Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-06
Remarks frequently Applauded by
the Large Audience.
DEFENSE OF TARIFF LAW
Revision Downward on Articles En-
tering Into the Daily Living.
UPWARD ON THINGS FOR RICH
John Y. stone Closes the Meeting,
PrOnOuncIng n High Tribute on
the work OF the Repre-
sentative.


care 1 for all the muckrakers from Des
Moines to Madison" With these words
Congressman Walter l. Smith launched
himself into a stirring vindicaton of him
self before a packed audience at the Star
theater in Council Bluffs Saturday, in an
swer to the attack which had been made
upon him by United States Senator A. B.
Cummins the night before.
BY pointed inference the speaker early
made it plain that he recognized in the
senator's criticisms in which he asked that
Mr. Smith be defeated in the next election,
plot to give Cummins and Senator Dolli-
yer of Iowa the balance of power in Iowa.
1t is apparent that these gentlemen may
fear that my possible election as next
speaker of thej house." said the Judge,
would give me higher rank than they"
on this point Congressman Smith declared
he had been informed that when the old
rules committee was recently dissolved and
the question of ousting Speaker Cannon
was being voted upon, certain Iowa sena-
tor had begged a democratic associate to
support the speaker. For Gods sake vote
for Cannon" the speaker quoted the seHa-
tor as having said IF Cannon is defeated
Smith will be speaker by nightfal'
Points to His own Record.
Throughout his speech, lasting two hours
Congressman Smith frequently made refer
ence to the motives of hidden design that
actuated Senators Cummins and Dolliyer In
fighting him. He rapidly sketched his own
service in congress, pointing out how he
had through several legislative moves saved
the United States millions of dollars in the
past, and assured saving of at least $780,
The gentleman who said last night that
should not be sent back to congress has
been in the senate three sessions" said
the. congressman. Throughout those three
sessions that gentleman has not written SO
much as a paragraph, line, word nor
even punctuation mark, ON any law OF the
nation.'"
The speaker made a strong defense OF
the new tariff law and of the system of
rules in the house, explaining that each
was the best to be had. 1t was a non-es-
sential mistake congress was said to have
promised a revision downward. He said
the body never promised that but the pres
| ldent had interpreted its attitude in that
| light and the public had been thus misin-
formed. He pointed out that revision had
| been made upward on all such luxuries as
steam yachts, champagne, cologne and aut-
omobiles, and had been lowered on the
products Of the Standard Oil company and
I on the necessities of life
Concerning Criticisms,
Concerning the criticisms made OF him by
Senator Cummins, the speaker made sep
arate reply to each, pointing out motive
! behind each of the verbal indictments Il
| don't like the company Senator Cummlns
| keeps at Washington, '-he added. HE Is
continually associating with democrats; /
associate with republicans. II didn't like
their company l would not remain in con-
gress as a republican"
Congressman Smith also took up the at
tack made on him by the La Toilette
Weekly, which he said was being circu-
lated by the Byers men. This paper has
devoted several pages to libellIng me-" he
said. He then quoted the statement in the
magazine that Council Bluffs is that part
of Omaha which is on. the east side of the
Missouri river. in Iowa" and that "Coun-
Gil Bluffs is the commercial backyard of
big business centering in Omaha" and
called attention to the fact that not salts
fled with defaming him. the Byers men
we're defaming the city in which he lived
Referring TO Senator Delivers recent
statement that the tariff law was a scheme
to rob the people, Congressman Smith re-
marked that il such were so. 1t was a
great commentary upon the people of the
country. since nine-tenths of-the lawmakers
had voted for it. What pity that the
people of this country can elect a congress
only one-tenth honest" he said. Il think
it means that one-tenth need watching
When the one tenth accuses the nine-tenths
of being crooked. 1t shows a natural state
of mind Of erookedness on their own part
Agrees THIS.
Il agree with Senator Cummins in his
statement that II ballot for every seat
in congress were tossed into the audience
Ccontin,ed ON second pace