The Washington herald., 1913-03-16

manufactured in immense quantities. The
district. industrially. Ii of great import
ance. 1t was modern in every respect
except in its politics.
THE Democratic leaders in the four
counties got together long before / be-
came a voter, and entered into a bargain
that was to be binding for fifty years.
1t was known as the rotation agreement
concerning members of Congress. No
man at first was to serve more than
one term In the House Of Representa-
tives, and the nomination was to be
given to different county every two
years. I didn't want office; / wasn't kept
out Of Congress. you understand, and
therefore could condemn the contract
and not be accused of selfshness. II
was very obnoxious to me as n free
speaking man and free-thinking Demo-
crat. II was a trust. in the first place.
entered into by machine politicians, and,
furthermore, was bad for the district.
Just about the time a man learns the
names OF the principal streets in Wash
ington.' said he is brought home and
some one else takes his place. The ar
rangement is not only infamous. but 1t
Is idiotic.'
"'You have been preaching sound doc
trine for severalNyears.' a number of
men said to me in 1913. Now II you are
really in earnest they continued, you
will mix it UP with a little practice. Run
for the nomination and break up the
combination tried to back away, but
couldn't do II honorably. i had talked
rather loudly and bitterly. and. at least,
had to be consistent or thereafter keep
my mouth shut. So l announced my
candidacy Rotation is rotten l shout
ed at every opportunity. That was my
platform. 1t was alliterative and not
over-refned. but it was short, 1t told
the truth. and it pulverized the trust.
Begins Talking Right on.
The organization in each Of the four
counties called their leaders into the
field, but / beat them at the primaries.
after a campaign on the stump. and was
nominated. Then / had another contest
to be elected. So far. since 1906. / have
had six pitched battles in my district
Three OF the counties are now favorable
to me and perhaps my worst home trou-
bles are over. I am the first man in
many years to serve two consecutive
terms in Congress. and think / am the
only man who has had three consecu-
tive nominations. I made a tariff speech
two weeks after entering the House Of
Representatives. Marlin E. Olmsted. Of
Harrisburg, was in the chair. l had
once gone to Harrisburg with the idea
of becoming his partner. He had an ex-
tensive practice. especially in tax litiga-
ton. 1 found that I could make a great
deal of money as Mr.. Olmsted's partner.
but that should lose my identity. So l
returned to Stroudsburg in q month or
two. Well, Mr.. Olmsted was in the
chair. as ! have said. and I was sure l
had one friendly listener even IL he didn't
agree with me. After 1 concluded my
Mr(vearv nf the
members from Philadelphia, congratulat-
ed me, saying. I was a judge at de-
bate years ago when you were a stu
dent at Swarthmore and decided against
YOU So my initiation into the oratory
Of Congress was exceedingly pleasant"
Since his first speech on the tariff, Mr..
Palmer has made others on the same
question. He thinks, evidently. that many
fortunes In this country were obtained un-
fairly. and more than once has limited
at measures Of restitution. A tax on in
comes and a tax on inheritances, he de-
clared in his first speech. will afford to
the government a means Of recovering
for purposes Of operating the government
a portion Of the wealth which the same
government has allowed the possessors
to acquire by reason of the favoritism
legalized in the protective tariff enact
ments on our statute books" Like Mr..
Wilson, he seems to be a theoretical free
trader.
Grover Cleveland Captivated Him.
You live in one of the busiest and
most prosperous manufacturing regions
in the country" said. when did you
become an enemy of protection?"
AT college. I suppose" he answered
II was a student at-Swarthmore in 1855,
when Mr.. Cleveland ran for President
the second time. His famous tariff mes
sage Of December s, 1887, filled me with
enthusiasm national election was
coming on, and he again was to go before
the people as candidate. He might
have lodged the issue, but he bravely
told the country that customs duties were
a tax which was invariably added to- the
prices of products. Mr.. Cleveland over
turned all traditions and limited his mes
sage to Congress to a single subject. He
made no other recommendations.
Friends warned him that the message
would cause his defeat at the polls the
following year. Col. Alexander h. Nc
Clure. of my own State. and John G. Car
Isle, who was to be elected Speaker of
the House of Representatives on the fol-
lowing Monday. spent several hours with
him on Saturday night. previous to the
opening OF Congress. They begged him
to change the message, but he refused to
accept their advice. The great document
went to the people. 1t IL q condition
which confronts us-not q theory Mr..
Cleveland told the country. That phrase