The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-04-10
Action of Western Republican Sena-
tors Defended by MIR. Mantle in
Maiden Effort as an Orator.
DINGLEY'S BILL CONDEMNED
AND THE LINKING OF PROTECTION
WITH BIMETALLISM URGED.
Spirited COlloquy as to Effects Of the
Wilson Law on Wool-Mr. Hop
kins's Reciprocity Measure.

Dill was brought FORWARD In the senate To-
day as text for speech by Mr.. Mantle,
OF Montana, one Of the five Republican Sem
ators who voted against considering the
tariff. Mr.. Mantle defended the course of
the silver Republican Senators, declaring that
the Dingley bill was not framed as a pa
triotic measure. He urged that unsectional
protection should be linked with bimetai-
lism A sharp tariff colloquy followed be-
tween Senators Mills, Hoar. Hawley and
Mitchell as TO the effect of the Wilson bill
| on wool. Some progress was made on the
Indian appropriation bill. but the sectarian
school question went over until tomorrow.
The calendar was cleared of all private PEN
sion bills after an hour specially devoted TO
pensions.
The Chaplain Rev. DR.. Milburn, referred
feeingly in his prayer to-day to the illness
of the senior Senators from Indiana and Ala
bama Mr. Voorhees, and Mr.. Morgan.
Mr.. Gallinger read letter from the gem
eral secretary of the Armenian Relief Asso-
ciation referring to the extreme urgency of
the situation in Turkey. and asking that
steps be taken to stop the most appalling
sacrifice in the history of the world. Mr..
Gallinger added that while he would not sug-
gest ways and means to the foreign relations
committee, yet he sincerely hoped that some
method would be devised to check the Turk
ish atrocities.
Mr. Mantle was then recognized for his
/ speech on the resolution recommitting the
tariff bill to the finance committee. There
was special interest in the speech from the
fact that Mr. Mantle was one of the five Re-
publican Senators who voted against pro-
ceeding with the tariff bill. 1t was,
moreover. his maiden speech of a
formal character. He said he hesi-
tated as a young and new member of the
Senate to address the body, but the inter-
probation and Misrepresentation which had
been INDUCED in against the representatives
of the Western interests led him to speak.
He spoke of the recent utterances of Presi-
dent Cleveland before a missionary gather
ing derogatory TO the West as but one Of the
assaults made OF late against the rotten bor-
oughs and mining camps" of the West, as
the metropolitan press designated the silver
States. Mr.. Mantle declared that within a
radius OF five miles from Carnegie Hall, New
York, where Mr.. Cleveland spoke. there was
more poverty, ignorance, squalor, starvation,
crime and criminals than in all the silver
| States combined. He gave statistics compar-
ing the silver States with five Eastern States,
showing the former to be abreast and ahead
of their Eastern sisters in material and
moral standing.
DINGLEY BILL CRITICISED.
Mr.. Mantle said the attacks sprang mainly
from the fact that five Republican Senators
| from the West voted against proceeding with
the tariff bill at an inopportune time. He
| spoke of the fact that any tariff bill would
be vetoed by the President. The House Of
Representatives was chosen not so much for
tariff legislation, but in protest against the
bond-issuing policy Of the present admins
| tration. The Mckinley law, said the Sem
| ator, was strictly high protective measure,
| so high that some of the Republican Senator's
now on the floor of the Senate doubted its
expediency, and would, IL the Republican
| party was fully restored to power, oppose its
! re-enactment. But the Dingley bill was not
a measure designed for protection or reve-
nue.. 1t was, he believed, political measure,
| and Ii was framed without due consideration
| to Western interests.
| There are some Republicans" exclaimed
| Mr.. Mantle, willing 10 sacrifice the prin-
| ciples of the Republican party long as a
| measure affords protection to certain inter-
ests." The five silver Republican Senators
| we're denounced TRAITORS to their party
| for falling to vote for the tariff BILL But he
| denied that the Dingley bill was Repub-
| lican measure. and he quoted the statement
| of Mr.. Sherman that the bill was strictly non-
partisan and was bot Republican measure.
| If the Dingley bin revenue measure,
| as claimed by its friends, then no manufac-
| turing suffered from Its failure AS II was
| protection and not revenue that was vital TO
! this interest In view of these facts Mr..
Mantle suggested that the efforts made to
Republican party had better be reconsidered
by the Eastern press. and that these Senators
be permitted to remain in the party.
The Senator declared himself in favor Of
| protection, but not sectional protection. 1t
| was a principle too great to be used in behalf
of any special interest or any monopoly. 1t
| must shield and upbuild the West as we'll as
| the East. While. however, he favored true
protection, he favored equally true bimetal-
| lism--the coinage Of both gold and silver at a
| ratio of Is to /. He believed also in a BIZ
metallism which did not wait for the action
| of foreign countries. Mr.. Mantle closed by
expressing the hope that the finance COM
| combining protection and bimetallism
In conclusion, Mr. Mantle expressed the
| hope THAI the tariff bill would be SO re-
modelled by the finance commtttee as to be
| truly Republican, combining tariff and bi.
| metallism. After paying glowing tribute
to the Republican party. Mr.. Mantle said he
| would, in the end, refuse to be guided by
| greed and selfshness, would refuse to stand
| as the representative or corporate inter.
| when IL meets In national convention would
| give such a consideration to the toilers as
would be harbinger for another Repub-
| lican victory. Mr. Mantle was congratu-
/ lated at the close of his speech by the silver
| Senators from both sides of the chamber.
| LIVELY TARIFF COLLOoUY.
| There was a lively tariff colloquy follow
| ing the Mantle speech. Mr.. Hawley ques
| toned some of the wool figures which hat
been given aud spoke of the idle wooden fac
tories and stagnant condition of the indus
| try in the East.
Mr. Hoar added that the remarks of Mr.
| Mantle implied that Eastern manufacturer
| were willing TO leave Western wool in tn,
lurch after getting protection for their OWL
| manufactures. But, Mr.. Hoar declared
! Eastern Senator's had voted here for protec
4 ton on wool while the Western States haC
| sent Senator'S here-fr0m Kansas, Texa.
and Oregon--who had voted for free wool.
; This brought Mr.. Mills to fis feet. who de
| clared that against the statements made
| that the wool manufacturer had suffered
1 the fact that there was a greater use o.
| wool than ever Every fiber of 1t was man
4 ufactured by American labor: the people o.
| the United States got cheaper wooen goods
1 the government received more revenue thar
/ ever from wool, and wool itself had ad
/ vanced.
| still falling and the government is still
| bankrupt" Mr.. Mills rejoned that every
| particle of the wool now manufactured wa.
made by American labor. Then" he added
| "a protective tariff Is a protective humbug
| Let me ask the Senator from Texas" in
| qured Mr.. Mitchell, IF there has not beer
| a vast decrease In the number of Texa.
sheep since the Wilson law went ints
| force?"
| IT don't believe it," responded Mr.. Mills
But the statistics of the State show IL,
| insisted Mr.. Mitchell.
The statistics are made by the wool men