Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1885-07-31
FOR MISUNDERSTANDING,
RUFUS W. AYRES, of Scott.


RUFUS W. AYRES, of Scott.
John Roach, the great American shipbuild-
er, whose yards were at Chester, Pa, made an
assignment on Friday last. The disaster was
precipitated by the recent decision of the gov
eminent in regard to the Dolphin. In the
trust deed Mr.. Roach provided that every cop
per due his employees should be paid at once
all that he owed them being for the weeks
work, 1t is understood that none OF his cred
itors will eventually lose.
Whatever may be said of John Roach, he IS
a noble hearted, generous man; one who loves
the name of America, and whose pride it was
to elevate American labor and American pro-
ducts. His prosperity was shared with those
who helped to make it, and the $500 men he
employed and those dependent on them, will
seriously feel his misfortunes. He had known
all the struggles of the poor. With nothing
but his brawny arm, big brain and Irish
heart. he had commenced his course, and at
every stage of his progress he held out help
Jug hand to cthers.- Valley Virqinian.
Our Republican cotemporary need have
no grief on account OF Mr.. John Roach.
He is as rich since his assignment, which
was mere trick for effect, as be was be-
fore, and is estimated in New \ ork to be
worth three millions of dollars after all
his debts are paid. 1t is also ESTIMATED
that his millionaire success was not due
so much to his "brawny arm, big brain
and Irish heart,'' as to Mr.. VIM. b.
Chambers bony arm. fertile brain and
New England heart. Mr.. Roach is not
ship builder, but a compound engine build
er, and after great success in that trade, il
which he is practical workman, added
the second in which he had to depend on
others. He has had monopoly Of the
building and repairing of the National
nayy, It is remarkable comment on
the government of the United States by
the Republican party, tina t the Secretary
of the Navy, VIM. E. Chandler, was the
paid agent and lobbyist Of John Roach
the ship builder, and was known to be
such before his appointment as Secretary.
Two years before he became Secretary Of
the Navy he published pamphlet June
IL, 1871 in reply to the various charges
against him as lobbyist at Washington,
in which he said:
"As to steamship subsidies: The charge can
ohiy 1ar to my relations as counsel with MIR.
'ohn hoacn. ar Roach came to LID ooun
try forty years ago, anu h----a as a foundry
laborer at 1913 per mo nth. By the aid of great
natural powers and patient industry, he has
become an extensive manufacturer of marine
engines, and almost the only iron ship build
er in America. Although uneducated and
partly deaf, he is one of the most remarkable
men of the time. In 1868 he became my
friend and client, has given me his fullest con
idence, and has neyer taken an important
business step at Nea0 York, Chester or WASH
ington, qoittout consulting me. His simplicity,
integrity and greatness of mind and heart
make him respected by all who know him."
1t was afterwards charged that when he
was made Secretary of the Navy it was
done by John Roach. This charge ex-
plains satisfactorily the fact that while in
Office Secretary Chandler drew up con-
tracts for the construction Of the new
steel cruisers which provided that the con-
tractor should not be held responsible ii
the engines did not come up the specified
horse power.
1t Is not surprising that Mr. Roach
should "love the name of America" LIZ
no other country could he have found d
Republican party to back him against the
cries of corruption, whish have been print
ed in the public press for years in connec-
tion with his contracts. In NO other
country could he have gotten more pro-
lection against foreign competition, from
its laws. And in no other country could
he have had a Secretary of the Navy as bis
own personal agent to run all other home
competitors out of the market; accept
his unworkmanlike work and then give
him enough contracts for repairs" to his
work to make it efficient, as would have
built a new ship. His monopoly of the
government work has closed other ship
yards and thrown the men employed in
them out of work. Already Of his present
contract for the cruisers he has drawn
from the government all but 100000 out
OF the gross amount of $4,000, 900, and had
Republican Administration been elected
would have drawn it all, and next year
have drawn more thousands for ''repairs''
to make his new ships useful.
The people of the United States are as
much opposed to having the National
Treasury defrauded by brawny arm and
big brain as they are to having it alb
stracted by adroitness and Yankee cum
ming. There are some policies On which
the american people may differ with Pres
ident Cleveland, but in making the ad-
ministration Of the government honest
and economical they are with him to a
man.
Replying to the VINDIcAToR's charge
that the Virginia Republican platform
promises things for minority which it
did not perform when it had majority,