The evening times., 1897-04-01
They Explain Why They Did Not
Vote on the Tariff Bill.
INTERVIEWS WITH SEVERAL
Wish to Emphasize the Fact That
Gold Recommendations, and Not the
Tariff, Is Responsible for the Ex-
listing Depression. and That Silver
Coinage Can Restore Prosperity.

course was in pursuance OF the policy out
lined in the Populist manifesto recently
issued and was also in accordance with
an agreement which was reached between
the silver Republicans.
Representative HARTMANN OF Montana
who is recognized as the leader of the
silver Republicans, said TO The Times:
1--WE took this course to prevent the
diversion OF the great issue of current
politics from silver 10 the tariff question
We thought it would be best to refuse
to vote. Our object was to emphasize the
fact that the tariff is not and can not be
made the main issue, and to give the
warning that the silver people will not
accept the tariff as the paramount Issue
or the times The action was also in
pursuance of the joint caucus Of the Popu-
lists of the House and Senate and apriv;tte
conference OF the silver Republicans. =
Representative Shafroth, OF Colorado,
silver Republican, said:
..Tie reason the silver Republicans did
not vote was because they think that the
existing depression in this country is not
due to tile want OF high tariff II is
due solely TO gold nIonometallsm That
being the case, we felt that the course
taken by us would emphasize our posi-
ton We believe that the restitution OF
silver alone win restore prosperity. And
we desired to attract attention To our be-
lief at this time. If, after the trial Of
this bill. we have no better times nothing
on earth can prevent the election In S9S
of silver House of Representatives by
a two-tnirds majority. That was our pur
pose, and this is our expectation. ! have
TO say that If IL had been deemed to be
good policy for the silver men, who do
not belong to the Democratic party, to
ote on this question, | would have cast
my vote against the bill. l am a moderate
protet ZIONIST, and, generally speaking, be
lieve in the protective policy, but | do
not believe in the bill in the form in
which it was finally presented To the
House
Representative Newlands OF Nevada, who
was the silver Republican candidate for
Speaker, said to The Times:
Our posi- ion Is simply this, The Repub-
licans should be allowed to shape their own
tariff measure and pass it as they please.
Then having been left free TO take this
course. they must accept the full respon-
to the restoration OF that redundant pros
perity which they have iprophesied III the
Dingley tariff bill becomes a law and re-
stores prosperity as pradicted, all right
But if it does not, the tariff question is
obliterated as an issue.
Representative W. c. Jones silver Repub-
lican from Washington, lays; The position
took n the campaign OF last fall was hat
the tariff question at best was largely
local issue, and that it was So trivial and
unmportant in its bearing on the situation
now confronting the people of the United
States that the main issue ought not To be
obscured by giving the tariff question
prominence at this time to which it was
not entitled 1t was in this spirit and this
view of the whole question that | did not
cast any vote upon the bill.
The position of the POpulists who re-
Trained from voting was briefly stated by
the Populist leader, Representative Bell.
he said: by our concerted action in re-
framing from voting, we seek to empha-
size our position. which is, hat the
tariff question shall not be given an mn
due importance when the v hole country
is determined that the far greater quos-
tion of the restoration Of silver should
first he settled We believe that our
course viii greatly aid in attracting at
tention to the fact that the tariff question
is not admitted to be the great md over
shadoYing national issue that the Repub-
lican party contends ii TO be. :
Representative Bell says that IL the pol
icy adopted by the Populists had been to
divide according to their indieid
views on the tariff question, he would lave
voted against the Dingley bill.
Four Populists who voted for Mr.. Bell
for Speaker broke the PopuIst compact,
and voted on the bill. Representative
Howard, Of Alabama-chiefIy celebrated
as the author of eff Christ Came to Con-
gresS"-voted for the bill; and Jerry
Simpson, Peters, OF Kansas, and Castle,
OF California, voted against it. Repre-
sentative Todd, OF Michigan, who is identi-
fled with no great political party, but
who is Prohibitionist, elected by an al
lance of silver forces, voted against the
bill Another notable circumstance was
that the venerable Jehu Baker, OF Illinois,
who, ten years ago, defeated William r.
Morrison and retired him from Congress on
the tariff issue, cast his vote yesterday
against the Dingley bill.
Jerry Simpson said to The Times yester-
day: "0f course, l voted against the
Dingley bill. l have always been opposedt TO
high tariff and 1 expect TO continue to
be. I believe the Populists ought to have
voted on this question in accordance with
their respective convictions. do not quite
like the idea of belonging to party that
for any reason fails to expressits opinion
OF course, fully agree with my colleagues
in believing that the tariff question fsin no
way comparable to thecurrency questionas
. national issue, but that does not remove
it from the list of questions,on which we
should be ready and willing to cast our
votes''