The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-07-23

in dealing with this question IL would
keep its pledge that none shall enjoy
a special nor hall any suffer a
special burden: but that all shall stand
equal before the law"
Just before the close of Mr.. Bailey's
remarks h most sensational incident
of the debate had occurred. He had
been assaiiing the doctrine of free
raw materials as a comparative n
walton In the democratic creed. In or
der to demonstrate that IL was a pro-
duct OF C~leveiandism. he sent to the
clerks desk and had read an extract
from a newspaper commenting on the
fact hat in the Forty-ninth
Senator Mills. then a member OF the
house: Mr.. McMiilin. Of Tennessee, and
two other democratic mbe OF the
ways and means committee, had voted
against free wool.
Mr.. McMiilin jumped TO his feet and
demanded to know whether IL was
charged that he had voted against free
WOOL.
William E. Morrison told me so with
his own lips" replied Mr.. Bailey. facing
Mr.. McMillin, whose face was flushed.
Not only that. but he said both you
and Senator Mills voted against some
reductions in the metal schedule"
Since the gentleman has seen fit to
attack my record and to misrepresent
me -" began Mr.. McMillin. but Mr..
Bailey quickly disciaimed any purpose
of attacking him. Il desire to COM
mend your action them" said he.
The disclaimer being accepted. Mr..
McMillin holly asked in turn why Mr..
Bailey had voted in the ways and
means committee against the wooden
schedule of the present law when il
was offered as a substitute for the high
rates in the pending measure.
A wave Of applause ran over the
democratic sid at this question, but 1T
was drowned in h perfect storm Of
approval that greeted Mr.. Bailey's re-
ply that never. as long as he was in
congress, would he vote for so per cent.
duties on wooden goods and no duties
on raw WOOL. The republicans and the
galleries Joined in this demonstration.
How could the gentleman from Ten
nessee," he continued when the ap-
plause subsidized. vote for free wool in
the face of the Chicago platform
which he helped to defend?"
THE Chicago platform did not AXE
the back track or the principle OF tariff
for revenue only" replied Mr.. Nc
Millin.
I'll prove that it did," cried Mr..
Bailey.
us Mr.. Robertson. Of Louisiana, in
the house?" he asked, looking about
him. But Mr.. Robertson was not pres
ent and Mr.. Bailey proceeded to argue
that the Chicago platform did retain
the old democratic theory" He said
the present democratic organization
sought to rescue the party from those
who were wrecking it. When the party
was making new recruits the wreckers
had deserted it.
Mr.. McMillin in turn delved into Mr..
Bailey's past and pointed out occasions
when the Lone Star statesman had
voted for free coal, free iron ore, free
barbed wire, free sugar and even free
wool in the Fifty-second congress-.
Mr.. McMillin's comment on the in
consistency of Mr.. Bailey's free wool
vote caused much merriment.
1t was now after IL o'clock. Mr..
Payne and Mr.. Dingley successfully
took the floor for some closing remarks
The former devoted his time to a de-
Tense of the schedule. Mr.. Ding
ley openly avOwed that the schedule
gave a Slight additional protection to
refined sugar, but at the same time it
raised raw all along the line. Mr..
Payne had a good deal Of fun at the
expense of the democratic leaders.
When Mr.. Payne took his seat, Gov
ernor Dingley arose amid a storm Of
cheers and demanded the previous
question on the adoption of the con-
ference report. The demand was sus-
tanned by a viva voce vote and the vote
on the adoption of the report followed
by yeas n nays. Considerable ex-
element occurred while the vote was
being taken. When the speaker an
nounced the vote-1S5 ayes, lis noes
the republicans broke into loud cheers.
The house then at 1917 o'clock a. M,
took a recess until Wednesday.
An analysis of the vote shows that
$50 republicans and 5 democrats voted
for the report and LOG democrats and IL
populist against it.