The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1913-07-01
A REVIEW
q 1he Last Democratic
Tariff Bill
Is Written By Congressman
1ayenner
10y Congressman Clyde n. ravsnnsr

10y consressman Clyde n. Tavennsr)
Washington, June 27-"The trusts
and combinations the communism of
pelf-whose machinations have pre-
vented us from reaching 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
It's campaign promises Of 1892.
President Wilson no doubt had In
mind what the lobbyists did to the
Wilson Democratic tariff bill in the
Senate In 1894 when he recently de.
nounced the Hobbies operating in
Washington.
A review Of what happened to the
last Democratic tariff bill as q result
Of the work Of the Hobbies while the
measure was in the Senate. is espec-
tally interesting at this time when
special privilege 10 trying to perform
the same old trick Of robbing the
consumers Of the fruits Of their vic.
tory at the polls.
On December 10. 1898, Chairman
Wilson Of the Democratic Ways and
Means Committee reported his tariff
revision downward bill to the House
Of Representatives. It was q fulfill.
ment In nearly every particular Of the
promises made by the Democrats In
the campaign Of 1892. which brought
about their election. Although de-
nounced by the more partisan Re-
publicans as . free trade measure II
was In reality but conservative step
In the direction Of freer trade, and
was we'll received by the Democratic
party throughout the country. It made
rather moderate reductions In the
duties ON woolen goods, cottons. lin
ems, silks, pig-iron, steel billets, steel
rails, china, glassware, and earthen-
ware It removed entirely the taxes
on wool. coal. iron ore. lumber. aud
on sugar both raw and refined.
The bill passed the House Febru'
cry 1, 1894. by . vote Of 1s3 to i0s,
sixty.one members not voting.
But In the Senate, special privilege
attacked the bill ferociously. power
full lobbies being conducted day and
night. Certain Democratic Senators
foremost among them German OF Ma
rylsnd and Brice Of Ohio. forgot the
solemn pledges Of the Democratic
convention Of 1892 and rendered most
efficient services to the protected In
terests.
The work Of the lobbies had theil
effect. The special interest servers Ia
the Senate obtained one amendment
after another, each one restoring q
part OF the remltted duties, In all
the Senate made 634 changes In ths
House measure destroying entirely its
original character. The people were
cheated out of their victory at the
polls. Special privilege had stepped
| In, and. via the lobby route had de
feated the interests of the people. Tn,
bill was passed but President Cleve
land refused to sign 1t. allowing II t
become Q law without his signature
President Grover Cleveland de
serves credit for having endeavoret
In every good faith to see that tn,
prediction promises should be car
ried out. His whole soul was In th,
fight. His defeat at the hands of tn,
iObbies. carried the bltterest humilia
tt0n and disappointment. He was
changed man all the remaining year
Of his life. In letter to Mr.. Catch
ings. Mississippi Congressman, b.
used the quotation alluded 10 ct tn
beginning OF this article. The reade
should glance back at this quotation
at this point. and reread II. Then b
should realize that President Wilson
In the courageous fight he Is now NAL
Ing against the Hobbies In Washing
ton, Is simply trying to prevent sp,
cial privilege from again dsprivtn
the American people Of well earne