Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-08-03
CAN NOT SUPPORT CLEVELAND.
II. X. THURDER ESERTs HIM,
THOUGH HE SUPPORTED
HIM IN 1888.

NEW ONh3 Ouly To- ~ Jul VoAS
ago Mr.. Horace X. Thurber, special
partner of the firm of Thurber, Why
land & Co., was, to the surprise of
his friends, strong advocate of the
election of Grover Cleveland. To
day he is as strongly opposed to
him. To a reporter who today
sought an explanation of this
change of front Mr.. Thurber said
eyes, it is true that was IN
favor of Cleveland four years ago,
and then gave my reasons for it.
Now | believe it would be suicidal
to vote for him-Or rather for the
platform which he represents. |
would not vote for my own father
if he favored the destruction of our
American industries. | am an
American and desire our cOuntry's
best interests first, last, and all the
time. | am no politician ; do not
want an Office and have no axes to
grind. But I am strongly 10 favor
of protective tariff, because | be-
lieve it is for the good of the coun
try and those who earn their living
in it. In this contest 1t is a cues
ton of measures, not men. There
is an issue before the country, and
it can not, must not, be lodged,
although Cleveland's supporters are
trying to do so. The wage-earners
of this country will have to decide
the conflict between themselves
and the wage earners OF Europe
This conflict has been precipitated
by President Cleveland, and Amer
lean wOrkmen by their votes will
have to say whether or not they
are willing to submit to a reduc.
ton of wages. The products of the
European markets can be landed
here in ten days, and the goods can
be ordered by cable. Thus they
Will be brought IN direct and quick
competition with the production of
the American wage-earners.
"If the tariff be reduced, time
and cost of importing also be re-
duced through the aid of steam
and electricity, with the carrying
trade of the ocean In the hands
and under the control OF Europe,
what must be the result? A re-
ductioD OF the pay to the Ameri-
can workmen in order to produce
the same goods at the same market
price. Europe, if the tariff be
taken off, will be enabled to con-
vey our raw material across the
ocean, manufacture it abroad and
return it to this country, made up
into articles which we consume,
much cheaper than we can do it
ourselves. The result would be the
stoppage of work here or the COM
pulsory reduction of wages. Do
these American wOrkmen desire to |
place themselves on the same plane |
with the poorly paid workmen of |
Europe 7 That would be the re-
suit of the removal of the tariff
| am DESTROYS for the welfare of the |
American workman before those of
any other country, for his success
would be mine, and | can not see
that the Mills bill, which has been
endorsed by the st, Louis Demo
cratic convention and President
Cleveland, will be for their vel.
fare. am, therefore, opposed to
it, and the president who favOrs it,
notwithstanding the fact that
and voted for him in
1884. When every European pa.
per hailed President Cleveland's
with delight as tending
towards free trade, it convinced
me that it was not for the best in
terests of the country that he should
be reelected. The only way the
IN this country can be
protected is by protecting himself
with the ballot. If the American
workman desires that his home
and home comforts shall be on a
par with the impoverished work
ng classes OF Europe, he will vote
free trade if otherwise, he will de-
cline to vote for President Cleye-
and and the measures which he