Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-09-10
THE SILENT REVOLUTION.
Scores Of Converts to the Party Of Pro-
tection-Recruits for the Republican
Party from Every State In the Union.

The irresistible movement from the
Democratic and Prohibition parties toward
the Republican party is not confined to the
East or to the doubtful States where pol
itical pressure and excitement are high.
S. P. Morse of Omaha, says the Repub-
lican of that city. the well-known dry
goods merchant. has changed his politics.
Ever since he was old enough TO vote, Mr..
Morse has trained with the Democratic
party, but this year he becomes Repub-
lican. Having heard that such was the
case representative of the Republican
called on him to confirm or deny the re-
port. Said he: II am a protectionist,
and can make Republican out OF any man
who will come and talk with me, in five
minutes. | can see where even reduc-
ton in the tariff on anything produced in
this country would injure my business and
cut down the wages of these clerks, some
thing to which l am very much opposed.
Then Mr.. Morse took up lead-pencil,
and to illustrate his argument did little
figuring, at the same time continuing his
conversation. He showed that under the
Mills Bill. which on an average slashes
off 20 per cent of the import duties, would
in like proportion reduce the profits OF
every dry goods merchant in America.
To prove the faithfulness of this asser-
ton suppose Mr.. Morse does business of
| 81 ,000, 900 year now. He estimates his
profits at 5 per cent, or $4,000 year.
With the Mills Bill in force his trade
comes down 30 per cent, making the to-
tai amount $500, 900. A 5 per cent profit
gives him $40, 000,a difference between the
incomes of $4,000. Then comes the
question, who loses that si0,000s Said
| Mr.. Morse at must come out of the
salaries of the clerks. Whyf Because
with profits reduced We can't afford to
pay them the wages they are getting
now"
Mr.. Morse is large importer of certain
lines Of goods, especially fine hosiery, on
which he pays duty of "a per cent.
They are manufactured in this country,
and he readily understands that should
that duty be reduced the manufactures
would be closed, because they can't pay
the wages and compete. "This question
of wages" said he, sis what makes me
and many thousands more Democrats,
Republicans. My clerks receive salaries
l., .l, he.
are happy and contented. | never want
to see them reduced to the conditions of
European clerks
To give an idea of the way this class
of people live over there, Mr.. Morse
called up one of his men, nice looking
blonde gentleman, who recently came
from England.
"Where did you work?' was asked him.
SIN the house of Chas. Meages & Co.,
London was his reply
"What salary did you get?'
"Twenty-five pounds year, or 1925,
my board and ROOM"
"What were the board and your room
estimated at?''
zone pound a week, which would be
$500"
''Then your room, board and salary cost
the firm $685. year.
YES and the young man blushed as
though he felt ashamed to have given his
labor for such a small amount. He had
1925 year with which to clothe himself
and pay for the pleasures of life. You
can imagine the extent of his wardrobe
and the amount of enjoyment he must
have had in the course of twelve months.
That young man will not vote the Demo-
cratic ticket.
Here he gets $1,000 year salary, and
pays $50 a month for board and room.
This leaves him 500 spending money, as
against 1925 in the great city of London.