The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-06-10
KING COTTON PROTECTED.
But the Process Caused a Lively Debate
Among the Democratic Brethren.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1

Washington, June 9.-The proceedings
of the Senate on Tuesday afternoon
afforded great deal of interest to all who
heard them. 1t seemed to be a fight be-
tween two camps into which the Demo-
cratic party seems to be dividing itself
On the one side were generally the old
veterans,s of the day when tariff re-
form was the watchword, under leaders
like Carlisle, Mills, Cleveland and Morri-
son, while on the other were new men,
who, while protesting not to endorse the
system of protection are yet anxio US, while
a bill is being passed, to have the indus
tries of their own sections looked after.
In fact they are protectionists, made SO
because of the growing sentiment in their
own state, although they hesitate to go
the whole length yet. The contest on
Tuesday was between Vest, of Missouri,
Gray, of Delaware, Gallery, of Louisiana
and others representing the old line
Democracy who believe In free trade, or
as free trade as is possible to be attained
consistently with the obtaining of reve-
nue., and Bacon and Clay, of Geor gia, and
McLaurin and Tillman of South Carolina
All of these are from the South, or at
least from states that have generally, so
far as the Democratic party is concerned,
sympathised with the South. The conten-
ton was over the proposition to put a
tariff duty on cotton, King Cotton, that
of old played so prominent part in the
Senate and nearly divided the union,
as it divided, temporarily at least, the
Democrats of the Senate on Tuesday. The
Georgia and South Carolina men wanted
the tariff on cotton, and their opponents
did not want it on the ground that it
would be contrary to their party creed.
| The fight was a hot one, and the Republi-
can Senators sat for the most silent while
the novel combat ragged.
There is a strong sentiment in the
South for the duty on cotton, and one of
| the prominent Southern Democrats in the
House, himself a sympathiser with the
protective doctrine inwardly, declared not
| long ago if the Republicans should put a
duty on cotton it would be the end of the
old solid Democratic domination in his
part of the country.
There are about 100 pages of the tariff
bill outside of the free list. The Senate
has already considered over 60 pages,
which is very good progress.
In the debates over the bill SO far it's op-
ponents have frequently spoken as if it
| were bill especially to favor New Eng.
land. This is not so in fact, for there is
no doubt that the bill is not more salts
factory to New England than to othel
parts of the country, and has probably
been criticised more there than in many
other places. But it happens that the
chairman of the ways and means com
mittee in the House is from Maine, while
one of his most prominent associates is
from Connecticut, Mr.. Russell. And il
the Senate the leader is Mr.. Aldrich SC
far as prominence in the affair has gone
and Connecticut Senator is one of his
most influential associates So it happens
that the New England influence has beer
very strong in framing the bill. But the
bill consu1ts the interests of other parts
of the country as well as those of New
England so there is really no ground fol
the jealousy which has arisen in some
quarters.