The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-07-27

The original Harrison man in the New York
delegation at Chicago was the Hon. George
West, of Balston~ Spa. For several months be-
fore the convention this gentleman had been
quietly and industriously at work in behalf of
General Harrison. Mr.. West is . shrewd polit-
ical thinker. He carries into his politics those
elements Of business success which have been
90 instrumental in building mp his fortune. He
carefully scanned the whole list of names which
was before the convention in connection with
the nomination. and made up his mind months
ago that Harrison was by long odds the most
available Yet it was known that New York
would present the name OF Chauncey NJ. Depew,
and for that reason Mr.. West said little. but
worked hard. There is no donbt that Repre-
sentative West did moro than any other
one man toward transferring the
New York vote in the convention
to General Harrison, and it was due TO him as
much as to any one man outside the State of
Indiana that the General finally secured the ma
jority OF votes.
Mr.. West will close his congressional career
with tho present Congress. He has represented
his district for three terms. and has made an in
dustrious and conscientious member. Mr.. West
is one of those whole -sou,ed, jolly people whom
everyone likes. He was born in England. sixty
five years ago, and learned his trade of a paper
maker before he emigrated to America. when
AO u "Cht 6LA yeas OAts LIZ u 49, y
but the knowledge of his trade with which to be-
gin life In the new world, but DO had that knowl-
edge so thoroughly acquired. and all the pluck
and courage OF his race, tina: IL was not long
before be was on the high road to
fortune. From q jorneyman papsr.maker Mr..
West climbed to the top of the heap In his bust.
nees. lie owns seven or eight mills, scattered
throughout New York State; is the proprietor
o. an enormous paper bag mandatory, and be-
sides this is interested in a dozen other enter
nriaA ,rolrdinD nronoofo Unrcai in Nn~th Earn
lima, and a railroad in Ohio-the Ohio 81 North
western, of which he is president He is, be-
sides, president of a bank and n large owner OF
stock in the Now York Press, one OF the most
successful new papers In the country. Besides
this he has another enterprise on hand. A few
years ago he went back to England, and found
that the mill in which he learned his trade was
not very prosperous. At once he made an offer
for the property and bought it outright. Then
he introduced American methods and the most
approved machinery. which could be procured.
and last week he had the satisfaction of hearing
from his son, who Is over there In charge OF the
mill this year, that it had started in at a pros
porous rate, and that everything promised well.
Mr.. West ia looked upon as q millionaire.
Whatever his fortune may be. he is q party man.
always willing to contribute from his means to-
wards the success of the party which he believes
in, and always Is ready with sensible sugees.
tons as to the conduct Of the campaign. Mr..
West manufactures. almost altogether, MANILA
paper. and to make this grade he uses large
quantities Of jute butts. While il would be OF
some advantage to him to secure this in foreign
markets free of duty. he is a consistent protec-
zionist. and an ardent Republican, and has per
sistsntly fought ell proposals to place Jute butts
on the free list, as he believes 10 the principle OF
protection, and is quite willing that every one
affected by the tariff should have equal protec
ton with himself. He is one Of the prominent
manufacturers of this country, and looks upon
free raw material as the first step towards free
trade. and he not only voted against the Mills
tariff bill, but against every proposition designed
to cheaper the material which he uses In the
manufacture of his products. 2. s. II