Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1896-08-13
The REAL BATTLE



MajOraties In Congress VIII Determine
the Fate of the Issues.
It will be well for the people to bear
In mind while they are canyassing the
political situation that the election of
the Chicago candidates will not neces-
sarily mean the triumph of free sill
yer any more than the election of Nc
Kinley will mean the defeat of that
widespread deIusion. OF himself the
president of the United States can do
nothing to effect the monetary change
which the free silver men seek to bring
about or to prevent it. All that ne
can do in either case is to approve such
bill as congress may pass. Under the
civil service rules as now in force he
can do but little compared with what
he once could to affect the congress
sional vote by the distribution of pat
ronage. He may by his message urge
a course upon the attention of congress
but there is nothing in the constitution
on the precedents which imposes on
congress the duty of paying heed to mis-
recommendation. It is exceedingly inn
portant, therefore, to see to it that the
congress elected next November is
sound upon the money question. If
that is done it will make comparative
" little difference so far as that ques-
ton is concerned who shall be elected
president.
There is some reason for the belief
that it will make quite as little differ
eDce so far as the tariff issue is con-
cerned who shall occupy the white
house during the four years beginning
on March next The tariff declaration
of the Chicago platform is all that
could be desired; but it depends, also.
ON congress whether the success of the
candidates pledged to it shall have
any effect upon the national policy.
The same is true as to the tariff plank of
the ST. Louis platform, which has no
merit except that it carefully refrains
from the reenactment of the Mckinley
bill. No matter how strongly the cam
didate of the republican party may be
committed to it or regard himself as
committed, he can do nothing to change
the tariff until congress shall give him
the opportunity; and congress will not
give him the opportunity unless there
shall be majority of the members com
mitted by their constituents to the tar
iff doctrine laid down at ST. Louis.
There seems to be no present reason
to fear that there will be any COM
handing ma jority in the house of rep
resentatives either for free silver or for
high tariff. There should not be on
this account, however, any neglect OH
the part of those who are opposed to
ether or both to put their opposition
into something stronger than words
and to make it felt in the congressional
caucuses and conventions and later ut
the polls. The real battle OF the cam
paign is to be fought in the congress
sional districts, and early preparation
should be made for IL. No man who is
obnoxious to the people because of his
views on either of the subjects named
should be permitted to secure an cleo
ton under the pressure of un assumed
necessity for carrying the presidential
ticket. Under the Australian system,
which covers now so extensive a range.
the voter is not compelled, as he once
was. to vote for an Objectionable con-
gresham because he finds his name on
the same ticket and marked with the
same party label as the candidate for
the presidency.
So far as tariff changes are concerned,
there is one other aspect of the situation
which must be taken into considera-
tioE. The senate stands committed to
free silver, and, except through death.
there IS not likely to be any material
change in that body in that respect
when the new congress takes its seat.
1t is tolerably safe to assume that, even
If n high tariff hou% of representa-
81 . g. e l..
10 secure any tariff legislation except
at the cost of free silver rider. Prac-
tically, therefore, the only way in
which either high tariff legislation or
free silver legislation can be assured
is by the election of a congress commit
ted to both. This, under existing con-
hitions, seems to be the least likely
thing TO happen; but, at the same time,
nothing should be left to chance.-De-
troit Free Press.