The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1909-06-17
SENATOR SIMMONS TALKS.

OHIIeu .OCdCeS senator +. M
Simmons, who has taken an act
i've part in the discussion of thu
tariff bill now pending in con
gress, does not like some of the
things North Carolina newspapa
pers have been saying concerning
his course. He has been dubbed
as protectionist, accused of de-
parting the faith and repudiating
the Denver platform. In defense
of his position, and those of his
associates standing with him.
Senator Simmons recently said:
! see certain newspapers in
the State are criticising me and
the seventeen Democratic SEN
ators who voted with me for a
duty of Is cents ton on iron ore
as being traitors to the Democrat
&c party, and calling upon the
people to bark back to the DAYS
of Vance, Ransom and Jarvis.
We'll, | thought would see
what these old Romans did about
this matter when they were in
the Senate. and what do YOU
think | found? / found that the
duty of 40 cents a ton on iron
ore, which | voted recently to re-
duce to rs cents, was put on iron
ore by the Democrats with the
help of Ransom and Jarvis and
has been kept there ever since.
1t happened in this way: In
1894, when the Democrats had
every branch of the government.
the Wilson bill came to the Sen
ate from the House with iron ore
on the free list. The Senate
committee on finance, headed by
that great Democrat, Daniel w.
Voorhees,, with that other great
Democrat, Vest, of Missouri, as
first lieutenant, reported the bill
to the Senate with an
amendment imposing duty of
40 cents a ton on iron ore. Old
man Pfefer, the long-haired
Populist Senator from Kansas, 4
didn't like that-the Populists
were free traders, you know
and he offered an amendment to t
strike out this duty of 40 cents a +
ton and put iron ore on the free
list. Pfeffer's amendment re- '
:eived just four votes, Allen. T
Kyle and Pfeffer, Populists, and :
Hill, Democrat. Every one of Il
the other Democrats who voted. S
Ransom and Jarvis included, vot- 4
I'd solidly against the Pfefer =
amendment and for the 40 cents 4
ton duty. Later, the committee O
amendment imposing a duty of r
EO cents a ton on iron ore was =
tdopted by the Senate without a p
ilssentingvote and was afterward II
:oncurred IN by the House. When :.
he Dingley bill was adopted this q
provision of the Wilson bill was W
imply re-enacted. =
Senator Vance was a member a.
t the Senate in 1890, when the W
a!Se;Kinley bill was adopted. This q,
Ill as it came to the Senate from
he House carried a duty of rs IN
ents ton on iron ore. In the or
enate Mr.. German moved to re-
uce this duty to 50 cents. Later y"
e asked to withdraw the amend II
lent, when Senator Vance arose If
nd said: l object. I want to -
ave a vote on reducing the duty er
80 cents. The amendment
as withdrawn a little later. I'm III
1,edlateIy afterwards Senator
lumb offered an amendment re-
lclng the duty on iron to 60 cents
ton, a yea and nay vote was NO
ken, and the amendments was lio
created. All the Democrats who be
'ted, including Senator Vance tai
'teq yea and all the Republicans
lcept live voted no. During the TO
'0ate upon this question there the
as not a suggestion from anv dox
7mocrat that iron ore should be 00l
It upon the free list. sen
SO the eighteen Democratic bol
majors who few days ago vot-
Tor a duty on iron ore were ers
lowing the lead of Vance. Jar to c
;, Morgan. Reagan ane Vest -,
care nothing about criticism e4''s
my action wnen based upon rigl
;ts; l DO complain of criticisms tho,
sea upon misstatements and
representations of facts stor
so 1T appears that.Senator Sim aon
ms IS following the precedent pub
by Vance, Ransom and Jarvis fait
the position he has taken in 90 .
'tarlH debate recently, especi- -,
: upon the schedule referring :
ron ore. Now, would it not be 70 q
ElSable for him To orivo b;e - of it