The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-03
TIME FOR REFORM
TARIFF DISCUSSED AT NEW YORK
 DINNER.
Movement Set on Foot to Elect a Con- gress Which Will Be Pledged to the Nations
 Relief.

New York, June "A dinner was given by the Tariff Reform Committee of the Reform Club tonight at the Ho- tel Astor to inaugurate a movement to return to Congress at the next election members pledged to tariff reform leg islation. Henry B. Stapler. Chairman of the Reform Committee presided and tho speakers included ex-Governor Douglass of Massachusetts: Represen- tative John Sharp Williams and J. IT Rainey. Letters of regret were read from former President Grover Cleve- land, Alton B. Parker and Henry Wat terson. Judge Parker's letter was as follows:
 Tn the feverish discussion during the past two years about the ethics of business, there has naturally been a recurrence to the causes which have promoted these conditions; and as must be admitted, the fountains of the great deep of morals have not been broken up without a reason. The more the question has been considered the clear CT it has become that protective tar if has been a fruitful, nourishing mother of all of our serious evils. It's malign influence has made possible the corruption of the electorate with money furnished by grateful but always alarmed benehciaries. Knowledge of the fact that the great patient public could thus be humbugged part of the time has led to the conclusion not wholly unwarranted by experience that perhaps 1t could be done all the time.
 If the government, looking for one dollar to meet its own needs can use It's power to reward Its favorites with three dollars. wAy should railway, q public service company or a great com bination neglect its chances in its own special field? If the law enables these to put their hands into the pockets of the masses of the people for their own benefit. why should their favorite or responsible officials refuse to take ad- vantage of what are to them heaven born privileges? So the vicious circle will continue to widen until the caLse Is removed. When this Is done our people may take up related and con tingent abuses with some prospect Of removing them. Very truly yours,
 Alton B. Parker"
 MT. Clevelands letter read;
 T am convinced that the value to our people of wholesome tariff reform was never more easily made apparent than now and that there was never more opportune time for its earnest advocacy. Those who are enlisted in the cause should not allow themselves to suppose that 1t has been over whelmed by other topics. which just now seem to have taken possession of popular consideration.
 These will prove to he but tenn porary and evanescent when the truth is brought home to our countrymen that they are daily and hourly the vic tins of an evil underlying nearly all othOr econOmi" abuses which stealth fly and unrelentingly betray the in- terests and welfare of the many for the benefit of selfish and pampered few.
 Tt Is not possible that our people can continue to be misled to their hurt nor that they will continue to condone the wrongs which are the progeny of an unjust and unfair tariff or fall to discover and punish the criminal parent
 Very truly yours
 Grover Cleveland"
 MT, Watterson said In his letter, God speed the day of our redemption from