Depew represents the Vanderbilt system of railroads, while Platt represents the United States Express Company. The two will oppose any legislation which interferes with the income of their corporations, never mind what the people of the state or nation want. The people have for years wanted a parcels post in this country. England and other countries have it, but we cannot. Why? Because Platt is in the Senate, and also in the parcel-carrying business. You, Mr. Conservative, put him in the Senate and you keep him there. We have what is called a protective tariff in this country. It is a law which, in the name of _protecting_ the workingman, _robs_ him and every other consumer. If you are a conservative, you are in favor of maintaining this law. The tariff schedule was drawn up by a committee of Congress _behind closed doors_. That is, the doors were closed on those who have to _pay_ the tariff, but open to those who were to be _benefited_ by it. The committee sent for the manufacturers of the various necessary articles which people use, and asked _them_ how much of a tax _they wanted_ on similar articles made abroad. And the manufacturers wrote these schedules for the committee, and they were adopted. Notice, the consumers, the people who have to pay the tariff, were not invited to appear before this committee. Only the manufacturers, who are the beneficiaries, were taken into counsel. If you are a conservative—that is, if you are a stand-patter, you are in favor of continuing and “maintaining” this “mother of trusts.”