Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-02-13
SENSATIONAL, BUT HOT EFFECTIVE
Congressman From Alabama in a
Speech Dealing WITH Questions of
the Day Says That the Only way
to Get at the Trusts is Through
tn. Tariff.
nny AssoeIated prcssl

| WASHINGTON. u. c., Feb. IL -
The at,i,uGe OF the Republican patty
on the lnriff qut stion. and the Pres
dents recent special message to
Congress-. in which he called atten-
ion TO the necessity FOR certain legis-
lAtion, were rihc themes of lengthy
speech in the House OF Representa-
tivcs today, by Mr.. Richardson Of
| Alabama. He congratulated the Dem
ocrats Of the House and thc country
on Ihc joint debate in Congress dur.
ing the last fortnight. and said that
it had in remarkable manner clear
sd up ihc political atmosphere and
forcibly defined The position and
views of both of the great political
parties on vital political am. economic
questions.
Tariff reform. said Mr.. Richardson.
is the issue thar would clarity the
political atmosphc;c.
Let us stand for free raw mate
rial he explained, and victory is
ours He charged that on that point
the Republican party was weak and
stood discrediied with the people by
It's broken pledges. lie did not hest
'atc TO say that the tariff was an is
sue that appealed 10 the people more
than the Panama canal. the railroads.
the currency. the freedom OF the
! Philippines. Imperialism, or the Qucs-
ton of unframed malcfactors so
somnilly denounced by the President
| In hs last message.
srbo lnkn.o
said, had demonstrated the weak
ness, ana utter inclicincy Of our
boaScd gold standard financial sys-
tcm.'
lie spoke of the multiplication OF
soup houses, failing banks and otuo
universities and reminded the Rcpub.
leans Of their exclamation during the
pane of 1893, when u bank failure
was reported another bank hav-
ing gone Democratic"
He charged that the banks that
failed last fall hail gone Republican.
The Tariff Question.
he stand PAT leaders. who dictated
and directed the policies OF tic Re-
publican party. he asserted. declared
with great earnestness and solem-
nifty thas not a single schedule of The
iNngley tariff should he revised or
considered until after the Presiden-
iinl election. and then only by its
f.ien H."
No sound. sane man. he declared.
pretended TO believe chat. ana he
aid not think that the leaders who
made such declarations could cxpcct
the couiEiiy 10 take them seriously.
INC great trusts of The country. he
asserted. had fattcncd under the pres
ent tariff system an; the friends
we're now engaged in hide and seek
game to extend the fiendly powers
OF arrogant corporations and com
bines "by seeking to allay the fears
OF the consumers by promises So
citen disregardcd in the past, few
| days"
The whole situation was. he said
mat the Republican leaders did not
believe 1t to be 20 the interests o.
the Republican party 10 have rcvi
SION OF the tariff at this tine nj
Though, he charged that public
opinion supplied by Republican dis
! ""tiSidctioh mas forced reluctant con =
sent 10 om7ancl into the next RI.
publican platform a premise TO revise
! after the election"
Messanc II Personal Document
Regarding the Presidents message
Mr. Richardson said it was in re
snonsc to the criticisms that Tho
NEWSPAPERS had freely passed upon him
ana the policies of his administra
uon. MANY of the recommendation
OF that message he declared If carS
rieil o tuat once by his party. woult
ltSadoubtodly be of benefit 10 the
country.
Mr.. Williams. the minority leader
he said, had pointed out clearly til,
portions of the message that Demo
Gratis could and did checrfully on
dose. hut he alleged "the mcssae,
undoubtedly seeks to make the con
troll of the trusts the paramount, Is.
sue in the present campaign"
| If the President was truly sincere