Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1888-07-13
A Question Of The Day.
A LETTER TO THE HON. SAMUEL
J. RANDALL.


Hon. Samuel j. Randall, House Of
Representatives..
DEAR SIR: When We were in
Congress years ago, | learned to
respect you for the sturday way
that you stood up for the industrial
interests Of our country. Great
changes have taken place since
then, hut notice with pleasure
that lO1 have t changed. and
that today 'On are the same trnr
rirud OF the workingman.
There can be no donhr OF the fact
that thousands of Democrats in tins
city, who have to support them.
selves and their families by daily
labor, believe that if the Mills bill
becomes a law, it will do them
great injury by throwing them out
of employment, and they are more
thar disappointed at the action Of
our Democratic representatives 10
Congress, who seem to them to be
against protecting the industries
and labor of our country.
The message of Mr.. Cleveland
has created the impression that he
has started the road to free trade
and they say that this will serious.
ly ipjure the country; and they
point to the loss already by decline
in values of millions upon mil
lions of dollars which has fallen on
our manufacturers and producers,
all caused, as they believe, by this
message, followed by the action Of
tho Democrats on the Mills BILL
They insist that our country at
tanned its greatness by a system OF
protection to our manufacturing in.
terests and our workingmen. To
withdraw this protection and there
by cripple, if not destroy, these
industries and reduce our mechan-
les to the condition of European la
Dor, seems to them to be a great
wrong, and many of Those who earn
their living by honest industry say
that they Will not submit to be rob-
bed of their employment, which is
the source of their livelihood. II
caunot be expected they will vote
for candidates who seek to close
Their workshops by changing our
laws so that English manufacturers
can send their goods here and un-
dersell their employers.
1t does not require argument to
the workingman that he cannot
get money unless he can get work,
and that be cannot get work if the
mill where he is employed has to
close because what is made there
can be purchased in England, sent
here and sold for a less price than
it can be manufactured by his
employer.
They say, what does 1t matter if
| can buy my clothing a little
cheaper if have no money to buy
either food or clothiug- Is it not
better to keep in this country what
it costs to produce a manufactured
article than to send its cost to En-
gland, even if our people have to
pay an increased price for the ar
tlcle? A few hours ago a friend oil
mine and a Democrat, now working
IN a factory on First avenue, where
over 200 voters are employed, said
to me that if the Democrats sue
ceeded in doing what the major lty
of those IN Congress seemed de-
termined to do that the mill where
he was working would have to stop,
and then he would be IDLE, and
that il he could not get other en-
ployment IN asonable length OF
time bis family would be without
the necessaries of life ; and he turn
ed to me with an earnestness that
could not be mistaken and said
"Mr O'Brien. | am not going to be
diverted from protecting my hom'
and family by any such humbug IS
the cry. "You want whiskey free
and you want to tax the necessaries
OF hfe" Nor will I, said he, vote
tor "a candidate tor congress who
will vote as Texas and Kentucky
want him to vote. There they have
balck labor, fed on hog and hominy,
and am not willing to help men
into office who want to force me
anI my family to their level.
Already in two Of our Congress
districts Democrats employed IN
factories. recognizing that lower
prices mean reduced wages, have
requested some of their number 10
confer with employees IN other fac
tories with the view Of organizing
to oppose any candidate for
Congress who may favor the Mills
bill or a similar measure.
If this opposition CRY stalllzesr
and a number Of workingmen who
are Democrats come together and
pledge themselves to vote against
candidates for Congress untriendly
to American labor and American
interests. they may vote against
our President, and feel as though
Mr.. Cleveland cannot afford to lose
this vote in addition to the Demo
cratic vote that was cast against
him in 1884. may add that it our
city opoilsmen STIR up a fight ovel