"WILSON LAW DESCRIBED BY A DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENT AS ONE OF IDIOCY, AND INFAMY, OF PERFIDY, AND OF DISHONOR." Extracts from remarks of Hon. JAMES 8. SHERMAN of New York, in daily Congressional Record, April 21, 1908. Mr. SHERMAN. The resolution here presented states why the prosecution of the paper trust, so-called "paper trust,' was not made-that the persons making the allegations refused to present the names of people to be summoned to prove the allegations. Mr. Speaker, the Republican party does not assume that any man is guilty until he has been given a chance to be heard. It does not assume guilt until guilt is proven. Nor does the Republican party attempt to legislate in reference to the tariff or any other subject without the fullest possible investigation thereon. The gentleman from Missouri [Mr. DE ARMOND], scholarly, thoughtful, and an adept in the use of English hardly without an equal on this floor, indulges this morning in the use of some adjectives. He speaks of the proposed action here as an injury and as an insult. Mr. Speaker, those are mild words compared with the words used by a Democratic President in describing the last act of the Democratic party in reference to a tariff bill. Does my friend from Missouri forget that the Wilson law was described by a Democratic esident, who declined to add his signature to the bill, making it a lay and held Congress in session for two or three weeks until the time had psed so that the bill became a law without his signature-does my Missiou friend forget that a Democratic President described that act as one of idiocy and infamy, of perfidy, and of dishonor. [Applause on the Republican side.] The Republican party proposes, when it does take up the tariff question, when it does enact legislation in reference to economic questions, to do so advisedly, considerately, with the fullest possible knowledge, and no Republican President yet has failed to sign a tariff bill sent by a Republican House for his consideration. [Applause on the Republican side.] And I predict, Mr. Speaker, that when a Republican President does have a tariff bill to consider, sent to him by a Republican House, it will be a measure so well digested, a measure framed after the fullest possible thought, the fullest possible knowledge obtained by all interested parties on every subject, that that measure instead of being described by a Republican President as one of perfidy and dishonor will receive his prompt and unqualified approval-not merely in words, but in action, and I predict that a Republican President, when a Republican Congress does send him a tariff bill, will approve it promptly and fully in every particular, because the bill will be framed, as I say, with an eye single to American interests, not South, not North, not East, not West; it will be a measure which is framed with an eye not to the laboring man alone, but it will be a measure framed with a thought to care for labor and capital alike, for the North and South alike, for the consumer and the producer alike, for every class and every station of our country. [Applause on the Republican side.] That, Mr. Speaker, is why we are insisting that this resolution in reference to a certain industry shall be now passed, so that we may have the fullest possible information before any legislation is enacted in reference to this subject. My friend from Missouri [Mr. DE ARMOND] says that the price of paper has increased within the past few years. Of course it has. Has not the price of cotton also increased, Mr. Speaker? Has the tariff affected that? Why, the mere fact, Mr. Speaker, that the price of cotton has increased cannot be taken as an indictment of the tariff. It is perfectly absurd to draw any such conclusion. A word more and that is all, Mr. Speaker. The Republican majority in this House proposes to continue as it began in bringing in under the rules which it provides propositions to obtain all the information that is obtainable on every subject before bringing for the consideration of the House on final passage any measure, and that is the purpose of this rule, Mr. Speaker, and this Republican House takes full responsibility for the resolution and will pass it and uphold the Speaker in this House in choosing as he has chosen heretofore and as he will choose in this instance, a committee that the country will accept as high minded, honorable, fair, and with the determination to reach the bottom facts and give them unprejudiced and unbiased fully to the House for its Consideration and action. [Applause on the Republican side.] |