The times., 1897-03-23

more than half through his speech. Gen.
|. Wheeler fell into n half conversational
manner and was greeted several times
with laughter and applause
In answer to Gen. GroSvenor'S question
he declared that not oae iron furnace in the
| South had closed under the Wilson Tariff.
| He declared that times had been 200 per
| cent better under the Wilson law than I'm
der the Mckinley.
As Republicans got through lunch many
of them returned TO the chamber and list
ened to Gen. Wheeler. Among these we're
Messrs. Cannon, Hopkins, Walker, Brosius,
| Northway, and other leaders.
Gen. Wheeler turned his attention to the
| problem OF cheap foreign labor. He de-
| clared that carefully collected and prepared
! figures showed that the American working
man will do two and half times as much
| as the English, three and half times the
| French and Belgian and four times the
Austrian, Swiss. Russian and Spanish. He
had read tables to show the pay received by
Americanlaborers,a and declar ed thatmanu-
facturescan beproducedc cheaperin America
| than abroad, because of the greater eff
ficency of American labor.
why do we not, then, sell our goods
Because of this mistaken policy of pre-
lection, closing foreign markets against u.s.
When the chairman's gavel fell Gen.
Wheeler was still reading labor statistics.
He asked for an extension of time Mr.
McMilln asked that he be given more time
without fixing almit. The chairman stated
trat Gen. Wheeler asked consent for five
minutes more time, and it was granted
20, |,a "a = II,
cheney of the American workingman was
due to a high order Of education, to high
order of civilization, to a condition of lib
erty that had made this nation prosperous
In spite of the protective tariff system, and
not on account OF t.
AS Gen. Wheeler was dra wing his speech
to a close with a fine tribute to his party
as compared with earlier organizations and
the Wing, the Greenback, and other parties
he was interrupted by the expira ton of
his time. Upon the suggestion of Mr.
Bailey ne was allowed '.time to conclude
his remarks in spite Of his protesta tions
that such liberality was unnecessary, as
he only needed one minute. He declared
that the Democratic party had seen party
after party rise and pass from the scene
His declaration that the Democratic party
would see the Republican follow the others
into oblivion was greeted with applause
by the Democrats, with Indifference by
the other side. He was congratulated
by a dozen members in his vicinity.
Mr.. Hopkins, Of Illinois, followed Mr..
Wheeler. The Republican party, he said,
was again in power and had been commits
stoned TO enact legisla ton that would
give confidence to capital, restore pros
perity to industries and to agriculture
and give employment to labor The causes
that had led to the revolution which had
retired the Democratic party from au-
thority had been clearly and admirably
stated in the message of the President
In the four years of Democratic rule the
people had realized the utter inability
of that party to formulate any legisla-
tion that would work to the relief
of the people. The bill now before
the House was in accordance with the
almost universal demand Of the people
for tariff lesisla ton. 1t was framed on
on principles that were purely Republican
in character, and was destined to meet
tho wants of the Government as well as
those OF the people.
Mr.. Hopkins declared that the Re |
publican party coming from the losses Of