Jasper County Democrat, Volume 9, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1906 — WAS DALZELL STUMPED? [ARTICLE]

WAS DALZELL STUMPED?

Prominent among the standpatters in the lower house of congress is Congressman John Dalzell, of Pennsylvania. His hOme is at Pittsburg, so it may safely be assumed that he knows, or should know, the conditions existing in that wonderful centre of American industry, where the Allegheny and the Monongehela, mingling their oily waters beneath the murky atmosphere of the grime-covered city, unite to form the Ohio, pursuing its muddy course to the Missippi and thence to that inland sea known as the Gulf of Mexico, from whence they are transported by that peculiar mid-ocean current, the “gulf stream,” to the shores of h-old h-England, mitigating, by their warmth, the otherwise rigorous climate of the British Isles.

Perhaps it is for this reason—who knows? —that Mr. Dalzell is so kindly disposed toward the inhabitants of King Edward’s realm, and so stoutly opposes any legislation which might permit Americans to buy Pittsburg products—steel rails, for instance—ss cheaply as they may be purchased by His Majesty’s subjects across the sea. Mr. Dalzell is always interesting, but sometimes absentminded. For instance, while he was delivering a speech in congress on the tariff question he was asked by Representative Underwood, of Alabama, if he could name any place in the entire world where steel rails are produced at less cost than in Pittsburg. , “I think not,” replied Mr. Dalzell, with just pride in the fame of bis home city. “Can you name a place in the world where pig-iron is produced as cheaply as it is in Pittsburg?” pursued the gentleman from Alabama; and again came the answer: “I think not.”

“In that case,” gently insinuated the believer in tariff reform, “why should this country place a protective tariff upon either steel rails or pig-iron?” Not for a moment was the gallant standpatter nonplussed. “I “I will come to that later in my speech,” said he. But he never did. Wherefore we are led to conclude that the gentleman from Pittsburg is at times prone to absentmindedness. Or was he really “stumped?”