The Washington times., 1905-12-02
Colonel watterson on Cleveland.

Colonel WatterSOn on Cleveland.
The battle for revenue reform had
been won when Mr.. Cleveland arrived
When, after twelve years Of mislead-
ing and two terms for himself IN the
White House. he departed. the very
thought Of revenue reform had been
extinggished. the fruits OF years of
edueatlen scattered 10 the Winds. and
bleeding and broken and crushed be
yond recognition.
These are words accredited to Col
Henry Watters0n by one of our con-
temporaries. They must be read
withssome special regard for the in
terviewee. For II that phrase "reve-
nue. reform means the establish
ment of the gold standard by law,
the battle had not been won when
Mr. Cleveland arrived" f" and as far
as our statute books show has not
been won yet Another construc-
tion-that the colonel referred to
tariff reform as a particular kind
of revenue reforms probably only
fair.
On this assumption. Mr. Waiter
sons attack upon Mr.. Cleveland is
only another symptom of the fiery
kentuekian's ardent and wholly un-
reasonable dislike for the only
President his party has put in the
White House since Buchanan. As
a matter of fact the battle for tarin
reform had not been won when
Cleveland arrived" no one other
man had done so much to win it
as Cleveland; no one other man lid
SO much TO hold a Democratic Con
gress in line for tariff reform; and
no one other man ever suffered so
much in its service.
The only Democratic tarin act pa ssed
since the war Of the rebellion was
that which bore the name of the
Wilson bill, and was drafted in the
House by William l. Wilson of West
Virginia and Charles F. Crisp of
Georgia. 1t was more than a tariff
bill 1t carried with 1t an income
tax. 3 proposition to increase the
Internal revenues. and various other
projects which gave it really the
character of broad revenue reform.
rbe President, in his desire to keep
his party true 10 its principles, ad-
dressed a letter in its behalf 10 one
Of the most conspicuous men on the
Democratic side OF the chamber.
And that letter was so enthusiastic /
eally end sed by Mr. Watterson's s !
fellows q represented in the more
numerous branch of Congress that
the roll of votes in favor of the
Wilson bin was cheered wildly as
a roll OF honor"
What happened TO the Wilson bill 7
in the Senate enabled Tom Reed 1
10 poke holes IN this Democratic
roll OF honor" It's low tariff pro-
visions were sold out. At least two 4
Democrats in present good stand I
ing with Colonel Watterson bar
gained its schedules across the mid
die aisle like so much garden truck. I
The free list was made to look like
a piece OF sponge. Protection, as
protection and not as a means of /
raising revenue. was put on half /
The commodities affected by the bill. /
In short, the only Democratic
measure on the subject was made
a fairly good Republican measure
at the hands OF Democratic leaders
in the Senate AS one of the most
Influential Senators from the South
said when the bill went back TO the
House, these two Democrats had "re-
duced tariff legislation to the level 1 +
OF the pawnshop." AS for Mr.. Cleve-
land, he was so indignant he refused
10 sign the measure.
The colonel tells the truth when
ne says that after Cleveland's two
terms the very thought Of revenue
reform had been extinguished." But
he is clearly mistaken as 70 the
cause. Democracy's favorite princi-i
pie. its chief pledge. its faith before
the whole country. were not sacri-
feed by Grover Cleveland. Thev
got the AK from men who still pose
as its friends and loyal supporters
men OF whom Colonel Watterson
says nothing. and. apparently, has
nothing TO say
4 Time for Modarat;or