The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-10-09
Hon. VIM. Mines, Jr., Speaks.

The Mines, Page county, correspondent
of the Wing gave an account of an enthu-
siastic Republican meeting held at Mines,
on the night Of the 23d. DIR. Webb. Re- |
publican candidate for Congress, made
a ringing speech--discnssing the tariff ,
question and the Blair educational bill \
with ability and convincing clearness. Aft ]
ter he had concluded. Hon. VIM. Mines,
il, proprietor of the ''Gem" Furnace at
that place, and heretofore acting with the
Democratic party. closed III speech of
great power and effect. inasmucl, as his
statements and arguments had practical APP
plication to the audience and place he was
speaking. The correspondent says.
Mr. William Mines, Jr., made the
closing speech Of the evening. His APP
pearance was greeted with shouts of APP
plause by the audience. This gentleman
has for eighteen years been engaged in the
iron interest at this point. The furnace
of which he has control gives employment
to 500 hands. The audience last night was
composed largely of these employees. /
listened with great interest to what he had
to say. The entire audience gave him the
most marked attention. His remarks up
on the tariff were eminently practical, and
seemed to carry conviction to every
nearer. Mr.. Mines stated that ever since
he came to Virginia he had voted the
Democratic ticket, but he had feen wait
ing year after year for the Democratic
party to awaken to the Importance of living
interests he had at last become satisfied
that he would have to wait in vain for
that party to align itself with the true in
terests of Virginia and the South. In its
undecided policy on the tariff question the
party, said MI. Mines, has given evidence
of the fact that it is not equal to the de-
mandS of the situation. Its platform
could be read so as to mean either tariff
for protection, or tariff for revenue only.
The policy of its leaders has given evidence
of the fact that there is nothing settled in
its purposes, and that the man who pro-
poses to consult the great industrial inter-
ests of the country is bound to fall in line
with the Republican party. He announced
acith great emphasis, his determination to
vote for Blaine, Logan and DR.. Webb.
This was received with great applause by
the audience.
MI. Mines read to the audience a charge
made. by the National Democrat that he
proposed to bulldoze the employees of his
furnace. He denounced the charge as
wicked, vicious and insolent. and appealed
to the audience composed, as before
stated. of his neighborS and men to whom
he had for years given employment) to
know if he ever told any man how he must
vote. All over the audience the response
was No, No.l MOL. Nogentlemen, said
Mr.. Mines, | have never sought to int1u-
ence any man to vote against his cOnvic-
tions. regard the right of suffrage too
sacred to be tempered with, and any man
who would permit himself to vote certain
way because his employer does is not wor-
thy of the name. In all the years during
which have given employment to men |
have never undertaken to interfere with
TO my neighbors to know if do not state
the truth.
Mr.. Mines. continuing, said | am OPP
posed to the Morrison Tariff bill, and l be-
lieye Democratic success in.the approach
election means the closing of the furnace
under my supervision. He believed that
the interests of employer and employee
were mutual and interdependent, and he
did not contemplate with satisfaction the
thought of crushing industries upon which
the wages of SO many were dependent. Mr..
Mines was very severe upon those who
sought, through the press. to make it APP
pear that he would, or had, or by any pos
sibility could, resort to the expedient of
controlling men S votes because they were
in his employ. Men, said he, depend up
on you and you depend upon me. What
is my interest is your interest at least /
think so, but L want you to understand, and
| want the world to understand, that you
must vote as you please and / will do
the same but certainly shall not please to
vote for party so manifestly against my
interest as the Democratic party in the
great fight for the protection of American
industries.