Los Angeles daily herald., 1888-07-03
PROTECTION TO LABOR.
What Mechanics Think of the Re
publican National Ticket.


What Mechanics Think of the Re-
| publican National Ticket.
A HERALD man yesterday visited the
headquarters of the several leading man
ufactories OF Los Angeles. The object of
the visit was to ascertain, if possible,
the feeling OF skilled and unskilled labor
ing men regarding the nominees for the
Presidency and Vice-Presidency put for
ward by the late Republican and Demo-
cratic National Conventions. In each
instance the HERALD man asked and WE
cordially granted permission to converse
with the employees, but it should be
stated the topic discussed between the
reporter and the men with whom he
ers.
The first place visited was the leading
machine and foundry works of the city.
There the reporter took advantage OF an
opportunity to talk with three employees
who are known as skilled artisans. Con-
cerning the nominees a foreman in one
of the departments said:
81 am a Knight of Labor; have been
one now nearly five years. Was always
in favor of unions in all departments of
labor. The great platform plank, or,
if you will have it, principle OF our organ
ization is naturally protection to labor.
Therefore we would, or should favor and
vote for the nominees Of the party ac-
cording us the most benefit in this di-
rection. Had Mr.. Blaine been nomi-
mated at Chicago l myself would have
voted for him. I shall not vote for Mr..
Harrison because be has demonstrated
throughout his public career that he is
no friend OF the laboring man."
Chow about his attitude on the CHI
nese question ?"
"Well, l have lived on this coast now
nearly eighteen years. l think he will
be knocked out of time from here to Ore
gon and in that State too, despite the
wool question, the other side will get
more votes than were ever before given
the Democratic party. Its majority along
the sea coast, l think to certainty, will
be the largest ever known. Of Mr.. Nor
ton l know nothing. He is wealthy
man and has as little idea Of ewhat the
manual laborer needs, as the average
as know whole lot of working people
|
in placing General Harrison and Mr..
because. despite political partisanship,
the labor vote, and it is a strong
one, will be cast in a direction
where bread and butter is not at stake.
The laborer wants protection to labor
and will vote to get it, but he knows that
the chances are slim of obtaining it
under an administration that is not
sound. Millionaire interests do not
favor high wages"
A merchant, a young man, was next
addressed. Said he:
eyes, Pm Republican from princi-
pie. have cast two Presidential votes,
both Republican. can't do it this time
Harrison favors naturalizing Chinese.
That knocks him with me in the first
place. On the question of organized la
Dor he is unsound. Then he knows
nothing OF the needs of the working
man. He has been rich and prosperous
all his life, and the working people have
come to think he knows and cares moth
ing for us. 1t is Capital ticket and not
an anti-monopoly one, as it was prom
ised it should be. shall
vote for Cleveland and Thurman
because more Government work has
been done under the past administration
and more workingmen employed to do it
| than during the past twenty years; and
more will be done, we think, by those
who have started in to do it than by
those who would just step into power,
especially by such men as our party
nominees"
"Harrison, find, favored the coming
of Chinese to this country" said a
moulder, an Irishman, who said he voted
for General Grant when he ran for office
the first time and had voted for the
nominees of the Republican party since
that time. "That will knock him out
alone. The whole country is aroused
over this Chinese question, and this
coast will wage bitter fight against
Harrison, because outside OF favoring
their coming here he favored scheme
to naturalize them as citizens. don't
profess to know much about the
tariff; in fact I never heard it
discussed. But do believe that the
Mills bill, if amended somewhat. would
benefit the country. Why? Because it
would reduce the cost of most of the
actual necessities of life to the laboring
man. Wages have been constantly get
ting lower in this country, but 1 notice
the cost of living remains just as it used
to be. We have been prosperous enough
the past four years, and for one am
satisfied. If anybody but Harrison or
Gresham had been put up would have
voted for him, but 1 can't stomach Har-
rison. Of Mr.. Morton know nothing;
but then when the head of your ticket
don't suit you, you generally don't let
the tail bother you. Why didn't they
give us a man dead sound on labor
issues if they want us to get the party
into power again? The whole business
looks like machine politics to me any
how"
The railway yards were next visited.
There five men, mechanics, machinists
and oilers we're interviewed. One would
vote for Harrison and Morton. Four, all
of them Republicans, emphatically stated
they would not. Being asked why they
said that, entirely outside of his stand on
the Chinese issue, they opposed him be.
cause of his attitude on the labor issue.
''Harrison is not our man," said one
switch engine driver. "He is opposed
to united labor, to unions, etc. We don't
know much about the tariff, but we have
learned that unity in labor produces just
as much good as unity in politics. The
time has come when the workingmsn
must look out for himself, and 1 believe
we are safe as we are."
A "straw" vote, it was ascertained had
been taken among the sWitchmen and