The Alaska citizen., 1913-08-25
LOOKING BACKWARD.

communism z; peIf whose mach...s.- lions have prevented Us from reach ing the saceess we deserved. should hot be forgotten nor forgiven.
 These are the words of Grover Cleveland He was referring 10 the tarin iobbies which prevented the Democratic party from living IL to it's campaign promises in 1>92.
 President Wilson no doubt had n mind what the lobbyists did 10 the Wilson Democratic tariff b.n in the senate in fS94 when ha deaoaaeal The lobbies operating in Washing tn.
 A review of what happened to the last Democratic tarin bill as a re suit of the work of the lo5b.es while the measure was in the senate. fs especially interesting at this time when special privilege is trying to perform the same old trick of rob hing the consumers ot the fruits at their victory al the polls.
 On December T.. 1S93, Chairman Wilson of the Democratic Ways and Means committee reported his tariH revision downward ! Il to the house oi representatives. II was fulhl ment in nearly every particular of the promises made by the Demo e1ats ia The campaign of fS92, which bIought about their election. Although denounced by the more parti isan Re Fua.icans as free trade measure II was i'll realty but conservative step i'll the direct on of freer trade, and vas well received hy the Demo cratic party through at the country II made rather moderate redue- tions in the duties on wooltn goods. eottons, linens, silks pisiron, steel billets. steel rails, china. glassware and earthenware. It removed en- tirely the taxes on wopl. coal. iron ore, lumber and on sugar. both raw and refined
 The bill passed the house February l, 1891. by vote of 1S2 to 1o6 sixty ne members not voting.
 But in the senate special privi lege attacked the bill ferociously. powerful Hobbies beirs conducted day and night Certain Democratic senators. foremost among them Cor man. f Maryland, and Brice. of Ohio. forgot the solemn pledges of the Democratic convention of 1892 and rendered most efficient serv ces 10 the protected interests.
 The work of the Hobbies had their effect The special interest servers in the senate obtained one amend ment after another, each one res toring a part Cf the remitted duties. In all, the senate made G34 changes in the house measure, destroying entirely its original character. The people were cheated out of their victory at the polls. Special privi- lege had stepped m via the lobby route, had defeated the interests of the people. The bill was passed. but President Cleveland refused to sign it, allowing it to become a law without his signature.
 President Grover Cleveland de serves credit for having endeavcred in good faith to see that the pre- election promises should be carried out. His whole soul was in the fight. His defeat at the hands of the lobbies carried the bitterest hu- initiation and disappointment. He was a changed man all the re- maining years of his life. In let ter 10 Mir. Catchings, a Mississippi congressman, he used the quotation alluded to al the beginning of this article. The reader should glance back at this quotation, at this point, and reread it. Then he should realize that President Wilson. in the courageous fight he is now making against the lobbes in Wash ington, is simply trying to prevent special privilege from again depriving the American people of well earn ed victory.
 The hrst installment of Popular Talks nn am uhinL 4ho Oli.0.