The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-03-17
MORE EXPLANATIONS.

The other day we had, in the form
of special dispatch from Washing
ton to the Salt Lake Tribune. a windy
defense of Senator Frank ]. Cannon's
votes on the tariff-silver question by
Representative Allen; and yesterday
there was a long letter published in
the Tribune from Senator Arthur
Brown to John c. Graham, chairman
of the Utah county Republican COM
mittee. in defense of his attitude on
the same question. Really, these expla-
tread on one another's heels. Anus
ing? Yes, in one sense they are anus
ing; and would De altogether so # they
did not so much reflect upon the credit
of the state. One man. in defense of
one of the Utah senators. said we
ought to remember that the gentle
man was young. and he would do bet
ter after awhile as he acquired ex-
perience. The answer to that defense
is that the United States senate ought
not to be considered kindergarten in
stitution for the training of political
kids. Hitherto it has been looked upon
as the first legislative body in the
world, where assembled the represen-
tatives of the states. men of high
character, broad craftsmanship. wide
experience, scholarly. chivalrous, cour-
ageous. independent and manly in their
firmness. This was supposed to be the
outline of the character of United
States senators, and not inexperienced
tyros sent there to gain experience,
and whose first important votes must
needs be followed by floods of explana-
ton and defense.
Let us briefly review the matter, as
it is edifying in the extreme: On the
18th uitimo a motion was made to take
up the house tariff bill, to which the
senate finance committee had append
ed free silver substitute. On this mo-
ton Senator Brown voted aye; and
Mr.. Cannon, who was absent in New
York when the question came to vote,
was paired with Senator Blackburn in
favor of taking up the tariff. But four
western Republican senators voted
against taking up the tariff bill, as
they were in favor of passing the free
silver substitute. Their course in the
western states met with general ap-
plause, and our senators who repre-
scented one of the first silver states in
the Union, and where the free silver
sentiment is most pronounced, at once
cudgled their brains for an explana-
ton. 1t came, such as it was. Mr.
Brown thought Utah wanted protection
as we'll as silver, and hence having
voted once for silver he now voted for
protection. Mr.. Cannon also thought
Utah wanted protection as we'll as sill
iff as against silver; and while he was
willing to everlastingly link free silver
and protection together, and never let
the east a1ave protection until her rep
resentatiyes consented to give free sill
yer to the west he thought it not best
bill, but pass this bill, and-then-well
and you-you-well, you see? See?
And, well, that's it,
On the 25th ultimo another motion
was made to take up the tariff bill. but
it was defeated. This time Senator
Brown again voted in favor of tariff
as against silver, but Senator Cam
non switched and voted this time
against tariff and in favor of silver.
and had wired long explanation for
this reversal of himself Senator
Brown, having at least been consistent
with himself, had no need to explain
Senator Cannon, evidently feeling un-
easy lest his explanations had not ex-
planned, gets his friend Allen to send
in special dispatch a supplemental
explanation and endorsement Mr.. AL
len contended in his contribution ito
the series of explanations that he
could not understand but what Mr..
Cannon's course was entirely consist
ent; and the tariff bill which Mr.. Cam
non votsd against in the senate. but
which Mr.. Allen had helped to pass in
the house. and of which the Republi-
can house is very proud, being one of
its political master strokes-was NOT
much of a bill anyhow Its apparent
duty of CLIO cents per pound on wool
would by some mysterious manner
not yet explained-in reality amount
to not more than 8 cents a pound.
and the increased protection on lead