The Indianapolis journal., 1883-10-27
HON. w. ID. KELLEY.
How He Spent His Time Abroad-A Strong
er ProtectiOnist than Ever.


ProtectiOnist than Ever.
Philadelphia Press.
Hon. William d. Kelley, who has been
spending the summer in Europe, arrived in
the city, yesterday afternoon, on the limited
express from New York. The distinguished
comnoner, in conversation with a reporter.
expressed himself as more than satisfied with
the excellent effect of his transatlantic trip,
in as much as he is now almost altogether re-
covered from the distressing illness with
which he was afflicted early 10 the summer.
"How did you spend your time abroad?"
he was asked.
Il busted myself with my family quietly
in London for month, not even letting my
friends know of my presence there. Then 1
went to Broadstairs, a delightful little water
ing-place in Kent, where Dickens wrote
Bleak House, After sojourning there for a
few weeks visited some of the industrial
counties of England accompanied by my
daughter. First | visited South Wales and
spent some days studying the condition of
the iron workers there, In the course of my
Investigations l visited Merthyr Tydvil.
Dowlais and other places. found the labor
ing population in condition little better
than starving.
There was an immense number of men
idle. One town, which had once a number
OF thriving iron works, was actually falling
to pieces. | found women and girls at the
mouths OF the l-pits loading and hauling
cars filled with coal, and in the iron works
handling large iron plates In fact, they
were engaged in most OF those forms of la
Dor which require no special SKILL and,
therefore, receive the smallest remuneration.
The wages of the men were, of course, larger
than the women were receiving but still
they were miserably small.
I'm England l visited Manchester Shelf
field and Birmingham. Everywhere found
the workmen underpaid and dscontented.
Near Birmingham, at the Matchmaking towns
of Edgebaston and Halesowen, I found that
much of the work was done by women. They
received five shillings a week, and from that
were deducted the rent OF the forge, the cost
of the fuel the cost of carrying the bars
from which nails were made to the forge
and nails when made to the shops of their
employers. The women, if married and
with children, had usually to pay two shil
lings and siXpence week for care taken to
look after their children.
"At Edgebaston were many brickmakng
establishments where the women earned six
shllings week and were, in consequence,
envied " the chain and nail-makers of the
country side, who were employed at the
galvanizing establishments. They got seven
shillings week, but none of them could
hope to retain their health long enough to
enable them to work steadily for six con-
secutive months, because of the injurious
effects of the acids used in the process of
manufacture upon the throat
There is unquestionably a feeling among
all the working people in Great Britain that
free trade and American inventions have
ruined them. / remember hearing a man
say, throwing all the earnestness of PRAYER
in his profanity: BY Cd it would have
been a good thing for us if America had
never been discovered.' Do you wonder"
continued Mr.. Kelley, taking from his pocket
some specimens of nails, handmade by
men, that our machine made nails are driv-
ing these out of the markets in South Amer
ica and elsewhereP"
Would a return TO protection, do you
think, render the English laboring classes
prosperous
Il don't know that it is for me to suggest
legislation for Great Britain, but so far as
my own country is concerned my observa-
tions abroad have only made me a more in
tense protectionlst if possible than before"
Judge Kelley's family remains in Europe
and will not sail for this country for some
time yet Those of his friends who have
seen and converSed with him, since his
return, are agreed in believing him secure
from any further danger from his old trou-
bic in his mouth.
His personal appearance is much improved.
There is a bright sparkle in his eye his voice
is firm He grasps the hand in a strong,
cordial grip and says himself he never felt
better in his life. By his physicion's advice,
however, he will, for some months yet ex-
ercise the utmost discretion in the use of his
voice, refrain from exposure as much as pos
sible, and confine himself to a plain diet