Chairman and gentlemen of this committee. that the effect of this tariff will be to absolutely throttle and destroy this great industry. The Democratic Party. as represented by the membership in this House. proposes not a reduction of the tariff for the purpose of placing the producer of this country on a basis of competition with those abroad. but they propose to enact into Iw a measure that will absolutely annihilate an industry that represents an investment of more than $100.000.000 in this country. claiming that any industry that can not compete in the open market with a like industry abroad without the benefit of the protective tariff is an illegitimate industry and should be destroyed. Much has been said both for and against this theory in this House in the past week. and I say to you of the majority that when the American farmers and the American laborers realize the fact that you propose to place them upon an absolute basis of equality with the Asiatic and European farmers and laborers. they will have an answer to that argument that will be most displeasing to you. It is a wellknown fact. Mr.