Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-19
VIEWS OF 4 BUSINESS MAN.
CAN NOT TRUST CLEVELAND NOR tn

CAN NOT TRUST CLEVELAND NOR THE
FREE TRADE PLATFORM he STANDS
UPON-CONSIDERS TIE DOCTRINES OF
HIS PARTY DANGEROUS To AMERICAN
INTERESTS SOMETHING FOR WORK
NGMEN TO THING ABOUT.
New York Letter, July I3.
Four years ago Mr.. Horace X. Thur
Der, special partner of the great grocery
house of Thurber, Whyland & Co., was,
to the surprise of his friends, a strong
advocate of the election of Grover Cleve-
land. To-day he is as strongly opposed
to him. To a reporter who to day sought
an explanation of this change of front,
Mr.. Thurber said:
"YeS; it is true that / was in favor of
Cleveland four years ago, and | then gave
my reasons for it. Now, am convinced,
it would be suicidal to vote for him; OF
rather for the platform which he repre-
sents. 1 would not vote for my own
father if he favored the destruction of our
American industries. l am an Ameri-
can, and desire our country's best inter
ests first, last, and all the time.
al am no politician, do not want any
Office, and have no axes to grind. But
l am strongly in favor of a protective
tariff, because believe it is for the good
of the country and those who earn their
living in it. In this contest it is ques-
tion of measure, not men. There is an
issue before the country, and it can not,
must not, be lodged, although Cleve-
lands supporters are now trying to do
so.
"The wage earners of this country will
have to decide the conflict between them
selves and the wage earners of Europe.
This conflict has been precipitated by
President Cleveland, and the workmen of
America by their votes will have to say
whether or not they are willing to sub
NIT to reduction of wages.
"The products of the European mar
ket 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 Garner. If the tariff be
reduced, time and cost of importing also
reduced 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
reduction of pay to the American work
men, in order to produce the same goods
at the market price.
Europe, if the tariff be taken off, will
be enabled to convey 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, pay
ing the wages we now do. The result
would be the stoppage of work here or
the compulsory reduction of wages. Do
these American wOrkmen desire to place
themselves on the same plane with the
poorly paid workmen of Europe? That
would be the result of the removal of the
tariff. am desirous for the welfare of
the American workmen before those of
any other country, for their success is
mine, and 1 can not see that the Mills
bill, which has been endorsed by the st.
Louis Democratic Convention and Pres
ident Cleveland, will be for their welfare.
81 am therefore, opposed to it and to
the President who favors it, notwith-
standing the fact that 1 supported and
voted for him in 1884 When every
European newspaper hailed President
Cleveland's message with delight as tend
ing toward free trade, it convinced me
that it was not for the best interests of
this country that he should be reelected.
The only way the wage Garner of this
country can be protected is by protecting
himself with the ballot. If the Ameri-
can workman desires that his home and
home comforts shall be on par with the
impoverished working classes of Europe,
he will vote for free trade; if otherwise,
he will not vote for President Cleveland
and the measures which he represents.