Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-12
Amateurs and Professionals,

'"rhe scholar in politics. tried his hand
at tariff making when William l.. Will
son Of West Virginia was appointed
chairman Of the ways and means COM
mittee by Speaker Charles F. Crisp upon
the organization Of the Fifty-third Cong
gress. in 1898. The general election or
1892 had resulted in complete victory
for the democratic party. Grover Cleve-
land was returned to the White House,
the House was democratic by majority
Of ninety-four, and in the Senate the
democrats had q plurality OF six over
the republicans, not counting three popu-
lists, who nearly always voted with the
democrats. Thus. for the first time since
the Buchanan administration, the demo-
Gratis had complete control OF the ex-
ecutive and legislative branches of the
government.
The national convention in 1892 had
voted down a conservative tariff plank
presented by a majority of its resolutions
committee, and had adopted in it's stead
a radical low tariff plank which de-
nounced the Mckinley law in the most
vigorous language that Henry Watterson
could command the party rsr,yo was commit
William l.. Wilson. born in Virginia, in
i843, enlisted as private in the Confeder-
ate army, after his graduation from
Columbian University (now George Wash
ington University, in 1850. Immediately
after the war he became professor of
Latin In his alma mater. retiring in 1871
to practice law in Charles Town. w. Va.
In 1882 he was chosen president of the
University of West Virginia. which posi-
ton he resigned upon his election to
Congress. later in the same year. He
was. above all else, scholar. and his
tariff views We're those Of the theoretical
free trader. After his defeat for relec-
landslide Of 1894. he was appointed Post
master General by President Cleveland.
Upon the expiration of his term he be-
came president Of Washington and Lee
death. in 1900. While he was in Congress
he declined the proffered presidency OF
the University of Missouri
Wilson'S ablest practical lieutenant in
the tariff fight was Benton McMillin of
Tennessee. 1t was
Benton 4cNillin McMillin VIII o
Valuable Ally. uame eu rxs ,r naI :
and forced the passage through the
House OF what the committee believed to
be a good bill. 1t was McMillin who
added to the measure the income tax
amendment. which was designed to make
up the deficiency that would be caused
In the receipt Of revenues by reason OF
the reductions In the tariff duties. At
that time neither Wilson nor McAilltn
even considered the possibility that the
Supreme Court would reverse its former
decisions and declare the income tax
proposition unconstitutional.
No man ever has approached the task
/ OF remaking the tariff under more un-
favorable circumstances than did Chair
man Wilson. The Mckinley bill. large
~ on account Of tariff-free sugar and
the 2 cents a pound bounty on domestic
sugar. had failed to produce sufficient
| revenue for the needs OF the government.
When President Cleveland came into Of
fee March 4. 1893. the Treasury was de-
pleted. Bonds were issued and sold to
meet the obligations of the government
Then the great panic of 1893 burst upon
the country. banks failed. merchants
were bankrupted. factories were closed
down and the whole business and indus.
trial life OF the country was paralyzsd.-
In this direful emergency President