The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-08-25
To THE MECHANICS OF BATH.
An Appeal to the Men Dependent on
Baths Great Industry.
Seven of Her Prominent Citizens who
Have Been Democrats,
Look With Apprehension at the Par
tvs Free Trade Policy.


at the mouth of the Kennebec river, is one
OF the thriftiest in the State. Her chief in
dustry has been shipbuilding and she has
been noted as the leading city in the country
In the building of wooden vessels The place
is the home of a numerous class of intelli-
gent and prosperous shipwrights, mechanics
and workingmen. 1t is also the home of
Hon. Arthur Sewall, member for Maine of
the national Democratic committee, aud
chairman of the executive committee of the
Democratic State committee. Today seven
prominent gentlemen of Bath, of the highest
character and standing in the city and who
have always acted with the Democratic par
ty, issued an address to the mechanics of
Bath in which they denounce the course of
the Democrats in handling the tariff, and
say they cannot support Mr.. Cleveland.
1t is as follows:
To the Mechanics of Bath.
Our city, famed all over the world as the
great shlpbullding city, is entirely dependent
Tor Its. future success and prosperity upon
the revival of American commerce.
The present stagnation in commercial af-
falrs extends over a longer period than has
ever been known before. Your success and
prosperity depends entirely upon that of our
Congress to aid in reviving our commerce,
and Democratic House invariably sets its
seal OF condemnation upon the same.
In obedience to the request of the Bath
Board OF Trade, Mr.. Dingley offered an
amendment to the Mills bill placing iron
beams, angles and plates upon the free list.
Ihls would impair no American industry.
Erefy Democratic member Of the House rot
ed no; eUery Republican member roted yes,
the Democratic members asserting that the
same was in the Free Ship Bill, which is a
Democratic measure, and means the admis-
sion OF foreign-built vessels to free regis
try, which would completely destroy ship
building in this city.
Although we have been Democrats in the
past. we look with grave fears and appre-
hensions upon the position taken by the
Democratic party on the question of free
trade as against protection.
The Mills bill originally placed upon the
free list every industry of our State except
one, as well as every agricultural product.
Piacing lumber upon the free list is a very
serious blow to an industry which is of vast
Importance to our State.
believing that American industries should
be properly protected in order to maintain
the present standard of wages and the COM
1orts OF the American home, we cannot sup
port Mr.. Cleveland in policy that would
tend to destroy the same.
We believe that our people should be re-
lieved of all war taxesQ sQnternal Revenue tax
atom and by.heavy reduction on the import
duties on the necessaries of life. We most
earnestly appeal to the mechanics and la
borers OF Bath to give this all important |
subject their most serious consideration in
order that they may vote wisely and under
standlngly in the September and November
elections. We regard this as of as much vi
tai Importance to you as to ourselves.
p" flSlgned.J j. r. KELLEY,
JOSEPH VARNEY,
JOSEPH M. VARNEY,
j. B. PERKINS.
WILLIAM LIBERTY,
FRED WRIGHT, |
FRED A. WILLIS.
OF the above gentlemen, Capt. John r. |
Kelley is wealthy shipbuilder, and employs |
many men. Joseph Varney is large lum- |
ber manufacturer. and employs some forty |
men in his mill. Joseph NJ. Varney is a son |
OF Joseph, and has charge Of the mill. Capt. |
j. b. Perkins is retired shipmaster. Will |
liam Liberty is a marble manufacturer, and |
has worked in Italy, and he knows what low |
wages are. Messrs. Wright and Fred Willis |
arc prosperous farmers.
Four Hundred Speeches.
Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, Aug. 24.-The number of polit-
cal meetings to be held in the State by the
will be the largest ever known
in one campaign in the history of the party.
About two hundred assignments have been
made thus far. and they will reach over four
hundred by the end of the campaign or near
Y one to every city, town and plantation in |
,he State The last week will be an intense |
y active one and a large part of the meetings
Ire to occur then.
MIR. Reed to Freeport Citizens.
Especial to the Press.l
FREEPoRT, Aug. 24.-This has been
evening in Freeport and one
which will be remembered by great many
people who came from the surrounding
owns to join with our citizens in listening
% an eloquent speech upon the issues of the
by Hon. Thomas b. Reed. Mr.
3eed received fattering reception, In the
great audience which listened to his address
t is safe to say were all the Republicans,
Who could possibly get there besides many of
heir Democratic neighbors. AS Mr.. Reed
proceeded in his argument, making point
lfter point in favor of protection for Ameri-
AN industry, the applause was frequent and
mphatic and, at the close of his remarks,
arnest of the esteem in which he is held by
Freeport citizens by a long continued burst
u applause,
Mr., Reed at Eridgton,
BRIDGToN, Aug. 24.-The crowd that
urned out to hear Mr.. Reed last night was |
one. The town hall was crowd
ID, and enough went away to make as large
IN overflow meeting. Neighboring towns
ent large delegations, and South Bridgton