Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-08-01
A GENERAL STAMPEDE.
Democrats Everywhere DESERVING the
Free Trade Standard


From reliable information there is STAN
pede of Democratic voters to the Republican
ranks in the rural districts on the issue of the
tariff. Reports are being constantly received
here of farmers who are declaring for pro-
lection since the passage of the Mills bill by
the Democratic House removing the tariff
from lumber, hay potatoes and WOOL and
cutting it down on starch. One of the rich
est and most fruitful agricultural sections of
the State is in Somerset county, and promi-
nent and well known Augusta Republican has
just returned from an extended trip through
that productive region. During his absence
he says he met at least IL farm
ers who had been Democrats and they
all informed him that they were now protec-
tionsts and should vote for Harrison and
Morton In one of the towns above Skowhe-
gan, farmer who is known as one of the
most intelligent and progressive tillers of the
soil in that county and worth handsome
property, said 1--WE always been Demo
crat; my father was Democrat before me
and all my folks are Democrats as far as
know. was war Democrat. During the
war Great Britain was in league with the
South, and armed cruisers to sweep our YES
sells from the seas. Now. through President
Cleveland, they undertake to kill out our man
ufscturng industries as they did our COM
merce on the seas England cannot do this
with my consent. | shall vote the Republi-
can ticket"
Another farmer whom this gentleman met
is wool grower, with flock of some fifty
sheep. He has been Democrat, but will
vote the Republican ticket in the coming
election. ii reasons as follows: At the
present time, wool is only 30 cents a pound,
and sheep husbandry is hard business at
that. Remove the tariff and wool will not be
worth 10 cents pound. They will kill the
sheep industry in this county just as effect
ually as if pestilence swept off the sheep
Admit Australian and South American woods
free, and it will be the death blow of wool
growing here" This farmer regarded the
situation as very serious one, especially
to Somerset county farmers, the market for
whose chief products. hay, lumber, and
wool, will be disastrously affected.
Three Democratic farmers in the town of
Rome, this county, who are neighbors, have
been heard from, and all will vote for pro-
lection and the Republican party.
Two employees in large mill on the
river, who have always voted the Democratic
ticket. have declared for Harrison and Nor
ton, because of the Democratic effort to
make lumber free.
Again, in a shoe shop. less than ten miles
from Augusta, an Englishman, who is boss
will vote the protection ticket, although al
ways Democrat heretofore.
These changes show which way the wind
blows. The assertion that the capitalists
alone are the ones whose pockets are filled
by protection, is refuted by these witnesses
The farmers and workingmen are realizing
that the passage of the Mills bill will be
fraught with disaster to their interests. The
names of the persons referred to above as
protectionists could be given, but are with
held No farmers or workiugmen have
been heard from thus far who have gone
over to free trade.