Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-04-02
DIN6lEY BILL.
Porter Describes the Effect II Will Have on
the South.

The reference yesterday to the cotton
industry of the Southern states sug-
sested the idea of study of the Ding
ley bill from a Southern viewpoint.
In discussing the question with several
gentlemen who are well informed on
the industrial South. they agreed that
the Dingley bill is a good measure for
their part of the country. In looking
over the bill with this in mind, ! am
clearly of the opinion that throughout
the bill studious care seems to have
been taken to ignore no Southern in
terest. however small. Even peanuts
get one cent pound. when unshelled,
and one and half cents shelled.
Speaking Of peanuts, recalls an anus
ing incident which happened in the fall
OF 1882. when l was a member of the
tariff commission. and we began hear
ings in Richmond. My colleague and
friend Colonel Alexander r. Boteler. as
fine a specimen of a Southern gentle
man as ever breathed, was much agi-
tated the night before about the char
acter of the testimony likely to lie given
next day. To be sure he was a pro-
tectionist. but not as strong as some OF
us. He was sensitive of ridicule. Com
ing to my room late. the colonel said:
Il can never face those fellow to-
morrow"
What fellows?" inquired. p
why, there will be a delegation be-
fore us to put a duty on peanuts. and
one to ask for a further increase Of the
duty on sumac. / am tariff man and
all that. but this is too much, the old
city of Richmond asking for those two
items. The free trade papers will
ridicule us to death"
Nonsense" said I. peanuts and
sumac are just as much entitled to pro-
lection as steel rails Part of the stats
has been made to blossom like rose in
consequence of the sumac industry.
Stand up. colonel, and defend the duty
on these products"
1t was no use; the colonel would not.
He said he would never stay and face
| the music, but proposed to run over to
| Shepherdstown that night. Then he
told me all about the needs of the pea
nut and sumac people. Next day had
to steer the delegations on those very
| important subjects, and I had learned
my part from good Colonel Boteler so
successfully that the peanut men and
sumac men were stricken dumb by my
knowledge of their necessities, and
asked the stenographer:
How the ID did that New York
chap know so much about peanuts and
sumac?" Said one enthusiastic mem
Der of the committee, adding, IF we
had him out our way we'd run him for
| Congress
| Colonel Boteler's fears were not
groundless, for, sure enough, the free
trade papers, from one end of the coun-
try to the other, peppered the great
capital of the confederacy for the testi-
mony of that day.
| What effect such generous treatment
will have upon Southern political senti-
ment Is problem. 1t would seem to a
clear thiAker that there must be, de-
cided and emphatic recognition of the
advantages of protection and sense
of gratitude to the party which has
given such magnificent and unselfish
service. 1t is slow work to remove
the ingrained prejudices of generations
But we may see more than we hope for
now. The new tariff bill. therefore.
will give renewed hope and inspire in
creased Industrial activity in the
South. It has seemed an impossibility
hitherto to make any pronounced In