The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-09-20
THE TALK OF THE CAMPAIGN.
What a thoughtful Mechanic Has to
Say Of the Tariff Agitation.
Congressman Matson and the Mexican Vet
erans-AnnOuncements for Meetings,
and General Political Gossip.

O1ldcTyt III CU4t0Icdb10u: ybohOANAdyY bllNs I
know, as every other worker in iron knows, that
tariff agitation is a positive injury to our bust
ness Beginning with the introduction of the
Morrison horizontal reduction tariff bill and the
agitation that occasioned, business has continued
to grow steadily worse. The uneasiness is in
creased by the fear that the Democratic party
or the free.trade party-may get in power. This
establishment buys set screws, bolts and other
ironware and machinery. / see a large number
Of iron men, They al complain of dull
times, and say that up to the
beginning of the tariff agitation by
the Morrison bill they were doing well. In this
establishment until a short time ago forty men
were employed I'm not counting boys), now We
have only seven men. The thtrty-three who
were discharged know what made the necessity
for their discharge. They know the tariff tink-
ers did it have noticed that from the time the
agitation started the dissatisfaction of men in
our trade has gone on. Six months ago the
Union Foundry Company was running a large
force Of hands; they now employ only a fourth
as many men. Sinker, Davis & Co.
have reduced their force, so has
the Model Machine-works. The bank troubles
here have had little to do with this-it is due to
Horizontal Morrison and his friends, and, as /
SSNAN ~ VIZ ANNSA "a A1OGr uAGAN0
Nobody feels like buying in the present dis
turbed state of affairs; nosone cares to engage in
business and risk capital now. The consequence
Is that instead Of going ahead and making stock
do here, working up old stuff and doing repairs.
1t wouldn't be well to have a stock of manufac-
tured iron on hand, machinery Of various kinds,
in case free trade prevails and the
R sSsn 1 the kn sess q down m.d to lsss
Skilled mechanics don't like to contemplate the
possibility of having British competition reduce
their wages one half or more. The competition
IN this country Is strong enough without throw
ing our doors open to the poorly-paid labor of
Europe. 1t will be a sad day for this country
when wages are reduced so that a half dollar
will look as big as a cart wheel, and a nickel the
size Of q dinner plate,
II can remember in 1s451846 in eastern In
dianas in free-trade days, when wheat was
twentyfye cents a busheL l never wish to see
such a state of affairs again. I don't believe the
farmers do either.
CONGRESSMAN MATsoN AND THE VETERANS
Yesterday afternoon q journal reporter met
Colonel 1 n, Walker, president Of the ex-Pris-
oners Of War Association of Indiana, and asked
him as to the feeling in the association regard
ing the action of Congressman Matson on the
Robinson bill. The Colonel at first seemed 10th
to talk. you understand" said he. that the
dnpOOAd1lOu 40 OAOIVly AOATPd1 boaA' SONOuS4
Matson is a candidate for Congress, and I have
no desire to appear in print ! may say, how
ever, that we are much disappointed in Colonel
Matson's action, because our State association
had unanimously passed a resolution asking all
our representatives in Congress to support the
Sil. We expected him to support the measure;
we had no thought but that be would do so. In
lieu. of that he brought forward a bill which af-
fords no relief to ex-prisoners of war, as it is a
milk-andrwatep affair, that we look upon with
gust. have just got back from
the Detroit meeting Of our national
association, and the feeling against him there
was bitter, and we condemned him IN severe
terms. 1t must be understood that every State
has passed resolutions asking her senators and
representatives in Congress to pass the Robinson
bilI-a bill that will meet all the requirements
and afford all proper relief. It Is difficnIt to un-
derstand Colonel Matson's action. AS I said,
ctr association is non-partisan, but we believe
i'll sustaining the representatives who work for
our interests, and it is not unlikely the ex-pris-
oners will be found against those who were not
for them. The Robinson bin will not affect
threefouFths Of the ex.prisoners Of war-they
already have pensions-but the remaining fourth
suffer under the present pension laws, as they
cannot show any hospital record or any record
Of disability. As to Colonel Matson, we feel
that he acted in very bad faith. He fully knew
W1hU ~ Oh -pTlSOHcf6 WbubCu-
PERSONAL M NOTES.
Captain Kerchiyals company of Escort
Guards go to Augusta this evening. The mem
bers are requested to meet at 6 o'clock sharp, in
full uniform.
The meetings for tonight are as follows: j.
Mellon Turner, the famous colored orator, at the
Park Theater; Hon. Stanton ]. Peelle, at South
port Hon. Ferd Winter and W. +. Elliott, at
Old Augusta.
Hon. Samuel r. Mason. who was a candidate
ticket in 1878, Is in the city, He is zealeusly
supporting Blaine and Logan, and will canvass
Indiana for the Republicans.
The Democracy will have a big pow-wow at
Hamilton, o., to-day, the speakers advertised
being Governor Hendricks, George r. Pendle-
Ton, II. B. Payne, and Allen G. Thurman. A
large number Of Democrats from this city will
attend. The O., II. & D. road will run a special
train from this city, leaving the Union Depot at
1880 o'clock this morning and returning tonight.
A letter from Logansport, in speaking of the
meeting, which was addressed there by John NJ.
Butler, says: 1T is pronounced by all decidedly
tho best speech we have had this campaign, and
we expect much good to result from il. At
Royal Center General Nelson was surprised with
an audience Of at least 1000. Royal Center is a
Democratic stronghold, but Republicans out
there are boiling over with enthusiasm
A business man was approached by a Young
gentleman, a day or two ago, andhe was solicited
to subscribe for the Freeman. the alleged organ Of
the independent Republicans of the city. When
/ want Democratic literature | will buy the
straight-out article said the business man.
This remark led the solicitor to believe that he
wasa Democrat, and he remarked: tOh, well,
the Freeman is really q Democratic paper. IL
is supported by the Democrats There is evil
dently much truth is this statement.
Colonel J. A. Biaffer, Of New Orleans, was in
the city yesterday, and expressed himself freely
on political topics. He is a brick manufacturer
and has made twenty million bricks during. the
during the war. When the war was over. he
said he naturally dropped into the Democratic
party, and voted with chat party. He says it is
very plain TO him now, and to the business men
pf Louisiana GENERALLY, that in that State 1t is
necessary to have the vote divided, and while he
bus always hitherto voted with the Democrats,