Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-05-01
TARIFF REVISION THE ISSUE.
John Sharpe Williams Issues Defy to
the Republican Party.

John Sharpe Williams Issues Defy to
the Republican Party.
There is little reason to doubt that
tariff revision is still the great political
issue in this country. The railroad
rate question is one of very great I'M
portance to the people as whole; but
1t hardly approaches the tariff issue.
The Republicans realize this fact fully;
but they are inclined to dodge 1t as
far as possible. They know that as
soon as the tariff question is let loose
their party already weakened by Its
very numerical strength, will be divid-
ed into factions that will compel its
virtual reorganization. But the DEM
ocrats have been all along watching
for an opportunity to introduce the ap-
pie Of discord, and Leader Williams
has probably succeeded. During last
Thursday two or three prominent Re-
publicans made statements and intro
duced evidence to disprove statements
that numerous large manufacturing
interests would be unable to maintain
the trust arrangements by which they
hold prices out Of reason except for
the tariff. Mr.. Williams among other
things said:
l have an impression that IL We could
have fought this last campaign upon
the line of common sense, and sensible
reduction and revision Of the tariff to
prevent the exploitation OF home con-
sumers by concerns which exploited
them under the shelter OF tariff,
while they sell cheaper to the foreign
ers, we would have won the election.
democratic applause). And have
another idea, and will give 1t to the
gentleman now, that the personality OF
your candidate had more to do with
your success than the strength of your
party.
And have another idea, that Is more
a wonderment than an idea. l am
wondering and sometimes dreaming OF
what will happen to the gentleman
from Iowa (Mr Hepburn), the gentle
man from Pennsylvania (Mr. DalzelD,
the gentleman from New York (Mr
Payne) and the gentleman from India
ma (Mr. Landis), and all the other
leaders of the cohorts of standpatism,
when toward the tail end Of this con-
gress, or during the next session Of
this congress, the man in the White
House (who carried your party to vic
tory rather than the party carrying
him) shall send a message to this
house to revise and reduce the tariff.
(Applause on the Democratic side.)
1t is In the air that he wanted to do
1t before this. 1t was asserted In the
newspapers, 1 do not know whether
1t was true or not, / hope not, that
there was some sort of an agreement
between him and the speaker whereby
he must hold back this box with all
these serpents of discord from being
turned loose among the Republican
party, providing the speaker would
help him get through certain things
that he considered of primary and
paramount Importance at this moment.
Let me tell you something. You have
got to revise this tariff. II you don't
we will. [Applause on the Democratic
side Because our common masters,
the people Of America have made up
their minds that 1t shall be revised.
/ will tell you another thing. l am
going to tell you whole lot Of things.
You have got to pass a bill to admit
Oklahoma and the Indian Territory as
a state in this Union, and leave Ari-
zona and New Mexico out. For II you
don't we will, because the people, your
masters and our masters. have made
up their minds upon that point. /
will tell you another. Your Republic
can senate has got to pass a reasona-
BILE and right and just railroad rate
BILL and II you don't that Is another
thing that we will do. AS surely as
there Is sun In Heaven, unless you do
1t the people will commission some
body else to do It,