The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-07-28
STOKES IN CONGRESS.
The Representative of the
Seventh District
Gives 0us an lnteruiey Explaining
HIS Vieus on Political Questions
of Present interest,"

OF FTeSent Interest.
Washington, D. c., July 24.-Your
correspondents caught Representative
Stokes on the point of leaving the city
after adjournment. He is one Of the
three South Carolina representatives
that has stuck it out He aud Mrs
Stokes return home by Old Point Com
fort, where they contemplate taking a
few days rest.
The congressman responded freely
and poiutedly to the questions Of your
correspondent upon the results of the
session just closed.
..Tbis has been distinctly one.idea
session of congress, said the congress.
mau, "Elecsed pre.emiueosly upon
the financial issue, this Congress has
refused to even consider anything ex-
ceps tariff and appropriations? The
people commissioned this Congress-to
give financial relief. It has given the
people higher taxes and bigger appro-
priations than ever before The Pacif-
ic Railroad steal will be consummated
within so days, 10 defaul: of Congress
sional action. This Republican Con.
gress knew this, aud yet refused to
arrest the steal. The Cuban question
and the National Bankruptcy Bill have
hung suspended in the House for
months The Republican leaders bad
lad no time to protect the rights OF
Americans and the claims of the Gov.
ernment, though meeting but two days
in the week for months
What of the merit Of the Tariff
Bill as passed ?
''Is is unquestionably the most scien'
ti6c Bill from the standpoint of the
Protecsionist, that has ever been placed
upon tue Statute Booke. It will put
less money in the Treasury, in compar-
isop with what it takes out OF. the pock-
cts of the people. than any Bill ever
passed. 1t is essentially Bill turning
over to the manufacturers aud trusts
the tax collecting function Of the Gov
erpment. leaving it optional With the
manufacturers aod trusts how much
they will collect, and how little they
will turn into the Government Treas.
ury"
What of the new method of fighting
protection affected by some Democrats
"Well, measured by net results to
the farmers and laborers of the country.
the so called :'new method is not a
brilliant success. The farmers of the
South and West are left in about the
same plight as to the tariff they we're
left in heretofore under tue old method
Rice, cotton bagging aud ties are all
left about where they we're by former
tariff bills under the old method of
fighting protection Southern ongress-
meo in former Congresses have de-
nounced the section character Of protect
tive tariff. and demanded free bageing
and ties as partial equalization OF t1e
iniquity. These articles have more than
once gone on the free list in responce to
such demadds by Soushean Cougressmeu,
only in the end to be stricken out at
the last moment, just as was done in
this case.
On the whole don't see that the
"New evangel" (so-called) has ans
more to its credit 10 the way of net
benefit to the farmer and laborer
than the old evangel has bad. AZ
Ger all the Wanting it has bad it
remaiads one of the fox that bad
been several times frightened from the
poultry pard by the automatic ringing
Of large bell every Eve minutes. At
first the fox was terrified by the great
noise, and fed for his life; but finding
nothing happened he become bolder
and finally took his stand uuder the
bell and watched it ring His COM
ment after watching its operation ran
thus:
ga great big mouth,
A great long tongue;
~ of fuss,