The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-11-06

CONGRESSMAN W. A. JONES
MIR Jones was warmly applauded
when he arose to speak and throughout
his address of AN hour aud a quarter, he
was frequently interrupted by applause
Mr.. Jones said that he would not at
tempt to give detailed account Of hi
services i'm Congress. ~ that had been
done during the canvass of the district
before theprimary election. tie thanked
the Democrats OF fredericksburg Tor the
part they performed in that primary aud
in their generous endorsement OF him
during his long service in Congress lie
stated that be- would devote hi- speech
To National ISSUES and said lac regarded
the election of the $50 members al the
House of Representatives ~ highly I'M
portant. and that the Democrats had
fine opportunity TO gain majority In
that body. He spoke OF the apathy IN
the party and regretted that family al
Aictions had prevented him from making
"A thorough canvass OF the district lie
sai Il that everywhere he had been the
people SEEMED greatly interested in the
election in New York, but he regarded
the election of members of Congress OF
VASTLY more importance, a. ~ vitality al
i,cts the whole people n To whether the
Republicans are 10 remain in control OF
chat body. Referring 10 the size OF the
audience. which. while repr sentative.
was not very large, Mr.. Jones said
iocularly. in referring To the ahsenc' oi
some OF the Democrats. that lic under
stood that both An important church
meeting aud Republican meeting were
being held in the city. He expressed the
hope that those Democrats absent were
AZ the church rather than the Repnhllrtn
meeting. which might mean that they
nr,. not less Interested in Democracy.
but are simply concerned IN something
higher. He paid handsome tribute %
the Democratic party aud claimed that
its principles embodied IN the platform OF
ten years ago had been indicated 10y
| subsequent results.
I'm Speaking of the money question be-
said the discovery of gold IN large guam
titles had prevented the state OF affairs
against which the Democratic platform
proposed to guard; that the plank
against government by injunction. which
caused the Republicans % declare that
| the Democrats were anarchists. was VIM
dicated by "a Republican Congress. Mr..
Jones said that h. does not recall any
! important act OF Congress 10y the Re
nublicans that the Democrats did not
| have in their platform Oi ten years ago.
and that the Republican President had
demanded that Congress adopt laws
/ giving the interstate commerce cOmmis-
sion power To prevent rate discrimlna-
ton and the giving OF rebates, which
was also "a plank of the Democratic plat
form.
Mr.. Jones said that the most impor-
tant issue in the campaign Is the tarlii
question: that the tariff aud trust ques-
lions are the same thing. and said before
the Dingley Tariff Bill was put into effect
the total value OF property owned toy
trusts in the United States was SNOO,-
600 .OOO-now one OF them, the most
powerful. the United States Steel Trust.
owns 81 .OOO. SOC. 900 worth OF property
in this country.
The speaker said there was no laboring
man who earned enough wages to sup
mort his family who did not pay 500
ncr vear for tariff taxes To the nlted
States Government. Mr. Jones paid 20
bigh tribute to Secretary of War VIM II
Taft. and said il there was one
honest. upright Republican, it Is
that gentlemen. He then quoted
secretary Taft as in favor OF te-
yising the tariff laws and spoke oi the
embarrassed position in which the
Secretary found himself in awarding con
tracts for the Panama Canal, Congress
al the instance of senator Adrch, ol
Rhode Island, having passed a-blll com
pelling the Secretary to buy all material
for that work from American firms.
In his reference to the tariff, Mr. Jones
. related a little personal experience. lie
said when abroad last year with the
. Taft marty. Mrs. Jones purchased some
= china ware in Japan, costing about 500
and when he reached California, he had
tn nav $40 tariff duty To the Govern
: ment making the china cost $40. Some
of the rich members Of the party bought
diamonds and pearls, but the duty Oh
these WAS at a much small percentage
than on more practical and useful artl
cles. Some Of the party who purchased
800 worth Of pearls and diamonds, ha'
; to my ONLY $40 duty. He also showed
] that the poor man paid more tarih ti'
= than the rich man. The poor man wh'
e bought ready made suit OF clothes pal'
. more tariff than the rich man who pur
chased n taior-made suit
g Referring to the Democratic party an'
J. its record, Mr.. Jones quoted Secretar,
Bonaparte. who in a speech in Baltlmor
charged that the Democrats were win
ont principles, except To get ana hol'
office Mr.. Jones stated that there mus
be something greater than that to non
g the Democratic party together. ii
e pointed out that the Republicans ma
y been in power and held the Offices Tor Cd
y greater portion of the time since the Wv
e War. He said that the Democratic part
was indestructible and that even tn
Civil War could not kill it-that nothin
can kill it. He then by comparison II
ferred to the administration OF State
controlled by Democrats and OF thos
If controlled by Republicans. he wa
II esDecially severe on conditions existing
It Pennsylvania and New York. Mr. Jont
In closing thanked his hearers for the
attention and urged that the voters &
tn the pols on next Tuesday, electlo
day. and show their adherence to Il
principles OF Democracy by voting u
ID democratic ticket. ,
!. At the close of the speech many In u
ne audi, nee went forward TO shake hah'
IN and congratulate the Congressman.
Mr. Jones left Saturday morning 4
Washington and from there went TO h
home in Warsaw, Richmond count
X where he closed the campaign MOndo