The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-13
Gossip at
the Capital
Special to the Scranton Tribune.


Washington. April 12.-The south
ern sentiment in favor of a protective
tariff is likely to be quite as apparent at
the senate end of the capitol as it was in
the house during the discussions of the
tariff bill Amendments to the bill in
creasing the protective rates of duty are
being offered by southern senators and APP
peals are being made from the south TO
the finance committee and to members of
the senate asking for higher rates than
those named by the bill as it passed the
house. Cotton, rice, sugar, oranges pine
apples and other fruits tobacco, lumber,
salt, iron, manganese beauXite and other
metals are among the items named for
which appeals are being made by southern
men and southern interests. Leading
Democratic newspapers in the great
southern cities comment favorably upon
the fact that Democratic votes from the
south were cast in favor of the bill and
that Democratic members argued in 6avor
Of increased protection upon the products
of that section Such leading southern
Democratic newspapers as the New Or
leans Picayune, Charleston News and
Courier, Richmond Times, New orleans
Times-Democrat, Memphis SCimitar
Nashville Banner and others speak ap-
provingly of the course of the Democratic
statesmen from their sections who sup
ported the bill. in the house and offer no
unfaVorable comment upon the fact that
more than thirty votes from the southern
states were cast in favor of the most pro-
tctive tariff bill which the country has
known for many years. No protective
tariff measure ever received any such
number of votes from the south as did
the Dingley bill in the house nor has the
present generation witnessed the spccta-
Gle Of southern Democratic votes being
cast for a protective tariff bill.
"There can be no doubt of the marked
growth of the protective sentiment in the
SOUTH" said Chairman Dingley, of the
ways and means committee, commenting
upon this fact today. 80 far as | now
recall, this is the first time that southern
Democrats have voted for protective bill
or expressed the strong sentiments in ia
vor of a protective tariff which we have
heard in the house and which are now he
ing presented at the senate end of the
capitol in tn amendments proposed by
senators and others, increasing the pro-
tective rates of duty in the pending tariff
bill. We have had Democratic votes from
/ the north for protective tariff bill in the
past, but this support for the protective
idea from the south is new"
And gratifying, of course, Mr.. Ding
ley?"
Most assuredly."
Surprising, too?"
Not especially so; no. The develop
/ ment of manufacturing industries in the
! south in the past few years has created a
/ protective sentiment. There are two rea-
/ sons for this. First, the desire for the in
| crease Of manufactures and the direct re-
/ suit thercfrom, and second, the advan-
tages to agriculture which come from
| the home manufacturing industry. The
/ value of farm products is largely depend
ent upon the proximity to a market. Farm
/ products are bulky and the cost of trans
porting them to distant market DESTROYS
/ the profits to the farmer. If he has a
market just alongside his farm or within
easy reach, he can make good profits out
of business which would not be sue
cessful if he must ship his productions a
long distance to find sale for them. The
establishment of manufacturing indus
tries in the south has thus not only in
creased the price which the farmer gets
for his productions, but has greatly diver
sifed these products and thus further in
creased his profits"
Then you look upon the growth of the
protective sentiment as developing among
the agricultural as well as among the
manufacturing communities of the
south?'
Undoubtedly. A study of the agrlcul-
tural history and conditions of the various
the value of land and the value of its pro-
ductions averages much higher per acre
in the sections which have manufa ctur-
ing industries, which thus afford a home
market for the products ana for diversi.
fled productions. The people of the south
are seeing this in their experience with the
manufacturing institutions which have
been developed in that section during tho
past few years. So there is undoubtedly
a growth of protective sentiment moi
alone among those interested in manufac
lures or directly profiting by the employ
ment which they give but also among trt
great mass of people of that section
whose attention IS devoted to agricultural
"Do you look for continued growth o.
protective sentiment in the south, Mr.
Dngley?'
YES. The mere effect of this discussion
and the avowed protective sentiments Q
men of all parties which have been 81
prominently and publicly made will hav,
its effect in still further strengtheninl
and increasing the protective sentiment
And does this probably mean an in
crease In Republican strength from thd
section in congress and in national elec
tions generally"
Undoubtedly. The Republican vote Il
, the south has been largely held in checl
in the past because the parties divided T.
] Il great extent on the Color lne. NOW Una
there is a disposition to divide on othe
issues and upon the important issue Q
protection, 1t win insure fair elections
and with fair elections and increase
protective sentiment, 1t will strengthe
r very materially the probabilities of Re
p publican success In many parts of tina
, section. We have seen this illustrated i
the recent elections in which the Republi
can party carried the northern tier @
D southern states for the presidency an
, elected an unusually large number of cor
gressmen, and with party divisions mad
upon other lines than that of color or rae
5 will also come fair elections and an H.
I crease IN the protective and Repubica
Z strength of that section OF the country"
The growth In the Republican and pre-
tective strength In congress referred to b
4. | Governor Dingley In his remarks is es
| pecial.y apparent upon a study of tn
records OF former congresses. The Fifty
fourth and Fifty-hfth congresses haV
1 contained a much larger number Of RI
= ! publcans from the south tAan any col