The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-11-14
Mr., GERMAN AND TIE WILSON
TARIFF BILL.

The suggestion of Mr.. German for the
presidency has reviewed the talk OF his
connection with shaping the Wilson-Gor
nan tariff law in 1898. On the one side
he is said to have been the man Cleveland
was hitting at in his famous my Dear
Catchings" letter in which he said tbs
bill as passed represented party peril
DIV and dishonor" On the other hand ne
is said to have been sincerely working TO
secure the passage of the bill through the
Senate over the opposition of four Sena-
tors who wished its defeat, and that he
,rouid have voted for the Wilson bill as
it came to the House if it could have com
handed enough votes to guarantee Its
passage.
The people want to get at the real facts
:n the case. If Mr.. German was seeking
to make the bill protective measure, OF
course he ought not to be nominated,
for the trust and tariff issue will occupy
a leading place in the next campaign. II
he was standing for a Democratic tariff
for revenue only" measure, the unfair
cbarees against him will tend to increase
his chances for the nomination.
Recently ex-senator M. c. Butler, G.
South Carolina has written long arh'
c,e vindicating Senator German from the
charges. In the Washington Post, eA
Senator Pugh, of Alabama, makes the
following statement:
"a caucus OF Democratic Senators WAS
called by Senator German, the standing
chairman of the caucus. to meet IN tbs
marble room of the Senate. When the
caucus met the chairman explained tina,
the object of the meeting was to con
slider the Wilson tariff bill and to de-
eide what acton the Democratic Senators
would take when that bill came up for
consideration in the Senate. The State
of Alabama is the second coal and iron
State in the Union. The Wilson bill put
coal and iron on the free list. / repre-.
scented Alabama in part in the Senate, and
l was the first Senator to address the
caucus and make known my opposition
to the wilson bill by offering an amend
ment to put coal and iron on the dutiable
list. MY amendment was defeated by an
ave and no vote. Whereupon l notified
the caucus that / would move my amend
ment in the Senate, and Senator Panson
moved that the vote on my amendment
be reconsidered, which was done, and
while my amendment was pending, and
Senators were consulting and discussing
generally the best things to be done I'M
der existing conditions, Senator White
of Louisiana (now on the Supreme bench
Of the United States), entered the caucus
and made a most violent and aggressive
speech against free sugar in the Wilson
bill
Senator White had been nominated fol
Supreme Court judge by President Cleve
land. and had but few days before the
meetin gof the caucus been confirmed by
the Senate Senator Voorhees,, of Indiana
answered Senator White in a speech that
was equally violent and aggressive, and
remember that Senator Voorhees, told Sen
ator White that he was fortunate in hav
ing received his commission as judbc be-
fore making his speech to the caucus.
THE caucus was thrown into great ex
element, and it being manifest that nc
final action could be had at that meeting
on motion by some Senator COMMITTEES
was appointed, as stated by Senator But
Ter, TO confer with the Senate Finance
Committee and get the most satisfactory
report possible. The Finance Committee
reported the bill to the Senate with
amendments. 1t was impossible TO pass
the Wilson bill through the Senate as ii
came from the House. I stated to the
Democratic caucus that I would not sup
port the bill with coal and iron on the
free list. My action in the caucus was
made public, and I received telegram
from Birmingham, Ala, signed by lead
ing men of both parties, assuring me Of
their approval and that the people OF
Birmingham owed me a debt of everlast
ing gratitude. It was we'll known that
Senators Murphy, of New York; Smith
and Mcpherson, of New Jersey, and
Bryce. of Ohio, would not support the
wilson bill as it came from the House
Senator German made no motion in the
Democratic caucus and is no more re-
sponsible for the defeat of the Wilson
bill than many other Democratic Sena
tors. When the Senate and House bill
was in conference committee it was as
oeItained that it was impossible TO pass
any tariff bill before the Congress adj
journed. on the 4th of March, unless the
conference committee of the two Houses
agreed to report the Senate BILL Presi
dent Cleveland was fully advised of this
fact and sent word to the conference
committee that some tariff bill must be
passed before Congress adjourned.
Il write this letter to do justice to Sena
tor German and to vindicate the truth oil
history