The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1910-02-16
Congressman Wheeler Replies 10 Mr..
Sibley's Letter.

Under date of Feb. 18th Mr. Wheeler gave
out the following interview in Washing
ton y. c.:
at is free country" remarked Repre-
sentative Nelson P. Wheeler of the Twenty
eighth Pennsylvania district when con-
fronted with the announcement of former
Representative Sibley of Franklin, Pa,
that he would be candidate for the Re-
publican nomination for Congress. at was
a free country when Mr.. Sibley ran for con-
gress upon several other occasions and it
hasn't changed. Mr.. Sibley was elected to
congress number of times no matter what
ticket he ran on, and if he wants to try it
again, we'll and good. am not worrying.
will be candidate 1t is for the people
to say whom they will choose. If they
don't want me l will go back to my bust
ness and no harm done. l am in congress
at a considerable sacrifice. So are most
men in congress. When Mr.. Sibley decided
that he would not stand for a reelection the
nomination came to me. | was nominated
on my record as a business man. have
done the best | could for my constituents
while here. | stand on the record. have
known for long while that Mr.. Sibley
wished to return to congress and was likely
to be candidate Men have been going
through the district for two months in his
behalf. Some might say that they were
stirring up sentiment for him; Others that
fho,r a,,InaNrArfprr 10, acnarfai,, gapti-
ment 1t doesn't matter which way it is
put 1t comes to the same thing. When a
man like my competitor, as he declares
himself to be- decides that he wants to run
for an office it is no trouble to find sutli-
cient sentiment upon which to base an an
nouncement.
"Mr. Sibley's expressed belief that pc
troleum even more than lumber is entitled
to receive some consideration from the
representative of this district may be di-
rected at me, as l am in the lumber busi-
ness. 1t did receive my consideration.
wonder if Mr.. Sibley could have secured
better treatment for it. As for lumber,
everyone knows that deep cut was made
in the duty. opposed any cut in the in
tereSts of my constituents. The Twenty
eighth congressional district produces
more lumber and more material for wood
pulp than any other in the state. We were
able to prevent lumber going on the free
list. There are more tanneries in my dis
trict than in any other in the country. /
stood with the tanners for what they asked
as did with the lumber producers. There
are large manufacturers in the district l
stood for protection to American manufac-
turers and labor. We did not do so badly.
What more could Mr.. Sibley have
achieved? On petroleum we were badly
beaten. The cry of Standard Oil was
raised against us. 1t was impossible to
overcome it. 1t was impossible to carry
conviction that duty was in the interest
of independent producers and refiners of
petroleum. We heard during the period
that the Standard Oil Company was against
duty on petroleum, but not a sufficient
number of members believed it. Lewis
Emery and former Congressman Phillips,
whose records as opponents ofthe Standard
Oil Company are written in the records of
courts, oflegislatures and of congress- were
accused of being Standard Oil agents when
they pleaded for duty. We presented
facts to the contrary, but were not listened
to. 1t is the simple truth that there was
not an agent or representative of the Stand
ard here to ask for a duty.
'Why didn't Mr.. Sibley come to Wash
ington and help Emery and Phillips and
the rest of us? | am not under his or any
ones condemnation for inability to have
petroleum protected; then Speaker Cannon
and Senator Penrose-yes and Senator Al
rich, who is considered all-powerful by
many-must be included in the adverse
verdict. Speaker Cannon has an oil field
in his district, and knowing the need of
protection for petroleum took the floor in
committee of the whole house and made
one of the most eloquent and impassioned
pleas for it that he ever made for anything.
in spite of that large majority of the Re
publicans and nearly all the Democrats
voted for free oil against the recommends
ton Of the ways and means committee
Since the house voted down its speaker, the
oldest member of the body in point of SER
vice, and esteemed the most influential,
what could one of the rest of us or Mr.. Sib.
ley have done? Senator Penrose in the
senate made hard fight to get petroleum
on the dutiable list. He did not accom-.
plish it. Senator Aldrich voted for duty
but showed coldness toward the PROPOSE
tion from the first. Mr.. Sibley in the
house would have been no more inhuen,
tial with the senate than as a private citi.
zen. However, since he wishes to have il
believed that did less for petroleum than
for lumber | will say-and l will say nc
more-that l am willing at any time tC
have my record and his with reference tC
petroleum examined and compared at any
time and covering any period. But so fal
as ! am concerned there will be no mut
throwing in this campaign. shall trea
Mr.. Sibley fairly and decently and in a gen
tlemanly manner"
Mr.. Wheeler will leave for home tomor
row night on business and will incidentally
look into political conditions.
IN a factory at jamestown, where