Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-10

VI COHSIcSS dlsO huON lndl every PCA-
NJ of the extra dividends that the
lobby interests viii make by virtue of
legislation granting them special
privileges must come from the pockets
OF the men, women, and children in
the districts back home.
II will be recalled that President
Taft once faced the same crisis that
men bers of congress face now. He
] listened to the voices at his ear il
Washington, whom the late Senator
Dolliver described as men who knew
exactly what they wanted" Presi-
[ dent Taft forgot the folks at home
I who do not write letters, but who de-
sired tariff revision downward, and
/ on the very first election day follow
/ ing they got revenge. The lobbyists
/ in Washington whose counsel he had
accepted were powerless to save him
/ from the wrath of the home folks who
vote, but who maintain no Hobbies in
/ Washington.
I '"rhe trusts and combinations-the
| CON munism of pelf-whose machina-
/ tons have prevented US from reach
! ing the success We deserved, should
not be forgotten nor forgiven"
! These are the words of Grover
/ Cleveland. He was referring to the
tariff Hobbies which prevented the
democratic party from living Up to its
campaign promises of 1892
! President Wilson no doubt has in
mind what the lobbyists did to the
Wilson democratic tariff bill in the
senate in 1894 when he denounces the
Hobbies operating in Washington.
review of what happened to the
last democratic tariff bill as a result
of the work of the Hobbies while the
measure was in the senate is especial
~ interesting at this time when spe-
cial privilege is trying TO perform the
same old trick of robbing the consum-
ers Of the fruits of their victory at the
polls.
On Dec 10, 1898, Chairman Wilson,
of the democratic ways and means
committee, reported mis- taritt revision
downward bill to the house of repre-
sentatives. II was a fulfllment in
nearly every particular of the prom
ises made by the democrats in the
campaign of 1892, which brought
about their election. Although de-
nounced by the more partisan republ!-
cans as a free-trade measure, it was
in reality but a conservative step in
the direction OF freer trade, AMI vas
well received by the democratic party
throughout the country. 1t made rath-
er moderate reductions in the duties
on wooden goods, cottons linens, silks,
! pig iron. steel billets, steel rails
CHINA. glassware, and earthenware. II
removed entirely the taxes on wool
, coal. iron ore, lumber, and on sugar
both raw and refined.
Tne bill passed the house Feb. /
, 1924. by vote of 1872 to 106, 81 mem
> bers not voting.
But in the senate special privilege
attacked the bill ferociously, powerful
Hobbies being conducted day and night
CcIrein democratic senators. foremost
anone them German of Maryland and
Irice Of Ohio, forgot the solemn
pledges of the democratic convention
; OF 1872 and rendered most efficient
l services to the protected interests.
The work of the Hobbies had theil
effect The special-interest service il
5 the senate obtained one amendment
after another, each one restoring .
D part of the RENTED duties In all
e the senate made 634 changes in thu
J. house measure, destroying entirely it
original character. The people wer'
l. cheated out of their victory at The
+ polls Special privilege had stepped
l. in and via the lobby route, had de
d feated the interests of the people. Tit
. bill was passed, but President Cleye
Y land refused 20 sign it, allowing it t
2 become a law without his signature.
President Grover Cleveland desery
e ed credit for having endeavored il
e every good faith to see that preeleC
A. ton promises should be carried out
e His whole soul was in the fight. Hi
l. defeat at the hands of the Hobbies cal
& ried the bitterest humiliation an
n disappointment He was a change
y man all the remaining years of hi
q life. In a letter to Mr. Catchings,
e Mississippi congressman, he used III
n quotation alluded to. II should b
d easy for everyone 10 realize that Pres
/; !dent Wilson. in the courageous figh
ID he is making against the Hobbies
" Washington. is simply trying to pre-
r vent special privilege from again d.
Il. priving the American people of
h well-earned victory.
a. II the sugar lobbyists should su,
coed in having the tariff restored
il. sugar, the sugar trust and the me
,e back of the sugar Hobbies would eac
id year draw down dividends amountin
IL 70 millions of dollars.
" But where would this money com
d from? The answer to this question
10 the milk in the lobby-controversy C.
"A coanut The millions that would 2
.. annually to the sugar magnates woul
rs not drop from 10 blue sky. but woul
come from the consumers-the me-
20 women and children of the Unite
sr States who use sugar.
~ The lobby issue is plain. If II
.. lobbyists win out in their fight
n persuade members Of congress to 70
get their promises to the people an
., slap the tax back on sugar. the CO
=, sumers must 60 on contributing
y the Golfers Of the sugar trust by pa
= ing artifcially high prices for suga
And IL the sugar lobbyists do not su