Morning journal and courier., 1884-10-30
AN NMrERESTING STATEMENT.


 One of the Democratic cries is that the Re publicans promised the workingmen tha wages should be good and employment steady if Garfield was elected, and that that promise has by no means been kept. We call the attention of our voting readers to the follow ing statement made by the Mitchell Brothers, iron manufacturers, of Norwich in this State:
 In 1880 we promised our men steadier work and higher wages if Garfield was elect ed and other manufacturers did the same, The Democrats are now claiming that these promises were not fulfilled. We give you be- low the record of our own mill and let you decide for yourselves. We were idle the three months before the last presidential cleo tion owing to over-speculation and the col lapse of what was known as ''the boom." As soon as Garfeld's success was assured we .. o,a aEsaiu and the wages paid ran from $1 25 to $3.25- From the time of Garfields election we steadily every day and in few months time we were running over time-working. as many hours as the men could stand. In May, 1882, only 13 months after the inauguration of Garfield, without even hint from our men, we advanced their wages from 15 to 20 per cent. Excepting such days we were obliged to be idle for repairs, we ran our mill every day from the time of Garf1eld's election down to October, 'S3-nearly three full years-and made an average advance in wages of over IS per cent. Had we not car red out our promises thus fars
 At this time a Democratic congress was elected and the fight between Carlisle, Morri- son and Randall-free trade and protection had commenced. So quick and powerful was it's blasting influence on our trade that, though we had shipped more goods in Au- gust than in any one month ever before, it stopped our mill on the instant. In Novem- Der, '83, we ran only half time; in December only one-third time, and in this month we were obliged to reduce wages to nearly the same as they had been three years before. Even with the reduced cost of our goods we were able to run only half time in January, -84.
 At this time the Morrison bill, 'tthat first firm step towards free trade," appeared, and we did not run one day until it's defeat was certain, being idle over six weeks. We then started again and ran until May 10th, when the Hewitt bill stared us in the face Though it had little chance of being passed, it showed that the free traders were not going to give up the fight, and it's influence on our trade was enough to keep us idle the month of June.
 Early in July Cleveland was nominated, and during the month that followed, owing to the almost general belief that Cleveland was clean man, the defeat of the RepubE can party was looked for by large part oi the people. Democratic success means free trade success, and we are again thrown into idleness- Soon different feeling sprang LII 1 and as soon as the chances of Republican success were seen to be good our trade re 1 vived. We started the mill August 4th, anG have run steadily since
 'sThe Morrison and Hewitt bills are not tn, 1 end but the beginning of the tariff struggle It is and must be the highest and only ques
 tion in the present campaign-the bread ant | butter question As this election goes fo
 Blaine and Cleveland, protection or fre'
 trade will be helped. The working men O \ the country must decide the question: