The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-03-26
LET US BE CONSISTENT.

Inc vote on UnS SIllD-OUOSIOy
bill in the United States Senate,
showed. that as result of a
Democratic caucus, the Demo-
Gratis voting on the measure poll
ed their votes against it. Senator
McLaurin not being bound by the
party caucus was the only Dem
ocrat who voted for it. The op-
ponents of McLaurin would offer
this as evidence going to show
that McLaurin is a Republican,
but they are somewhat stumped
when they are confronted with
the fact that some of the leading
Republicans in the Senate voted
against the bill also. If then,
McLaurin is a Republican for
voting for it, We would like to
know how Spooner and some six
or eight of the other strongest
Republicans will be classed. Ac-
cording to the reasoning of Nc
Laurin's opponents, that because
McLaurin votes for certain
measures introduced by Repub-
licans which he does not regard
as having anything to do with
party principle, but sincerely
believes they are measures to
benefit the people he represents,
he is Republican, then it must
follow that the Republicans who
vote against these measures are
Democrats. If such is the case
there is a very elastic setof Rep
resentatives in the United States;
One day they are Democrats and
the next they are Republicans,
according to the purposes of the
politicians who desire to make
capital.
Protection is one of the poll
cies which a majority of the
Republicans are agreed upon,
and yet we find Senator Tillman
when the bill for the repeal of
the war revenue tax came up,
protesting against taking off the
ten cents per pound tax on tea,
because he wanted protection for
little tea farm in South Caro-
lima. We have no objection to
protecting this industry, but ac-
cording to the arguments Of Nc
Laurin's opponents protection is
a Republican policy and any
Democrat voting for such, is "a
traitor to his party
When McLaurin as a member
of the lower branch of Congress
voted to protect cotton, rice and
lumber, because they we're pro-
ducts of the South, Tillman,
Irby, Evans and the rest of them
began charging treachery to the
Democratic party, but that was
McLaurin, now it is Tillman who
votes for protection, and because
it is him it is another matter,
Notwithstanding the inconsistent
cy.
We do not censure Senator
Tillman for his vote to protect
the Summerville tea industry,
we believe it needs protection,
even if it is the only ''tea farm" in
the State, but if one ''tea farm"
needs protection because it is a
southern industry, then in the
name of sense why object to Nc
Laurin asking for protection On
the cotton, rice and lumber, the
products not owned by one
wealthy citizen, but the result
of the toll Of a vast majority of
our people and products upon
which their very existence de-
pends.
The Democratic leaders COM
NIT the party to a low tariff pol
icy, but if a low tariff policy is
against the interests of the peo
pie of the South. then it is right
for our Representatives to look
out for home interests, rather
than cling to a party theory.
We say the vote of Senator Till
man to protect the product of
the Summerville tea farm should
open the eyes Of those who con-
demned Senator McLaurin for
voting to protect cotton, rice and
lumber.