Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-05-18
NATIONAL oEMocRAcY's SUI
eide


As rule the Daily Press does not
take It's Democracy from the New
York Evening Post. which newspaper
may be depended upon 10 be on the
wrong track, ut least from the view
Eoint OF Southern Democrats. about
nine times out OF ten. But now and
then the Pest gets right al least tenn
psrarily and says the right thing at
the right time.
The following reflects the ability
OF the Posts editor 10 accurately
size up the natienal political situation
during one OF his lucid intervals. Says
the Post:
THAT eighteen Democratic Sena-
tors should have yOsed With Aldrieh
10 take iron ore from the free list,
and tax IL % cents a ton, goes far
towards answering the question why
there is no Democratic party. With
brains and principles both out OF IL.
why should il pretend to be alive
any longer? Free iron ore was one
OF the cardinal features Of the Wilson
bill, as ii passed the House in 1871
Two proposals were made, while the
schedule was under debate in the
House. to put duty on iron ore, but
both were voted down, one by a
vote of 1856 TO 65. the other by 109
to so. The duty was put back by the
Senate, in 1894 as yesterday. but THIS
was one of ihe things which Presi-
dent Cleveland lad in mind when he
denounced the Senate changes as a
work Of 'perfidy and dishonor.' Free
raw materials in general. and free
iron ore In particular. have been the
battie-cry of Democrats for years
but when bill comes up from a Re
publican House making iron ore free.
ever half OF the Democratic Senators
Join hands with hidebound Republic
can protectionis;s 10 put back the
duty. The force CT Standardization
could not 60 further
1T is not simply question OK iron
ore: the whole iron a;d steel schedule
will be affected by the decision 10
tax the raw material. The pretense
of its being a revenue duty Is too
pitiful. The entire estimated revenue
on is1n ore. leaving out the Cuban
prodnct. which comes in under the
reciprocity treaty. is $4,000, Thai
is a pretty thin salve for che con
science of the recreant Democratic
Senators. They might better have
frankly said thai they voted AT the
demand Of powerful protected inter
esis in their States. After this. al
their prating about wishing 70 remove
tariff burdens and hating monS7oiies
will ONLY show how fond they are
OF being laughed al. They had :
chance 10 take away a needless tara
favor from a corporation which c~E-
or controls more than half Of the iror
ore in this country. but sided VIII
she hirh-sarif champions unblushing
~ The action Of the Republican
House. and OF tie fourteen Republican
senators who went on record for fre'
iron ore. shines by comparison. AK
No nan knows what scheming Of cor
porafious and manoeuvres q mSnopo
lists may not be behind this res'orA
ton CT the Tax on ere.
As The New York newspaper po'n'i
OF. the proposition to pu, ircn or
on the free Est has twice been de
fested in the senate. both tines b.
Democratic votes. The first time IN
rroposision went down to desca; ih'
Democrats mad = majority In ~
r,stes states senate.
lssi week free iron ore suzere'
defect only By the railying Of seven
tces or eighteen Democrafic senator
70 nc aid q the kidrich Repubiicsl
nEchine And nearly al ~ I'M
rsre sorsAern Democrais, tv0 sein