il don't know what will be DONE" he
replied, but I have very firm convictions
upon what think ought to be done. I be-
this session which would obviate the neces-
sity of an extra session of Congress after
March a. or course, such legislation could
only be brought about through an agree
ment, compromise of opinions 1 would
like to see the Dingley bill taken up md
made a little more flexible and passed. If
possible. 1 think we could then have
enough revenue, especially in view of the
natural increase which will come from the
growth of prosperous times. BY avoiding
an extra session of Congress we would
prevent any possible unsetlliing Of business
conditions which might follow if there
should be a long, tedious period of tariff
consideration in Congress"
What legislation Of Importance relating
to the District of Columbia will be at
tempted at this session Of Congress?' Sen
ator Mcmillan was asked.
The Grade Crossing Bill.
well, We could get through the two
grade crossing bills if we could have the
right kind of cooperation between the
District Commissioners and Congress-" he
replied. 1.-THE fact Of the matter Is. the
trouble now lies with the District Commits
sioners. They have bill before them to
abolish grade crossings on the Baltimore
and Ohio entering the city, which would
rect the approval of Congress, l am sure
and which would be accepted by the rail
road company. The readers of The Star
are familiar with that measure, or at least
they should be, because it has been talked
about long enough. don't know whether
we. can get 1t through not at this ses-
sion. If the District authorities hesitate
and hold back about it we certainly won't
pass it.
1.-The Commissioners also have a bill to
solve the grade-crcssing problem on the
Pennsylvania lines entering the city. The
terms of the measure are acceptable to
the railroad company, and would not be
seriously opposed in Congress, but I nm
derstand there is some dissatisfaction with
the bill in the Commissioners office. The
railroad company Is In a position where
It can hold back as long as any one. and