The San Francisco call., 1896-05-14

ton of American labor by restriction of
the immigration of foreign labor. The
door to this undesirable kind of immigra-
ton had been opened by monopolists who
desired to cut down the wages of Amer
ican labor by i'm porting into this country
cheap foreign labor.
"Let MS have something nigh enough,
something honest enough, something
scientific enough to deal with this matter"
he said.
]. V. Webster said that from the express
sion on the floor of the convention and in
the committee he was confident that the
majority of the convention would not be
disposed to strike out the tarIff-commis-
sion clause, but he knew that many dele
gates were opposed TO the tariff commits
sion. The tariff commission as proposed
stood absolutely the creature OF Congress
and was absolutely under its control. 1t
had to report its work to Congress, and 1T
had no authority OF itself at all.
"Did you ever hear OF Congress"
asked Mr.. Webster, composed Of at least
two parties, each in antagonlsm to the
other, appointing a non-partlsan com mis-
sion? If this power was placed In the
hands of the President there might be d
probability of a non-partisan commission
being appointed. After these experts
should have formulated this proposition
they have nothing to do but to submit 1T
to Congress, so that it becomes merely
committee of Congress and nothing else.
1t is perfectly impracticable."
Judge Thompson of San francisco spoke
in favor of the resolution. He thought
that its controlinS idea was admirable
and that it was not altogether novel. The
chief measures demanding reform, accord
ing to his view, were civil service and the
tariff. The people had become rid of lots
OF evil things by means OF the civil service
tribunal. The prot posed plank would take
the tariff question away from Congress
and place il in the hands of tribunal
which will be responsible upon that that prop
osltlon alone. The lnteretate Commerce
Commission had the same good feature.
1t was a difficult and technical work to
regulate tariff
81 might as well go to a blacksmith to
fill my teeth" continued Judge Thomp-
son, "as to go to the average Congressman
to get this tariff question settled"
Rev. c. H. Bowman of Los Angeles ad-
vocated the passage of the resolution as it
stood. Some delegates, he said, looked
upon this plank as an innovation, as a
novelty IN the Peoples party platform.
In the Omaha platform there was dis
tlnct declaration on the tariff question,
where 1t was stated that the Peoples party
denounced the fallacy of the treatment of
the tariff question by both parties, and
TINS plank simply pointed out the nature
OF deception upon the people of this Ma
ton. The reverend gentleman became
warmed up at this stage, and proceeded:
"Those who say, Protection and sound
money hypocritically deceive the people
on this subject and try to make US believe
that those old parties are the protectors of
the people-hypnotizing the people under
the cry of protection while robbers are
plundering the Nation. Let US thus go
before nf I
should be called upon to carry the banner
of Populism over this State l want to take
this resolution to put into my sling to slay
the Goliath of this deceptive tariff ISSUE"
Woods of Sacramento, a long haired
man, who keeps hotel on the city front,
caused laugh by remaridng: 1--WE have
had high protection and low protection,
free trade and the tariff in every shape,
form and fashion, and this country has
gone to hades."
NJ. NJ. Wilkins, editor of the New Char
ter, Populist organ published in San
Jose, said that he was a free-trader, and
that If his belief were to be inaugurated IN
the government of the country chaos
would be the result. The plank was only
recommendation to the National Con-
gress at best, and even though that Con-
gress should indorse it it would not be-
come q factor in the National Governme mt
until Populism became successful, and
when that time came the matter would be
in their own government He thought
that the adoption OF the plank would be a
wise move, and he hoped that it would be
adopted.
]. NJ. c. Murphy of Shasta announced
that he had changed his mind, and would
vote for the resolution.
Vann of Colusa denounced the plank as
straddling of the issue.
Nothing of the kind, sir, remarked J.
Asoury Johnson OF San Francisco.
Vann was interrupted by loud cries Of
angry dissent and he appealed to the
chair TO be given a respectful hearing. He
continued to argue that tie fact that the
tariff did not figure in the Populst plat
form was the chief element of its strength
In the Populist party the ex-RepubIican
would be found on one side of the tariff
proposition and the ex-Democrat on the
other.
Just as sure as you force this tariff
issue into the platform you will split this
party in two" shouted Vann. "Take the
Democratic and the Republican parties in
Congress- and you will find that they
never voted solidly as party upon any
issue other than the tariff. This commits
committee appointed by Congress.
T. V. Gator followed with ringing
speech. He said that for the last twenty
five years the people had had nothing but
the tariff question drilled into them In
the Omaha convention the subject of the
tariff was discussed for an entire day and
references to the tariff appeared in three
different places in the Omaha platform.
When the Popuiist should 60 before the
people in the Presidential campaign or
1896 the first question to be asked him
would be, IF the Populists get into power
will they let the Wilson bill stand?" and
he would have to answer that question.
Mr.. Gator proceeded:
"The gentleman says that it is strad-
die. On the contrary this is the first
declaration by any party that is not a
straddle. The Republican State Con-
vention which met here last week
had plank to restrict the i'm
migration of pauper labor, and we all
know that that's straddle and merely
repeats the present law. In the United
States we have received less than 1000, 600
votes, and there are II, ,000, 900 votes which
we must have, and they are the votes of
people whose minds are saturated with
this tariff question. This is new and no
straddle, but it is scientific, proper and
Just. Congress must pass law and the
President must appoint non-partisan
commission. Congress must retain con-
troll over it also, so that when this scien-
tific cOm miesior, cbull haya uafhareH ito