The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-18
WHY McENERY CAME TO SENATE
An Interesting Story In Which Speak
er Reed Figures,
Louisianans Told That If They Wanted
Protection They Must Send Protection
Representatives to Congress.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

Washington, June 17.-There is an in
teresting story connected with the po-
sition of Senator McEnery, of Louisiana,
on the tariff question. At the first Ct the
Fifty fourth Congress, when President
Cleveland had sent in his message and the
two emergency bills were about to be
passed through the House, party of
Louisiana gentlemen, most, if not all of
them, Democrats, came to Washington to
see if they could not get some advantages
for sugar in the emergency bill. Among
them was Charles Farwell, native of
Rockland and prominent business man
of New Orleans. In the course of their
missionary labors they called on Speaker
Reed. According to the story which the
Louisianians brought away a dialogue
something like this took place:
The Visitors-We have come here, Mr..
Speaker, to see if we cannot get in the
emergency tariff bill just about to be
passed some recognition of the sugar in
terests Of Louisiana. 1t is great agri-
cultural industry with us, and eminently
worthy of protection
The Speaker-You come to ask of a
dustry in your State. The Republican
party has always extended it's policy of
protection to your State; and just as reg
ularly you have sent men to the House
and Senate to vote against the protection
and abuse the Republican party for Civ
ing it. If the people of Louisiana want
consideration from the Republican party,
don't you think it would be the sensible
way for them to send men up here to the
House and Senate more worthy to COM
mand that consideration
The delegation were somewhat taken
aback by this plain speech; but they were
not affronted. They decided that it was
the truth, and they determined to go
home and organize to send the kind of
men that would help the interests of their
State. They went to work with will,
and were successful. First they defeated
the free trade Senator Blanchard, sending
in his stead Mr.. McEnery, who has lust
demonstrated that they made right Sc
lection. Next they went into the congress
sional districts and elected three Con-
gressmen who voted for the tariff bill in
the House.
Having done this the Louisianians came
up to Washington in high feather to see
the Speaker and tell him that they had
done what he told them to do
They are now on the war path for the
scalp of Senator Caffrey. They call him
their m1Sft Senator. He is free trader
from State that ought to be for protec-
ton, and really is SO far as the sentiment
of the people is concerned. And he is a
Democrat but for the gold standard
Therefore they say that he is like piece
of cold meat on a hot plate.
The social influence of the people of
New Orleans makes it very difficult for
any man to have anything to do with
doctrine that is considered Republican.
Mr.. McEnery is man of wealth and So
cial position in New Orleans, and he
does not pretend to be anything but a
Democrat. But he is protectionist and
on the tariff bill is voting with the Re
publicans. This is sufficient to arouse
against him the social prejudices Of his
people, and it is said that even among his
relatives the feeling against him is very
strong. The women, especially those
who remember the war times, are espec-
tally strong in their p1ejudices. 1t is said
of one prominent young Democrat of that
State that he would be protectionist eff
his mother would let him.