New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-18
HALF TINE FOR SILK wEAvERS.
DOUBT AS TO THE ELECTION AFFECTING AN M
PoRTANT INDUSTRY.

OOCBT AS TO THE ELECTION AFFECTING AN M
PoRTANT INDUSTRY.
few evenings ago the large Newark silk mill in
Rank-st, Newark was illuminated at every window
in honor of a Republican torchlight parade. The
movement started among the workmen who raised
the money to pay for it among themselves first j..
D. Cutter the principal owner, objected to the iu-
minatiop on the ground that the firm had $4,000
vorth of property and feared fire the invalida-
tion of the insurance, but on being assured that
prpper precautions would be taken he consented
apd added to the fund for Chinese lanterns. This
establishment had been running on full time for
about four years, but last Monday the 100 men and
200 girls employed began working three days in the
week Mr. Cater SAID IN explanation of this half
time movement that the possibility of the cleo
sion of Hancock has seriously affected the demand
and we do not need TO full time. When men
learned of the heavy registration in New-York ana
Brooklyn, they became timid, not knowing what
the future would bring forth. Values are uncer-
tain, and we have on hand to-day 100000 worth
of goods which ought to be sold. We can have no
prosperity where there is doubt as to what future
Congress OF Administration may do"
John n. Stearns whose silk mill in East Forty
second-st employs about 100 men, said he did not
know what their political opinions, were IN 1876
but that this year his employees would vote for Gar
field and Arthur. In conversation few days ago
Mr.. Stearns Sal0:
." have yet to meet the first manufacturer IN my
hne Democratic or Republican. who wants a
change and | meet good many men Of both
parties. The country is buying more goods now
than il has for years. our exports and imports are
large hotels are overlooking, even at higher prices
than formerly, and houses are abOut the scarcest
things to be had. There is a general feeling among
business men that a Democratic victory would be
the signal for great business depress on"
The secretary of the SIX Association Of America
was called upon ar his Office, No. III HOward-St and
asked now he SIX Association stood politically.
the manufacturing of silk is peculiarly depend
ent upon the tariff" he SAID. land there few
branches of its manufacture which could be co3-
fiDued proftably were the tariff lowered. The tariff
upon silk goods really does not press with hardship
upon any class of the community. SILK goods
Injury and # the tariff were reduced only the
weather. people would benefit by 1t. Silk goods
are now cheaper in this country than ever before,
and this is OWING to the great competition among
our own manufacturers. | believe that our silk
manufacturers are fully alive to their interests in
this controversy, and that there is better knOwl-
edge of the whole subject among their working
people than ever before IN the history OF the bust
ness The injury which would be caused by sud
den change would be most severely felt by the
workingnen aud the small manufacturers, OF whom
there is large number employing perhaps a score
of hands apiece. Their enterprises would have to
20 10 the wall at once, while the larger inanutac-
furers could escape such fatal disaster only by de-
voting themselves to the making of certain lines OF
goods and by greatly reducing the rates OF wages
laid TO their employees"