Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1907-05-30
HOW THE FARMERS WON.
Past Master Aaron Jones Great Per.
sonal Victory In Washington.

sonal Victory In Washine'o,'.
It may not be known to all re ,ders
Of this paper that last JanuGry in
Washington there was held a great
commercial convention which was os-
teu$ibly called for the advancement of
foreign commerce in the United States.
Ii was really plan for the advance
ment Of the ship subsidy scheme which
some of the most influential men, even
those close to the president, were try
ing 20 put through congress. 1t was an
assem- 0lagc of 400 voting delegates rep
rearuting the shipping, mercantile,
manufacturing and allied interests
from all sections of the country. 1t
haDUened that the national grange leg
isIltive and executive committees were
in session ut tbat time in Washington.
They discovered that the farmers had
ne representation in the convention
and asked that one of their number be
appointed to q position on the commit
tee on resolutions Their request was
granted, and Hon Aaro" Jones, past
master of the national grange, was
uDUoiu Ted on that committee. The
gllrst lawyers and experts were pres
cat to assist in insuriug the success of
the scheme, and men who were worth
their millions were there. Secretary
Of r,talc Root made Il powerful speech,
and the convention was to close in
rand clinay at q ten dollar a plate
muaget, which the president himself
ut, ~, nf
the story In the words Of one present
as printed in the Pennsylvania Grange
News:
cut lne schcmcrs had recIoncd without
the grauge delegates. Hardly had the tu-
mngnuus cheers which greeted the con-
clusion Of Secretary Roots speech died
away when the quiet. persistent work Of
tie formers representatives began to
show, and opposition TO committing the
convention to the Endorsement of ship
gulrid" legislation gathered strength. THIS
opposition rapidly Increased rs it became
known throughout the convention that the
resolutions committee could not agree and
1hat Jones, the grange representative in
the committed was le5ding a vigorous op-
position and gathering TO him steadily
decreasing support. The friends of ship
subsidy began 10 grow anxious to get the
convention to act before the opposition
corld crow serious
Finally, In the middle of the afternoon
session the resolutions committee unable
TO agree reported both a majority and a
minority report the ship subsidy majority
hoping 10 be able to carry their report
through the convention. An attempt was
made to rule out the minority report on
teclinicality but this simply resulted In
showing the entire convention that the
shin subsidy advocates would. If they
could. ride roughshod over all opposition.
As the debate waxed hot 1t showed plain
ly that the resolution in favor of ship
subsidy would be defeated and defeat was
only avcrted by having both reports re-
farreE lock TO the committee for further
consideration
Once gain the fight was on in the reso-
latious comr1ittce and from s until II 80
y. in tie battle rarel The doors OF the
corr1t. 90 room were locked and no one
Lut the rorE. old lrlo,nbars Of the commit
zee was allowed IL tic room. How Jones
ha-dltd our cul yes shown however. by
the rae. tnat he WIS The acknowledged
la,7-r OF the C2.t which resulted in The
b. Ter ,.a.-t oT the a'.in euhgidv forces The
res,.'u,.an e aIE a1nrta1 by Inc commit
tee We no.ear,. .lits.i oic to tho effect
that tho convention r"vnrs sGch lcgisla-
zion as Uau}l fsa.- eTf.ctuaIlv baild ID
our merchant t-rr'ae. t,c una rst pnliug
G,fos- nIafn1v ~ E..... al ,Nt ,oonr shin
gubsiGirs The orange and IT'S friends had
won q GREAT ,.iciory
On tho floor .hs rrrt "a, ming the lost
If !Na convention tfsc Nat.', risal ae.a.i.l
moro G.vceIv than over. Titterlv s,,art-
Inc rnIer iofaot The al4,categ Of : IN
subsidies denounced the resolutions s,.b-
rnittad nv tbe resolutions c1-nl,iftcc end
Foisb, hard TO gel the orjlinal ship sub
sidfee yasoIrIfion adoDtei instead The
ave ,ni,,ute rule or debate yns rIrldlv On
fnr,.o1 and the snnechcs for ana arai.st
y-ara h3t and evan hitter E'yoifcricnt
,yas fntcnse From all PARTS Of the hall
f ,,.,,,,. o. iu,ert1r ,go,,ld cIan,or for rac