Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-01-19

HY.T is d0ne-a great debate on the eX-
81 orbitant and eXtortionate rates of
d the Dingley bill. The Republican
house bosses did not want it-in
fact, it was the last thing Oh earth they
wanted. They not only did not want
it; they dreaded it above all things.
But they could not head it off, and it is
on and will stay on until the Demo-
Gratis capture congress and the presi-
dency. The precipitating of the ques-
ton into the house was like opening an
other Pandora's box. From the mo-
ment it was thrown into the midst of
the house the Republicans have been
having a bitter, ruthless Kilkenny
fight among themselves. The beet sug-
ar Republicans from the west have as
sailed the house Republican machine
as viciously as any Democrat could do.
The Massachusetts Republican revision
lists took hand-more mildly than the
beet sugar enthusiasts, but neverthe-
less they took hand. The statehood
insurgents have made miserable the
lives of the speaker and his trusted
lieutenants. At this writing the Re
publican house majority has all the APP
pearances of dissolving view. They
may get together, but it is hardly prob
able. The pretext for precipitating
discussion of the Dingley tariff bill was,
OF course, the Payne Philippine tariff
bill, which amounts to very little any
way, was almost completely lost sight
OF. The bald truth is that the i'm
portance of revising down to a rational
basis the outrageous rates of the Ding
ley bill rises in Importance to the Amer
lean people as much as Pixies peak
towers above the foothills of the Rocky
mountains. The debate in the house
will work like leaven in the minds of
the taxpayers. 1t is bound to work a
revolution in public opinion.
Republican Contention Resisted.
1t SO happened that by reason of the
unavoidable absence Of Hon. John
Sharp Williams, Democratic leader, the
burden of opening the debate for the
Democrats fell upon me. AS the house
extended my time without limit and as
some of the Republican leaders, nota-
bly, Messrs. Serene b. Payne, chairman
OF the committee on ways and means
and ex officio majority floor leader;
Hon. John Dalzell and General Charles
ID. Grosyenor, members Of the commit
tees on rules and Of ways and means;
Colonel William P. Hepburn of Iowa,
Mr.. Cooper of Wisconsin, Messrs.
Charles B. Lands and James e. Wat
son of Indiana, propounded to me all
sorts of questions, my speech con-
sumed three hours in its delivery and
took very wide range.
For instance, l was combating the
preposterous declaration of the Repub-
lican platform that "a Republican tar
III has always been followed by bust
ness prosperity; Democratic tariff by
business adversely" and to establish
my contention quoted James G. Blaine
to the effect that under the Democratic
Walker tariff bill there was great pros
perity from 1S48 to 1857, whereupon
General Grosvenor asserted that the
Democrats repealed the Walker tariff
OF 1916 in 1857 and passed tariff bill
which precipitated panic To that |
responded:
The tariff bill of 1857, which the gentle
man says precipitated universal bank
ruptcy, was not a Democratic measure,
as ! will presently demonstrate That's
fact No. in the chapter Of our legislative
and political history which am now stat
ing.
The Walker tariff bill, which I repeat
was the only thoroughly Democratic tar.
III Dill ever placed upon our statute books,
ana for Which Democrats not only cheer
fully but proudly and enthusiastically as
suned all the responsibility and claim all
the honors for it wrought gloriously for
our country's prosperity, was in force
from July 80, 1s4s, when James K. Polk
signed It, till March 3, 1857 when Franklin
Pierce signed the tariff bill of 1857, modify
Ing the Walker tariff bill. Please bear
these dates carefully in mind, as they
are absolutely decisive of the controversy
between the gentleman from Ohio TMr.
Grosvenor] and myself here today and
betwixt all Democrats and all Republic
ans at all times, at all places and under
all circumstances. If plain, unvarnished,
undlsputsd and tncontrovertible facts of
history can prove anything in this world,
! VIII suddenly and for all time establish
the Democratic contention on the eternal
rock OF truth and prove beyond even the
Shadow of doubt that the Republican
platform declaration of 1904 that IA Dem
ocratlc tariff has always been followed by
business adversely, Republican tariff by
business prosperity is glittering, trans.
parent and stupendous fable. I use the
word Table instead Of q shorter and harsh-
er synonym because desire to observe
all the parliamentary proprieties. con-
hdently place the well established truths
OF history against bald assertions. am
Narfl{SS haf tha -, 81 1oCv
not Democratic tariff measure that
most heartily thank the gentleman from
Ohio lMr. Grosvenorl for his interruption.
Not Democratic Measure.
That bill became law of the land on
the last day Of the life of the Thirty
fourth congress, the 30 day Of March,
1857.
me house Of representatives OF that
congress was not Democratic. It was
composed of So Democrats, l08 Republic
ans and 4S Americans, popularity dubbed
Know Nothings," making 2Sl members
All told, IS constituting majority of the
house. The combined opposition to the
democrats had majority of g. The sem
ate was Demooratic; so was the presi.
Gent, FRANKLIN Pierce. After long and
bitter contest General Nathaniel Banks of
Massachusetts was elected speaker, the
first Republican speaker.
AZ Is known to every intelligent person
that tariff bills, called revenue bills, must
originate in the house. Consequently the
tariff bill Of 1867, of whose effect the gem
tlsman from Ohio complains, and which
supplanted the Walker Democratic tariff
bill, originated in and was passed by an
anti-Democratic house, therefore it is
clearly q non-Democratic measure It's
character was not changed into Demo-
cratic measure by being agreed to by a