New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-10-23
AGAINST A CHANGE.

THE TARIFF QUESTION VITAL TO NEARLY EVERY
INDUSTRY OF THE CoUNTRY-PROsPgRITY OF
TRADES NOT PROTECTED DUE TO TnE pRorEc-
TON POLICY OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND
DEPENDENT ON ITS CoSrrSUASCE--yrEws AND
OPINIONS OF SCORES or LARGE MANUFACTURE
KRs-wAGzs THE FIRST THING TO BE AFFECTED
by A CHANGE.
The success Ot the tariff card" campaign
which the merchants and manufacturers are
carrying on, is further indicated by the re-
suits of the additional investigation of tho
matter by The TRIBUNE. Among the impor-
tant facts now brought out are these sign:h-
cant ones The head Of one of the largest
cigar factories In the country, though
staunch Democrat opposes any change
Of the party controlling the Gem
eral Government; another large manu-
facturer in Williamsburg keeps 100000
IN bank at per cent interest until after the
election, rather than import tobacco while the
result Is in doubt; the laborers in this branch
of industry will generally vote the Republi-
can ticket; the iron mills Of Senator Barnum.
chairman of the Democratic National Commit
tee, have already reduced the wages of their
men in Anticipation of Hancock's success, and
their manager declares that q reduction Of
the tariff will close them up entirely. Many
other interesting statements showing hog
universally manufacturers and laborers ars
opposed to change in the policy and conduct
OF the Government as administered by the
Republican party are given herewith.
DEMOCRAT AGAINST A CHANGE.
CIGAI-MAKERs AWAKENED AND MANY sew gEPus-
LICAN CoNvEars-A NEW rARPR CARD.
IL having been rumored in various quarters thas
John Straiton, Of Straiton & Storm, Of tho
largest cigar4nanufacturng firms IN the country,
had come over to the Republican party from the
Democrats, TRIBUNE reporter called at the fao-
tory, No. 2O6 East rwcntY-sevcnth-st., and talked
with Mr.. Strait0n upon the subject.
mo have not left the Democratic party sai6
Mr. Saraiton. but do think tina: we should Doe
have ary change in the present Administration.
think change just now would be very disastrous
to the country |, with great many Others, belssS
In letting well enough alone"
well, would tho lowering of the tariff afect
your businessT
" cannot say that il would particularly. Nearly
all the cigars that are used here are made in ths
United States. The lowering eff the tariM
would admit few inferior grades ~
cigars manufactured in Europe-Inostly IN Gee
many; we would have nothing TO fear from Tho
better grades, because the entire annual exports-
ton from Cuba is only about two hundred millions
OF cigars, about 10 per cent of the annual amounf
of the tax-paylng product Of the United staoca
Taxes are paid in this country on two Thousand oDs
hundred millions of cigars, and the total amour, of
tay pi.d annually on c. rars and tobacco in this
nntry il $40 900 600. This tax consider equit-
able 1t is right, think, that we should be t2xe4
upon our smoking and drinking and other unncees-
sary habits. On. all points. therefore am in favor
Il in
long as the present prosperity continues and prom
is.s 10 continue. Although. as | tell You, an .
ri,e,aber OF the Democratic party my commercial
views are decidedly against change IN either taxa-
ton or tariff until able TO abolish ali inter-
nal reyenue taxation"
- Although you are Democrat, yet your sympA-
thies altogether with the Republican partyr
- do not say that; though believe tile Repub-
licln party will win, and have spoken very plainly
against q change" -
How many bands Dave you in vour FAC ctoresfSs
About l 800 in both factoEies-the other factory
is over IN Srcoud-dyc."
And how are your warkmen going. poitis-
allyH
'Oh they will nearly all OF them vote the Rs--
publican ticket. This question of the tariff has lad
great influence upon them. and great many of
them who were good Democrats are now kepu1b-
Did the tariff caris get INTO you factoriesi7
"Oh yes. the fac torres are full OF them but thc0
everywhere. / seem to meet them every
where go. = was a Big PrSlnt Pr ior
the RaDublcanS 10 take up tndt Issue. lbeSc meH
look with great deal of alarm upon any prospeetIys
decrease of wages. That is matter that Strikes
right home 20 them. BY the way. here Is cs-d &
picked up in the FACTORY this morning. il seems ~
be ~ different variety from the Others that havS
seem although ABOUT the same in effect"
On one side OF the card is the following:
Keep thls in your mind. and DON'T you forget IT,
Republican protection means plenty OF work. va
Democratic Free rrade means closed wcrk-shops-ssr-
vatOn waGes-aI crowded poor houses
On the other side:
wC2XINGMANl
Compare the wages you receive saturday night vR
20 - the polls and Hancock 1nf Free Trade os
cause YOU arc Dem rat from prejudice.
Your W fe would have better sense
Following this is a statement of the weekly wages
paid for various occupations in Belgium, Denmark
France, Germany, Italy and Great Britain.
Mr.. BARNUMs UNHAPPY woRKMEN
A CHANGE" THAT THEY DID NOT RFLsu-rBEiR
WAGES REDUCED WITHOUT NOTICE.
Among the people with whom The Democrati6
talk ofa cLange" finds favor the work.
men employed by William H. BarnGm, chairman Of
the Democratic National Committee. It was re-
ported that for the purpose Of buying mules in
Indiana he deducted from to 10 per cent from Tie
wages of his cmrloyes at Spuyten Duyvi Rail Mills.
and that in consequence they had left work Upon
investigation it was found to be true that the pay
of the men was reduced without notice, and the
mills were closed for week.
TRIBUNE reporter, VINO was at Spuyten Duyvik
Monday, found the mills running As usual aud ap-
parently all the men at work.
II thought there strike here" he Observed
TO a sturdy Scotchman who was carrying finished
rail from the sollers.
No. sir there's no strike.' was the reply. no
eyed the questioner with some suspicion.
But there ought to ha bin one,' remarked his
fellow-aborer. A conversation then ensued IN
which the last speaker mentioned ;he facts of the
case The men ara paid every fortnight, one week
always being kept in hand That is to
say, man works three weeks before
he is paid anything; then he Is paid for
two weeks only and the Jne weeks wages are bcid
a. kind Of security so long as he may reinaia-
When paid the week before last each man. with tho