The Detroit times., 1910-11-08

! upon themselves :.
the most crushing -----
defeat the Republican party yet has
sustained.
The tariff question had become the
chief Issue talked about. but the
money question was really uppermost
In the minds OF the people. AS both
parties were divided in opinion on
the money question, just as Demo
Gratis and Wings had been divided on
the question of slavery extension,
both parties "straddled" the currency
question and made their fight on the
tariff. but not without some trimming.
The demand for a revision OF the
tariff had reached the stage In Ar
thurs administration that congress
felt impelled TO do something. II
created a tariff commission. Every
body WAS for the commission. be-
cause the high tariff men believed II
would recommend still higher duties,
while the low tariff men thought 1t
would find reductions to be impera-
lively necessary. The commission
made its report. and. in the main, its
recommendations were adopted in the
tariff OF 1888. The rates recommend
ed on wool, cotton. steel and iron were
the chief matters OF contention. On
the whole, the bill was protection
ist victory. and In 1854, Mr.. Cleveland
and the Democratic party opposed the
protectionist doctrine and won In the
election. but the efforts Of the Dem
ocratic houses In the first Cleveland
administration To revise the tarin
were checked by the Republican ma
iority in the senate. Toward the
close OF his term, Mr. Cleveland sent
a message 10 congress dealing solely
with the tariff. In It he took ad-
vanced ground against the protection
lists. There was an immense surplus
in the treasury and the president be
! lIeved that a reduction OF duties was
demanded. Tn eradical tariff views of
! Cleveland were not endorsed by all
Democrats. and this message caused
a revolt in the party. The president
also was at variance with many OIL
| his partisans on the currency question.
| He was defeated for reelection ana
| the Republicans, on a protecuonist
platform, were swept into complete
| power.
The first half OF the Harrison adj
ministration was remarkable Tor three
| things-the establishment OF the Reed
rules In the house OF representatives,
the attempt 10 enact the Force DILL
| seeking to make the south Republican
by the use OF federal power and red
eral bayonets. and the passage OF the
Mckinley tariff bill The Republican
majority IN the house was not large.
So contests we're instituted and sew
eral Democratic members we're
thrown out and their places filled with
Republicans The Democratic MEM
hers OF the house sought TO BLOCK the
progress OF legislation by systematic
| flihusters. but they were circumvent-
ed by the revolutionary Reed rules
which ever since have governed the
house. The Force bill passed the
| bouse. hut was defeated In the senate
after a long hlibuster by combina-
ton OF Democrats and western he
nublicans Thus died the last serious
effort 10 control the political action OF
! the southern states by federal inter
ference.
The Mckinley bill was new de-
parture in tariff legislation. II was
the first measure designed frankly 10
afford protection without regard TO
DrIces of articles OF consumption as
was ayowed by Mr.. Mckinley when
no reported the bill to the house on
April 16. 1890. The campaign OF 1893
had been fought squarely on the tariff
Issue as precipitated by Mr.. Cleve-
lands tariff message OF 1887. The Re-
nubIicans had won. and by their very
DEFENSE OF existing protection duties
they were forced into demanding stlll
bigher duties. The Mckinley bill was
an inward revision. In the debate the
hattie ragged most fercely about the
wool the sugar and the tin schedules
The wooden duties were Increased,
bounty was granted TO domestic sugar
and the demands a. the tin-plate man
ufacturers were met. &c
The bill passed the house on May II,
and went 10 the senate. After nearly
a month the senate committee brought
/ n out with a large number or amend
ments mostly in the nature or reduc-
tons OF duty. Then began long de-
/ hate which ended when the bill passed
( the senate on Sept. 10. The confer
ence committee adjusted the diner.
ences between the two houses on 464
points. and inserted In the bill pro-
! vision giving the president power 10
SUSPEND certain provisions TO permit
! tho making Of reciprocity treaties. The
/ reciprocity feature was introduced by
Mr.. Blaine, then in the cabinet,
/ through Senator Frye. The bill was
nassed in the last DAYS OF September
/ and was signed by the president on
oct. 1. It went into operation on
| Oct 6.
or course the congressional cam
naign was already on. IL was only
| four weeks until the election. It was
! lmpossible for the country to have felt
1 the effect OF the measure, for " was
no, vet I'm working order. But all
during the long debate the Democrats
had made the most of their opportun-
ity 10 riddle the bill and to point out
| the alleged evils Il contained.
Peddlers we're sent through Repub-
lican congressional districts with wag-
ons loaded with tinware, for which
/ enormous prices we're asked. The
/ housewives were told that the Nc
/ Kinlev bill had put up the prices. This
camraign device was worked In MT
McKiHleys own district. All over the
| country the Democratic orators were
/ busily engaged I'm tearing down the
new bill before II was really passed
The result OF the election In Novem-
her was an unprecedented rout OF the
Republican forces. Speaker Reed was