The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-05-28
they have their nets set where the fish


they have their nets set where the fish
rum
Tho WAYS and Means Committee Of
which Mr.. Dingicy was chairman de-
cided 10 have vacation situngs TO Hams
the present tariff law. The writer was
present at the first one of those sittings.
II was a sad scene 10 a Democrat. Never
was 1 so impressed with the fact that
where the carcass IS, there the eagles
are gathered together" The corridors
OF the capitol and tho commlttee-room
were swarming with well-fed, smooth
ly-groOmed gentlemen, revealing an am
pie girth Of bay windows, stately stepping
i'm silk hats. with s0rdid. hanging
checks and sodden broWs, seeking for
times at the hands of the Legislative
branch OF the government. l hear one
man speaking a wretchedly broken Ger
man brogue ask and secure for himself
a large duty on q chemical which up %
that time had never been manufactured
in the United States. The tarin which
the committee put upon the chemical.
baslng it upon the amount used the LAST
fiscal year. would amount 20 $4,000
Ike amount were imported. The gentle
mans little labatory only worked thirty
hands SO TO keep these thirty hands
employed the people were 20 either pay
20 the favored Individual or TO the gov
eminent. an depending upon from Which
source they got this chemical, the sum
of Sl25 900. Thus the committee mani
tested their love Tor American labor So
called. For each hand employed at tho
factory tho people were 20 pay annually
over $1,000 This sickened me and 7
withdrew. but before Withdrawing 7 cast
an eve around the room and could not
help but note the absence or amy cnan-
pi0n of the Democratic view or things.
who had proven himself strong ana
formidable leader Tn fact. In the COM
mittee discussions. there was a feeole-
ness and helplessness displayed by the
unknown Democratic members present.
I could not help but think az John q.
Carlisle Roger q. Mills William J.. VII
son II. q. Turner. ~ Georgia; josiah
Patterson. the two Brecklnr.tees, ana
other worthy champions OF this great
cause In the past who had stripped or
and revealed the naked selnsnness o,
This very set and had rallied tho whole
American people 20 their banners. But
the broken and disors7nized Democracy
seemed 10 have mo- leader In this COM
mittee-roOm There was scarcely even
a spear OF straw raised IN tho ISIS 20
meet tho vice-.ike grip ana tempered
steel of the keDnDlnau chaiplOH7' i'
fact the bugles rarely sounded forth
challenger. We an recall how this bill
was put through the House. Here and
there Democrat. with some recollection
of his former record. made sporadic
attempt to stay its progress. When II
went over 90 the Senate we had hopes
that like the Wilson bin. it would be
emaeculatcd. and This time an In favor
of the Democratic creed. but NOT so. Ihe
willy Republican. Teller and the semi
protoct.0nlst. German waived thoar
hands over the Democratic majority and
the pcppery Vest. the stud and solid
Jones of Arkansas. the forS-wielnin2
Tuiman. and even Nirginils Martin sank
back into impotent acquiescence. Ana
90 the great trust-brecdlns tariff passed
through Congress and was signed ~ tho
President.
Then came the trusts. Win what
explosive force they have hurled their
announcements I'm the face Of the Amer
ican people, And SO the old tarln battle
must be fought all over again. DEM
ocratic masses must rally 20 the slogan
and wage war against the bra1en e.
A fHanrr ma