The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-18
NO UNCERTAIN SOUND
.Mr. William L. Hearne Declares
his Fixed Purpose
TO VOTE FOR GEN. HARRISON
"A Democrat of Forty-cisht Years
Standing will do all in his Power
to Defeat Cleveland on
the Protection Issue.

the Protection Issue.
Ever since the denomination of Gro
yer Cleveland for President by the DEM
ocratic National Convention ut St. Louis,
there have been reports OF the detection
of distinguished members OF that party
in Wheeling. One OF the most promi-
nent Of the gentlemen named in this
connection was Mr.. W. L. Hearne, the
President OF the West Virginia China
Company, and prominent stakeholder
of the Riverside Iron Works, the largest
two separate industries in the Ohio Val
ley from Pittsburgh to Cincinnati. Mr..
Hearne, while not politician, has al
ways been prominently identified with
the Democratic party, and has voted the
ticket for forty-eight years. He voted
for Cleveland in 1884. He was elected a
member of the West Virginia House Of
Delegates in 1878 on the Democratic
ticket.
II was not surprising that the state
ment that Mr.. Hearne would not vote
for Cleveland this year was denied by
Cleveland's partisans, some OF whom
have professed to dispute the statement
by Mr.. Hearne's authority.
Mr.. Hearne got home yesterday from
a trip in the East. An INTELLiGRSCER
reporter called on him at the Mcclure
house last evening, and stated to him
that in view OF the conflicting state
ments about his position, the paper de-
sired TO secure an authoritative declara-
ton OF his intention, ii he would con-
sent to make one.
a have no hesitancy," said Mr..
Hearne, sin declaring my intention to
vote for Gen. Harrison on the Protection
issue. have SO stated it to many peo-
pie, and am glad OF an opportunity to
make the declaration publicly. l made
up my mind last December, when Presi-
dent Cleveiand's Free Trade message
was sent to Congress, that would not
vote for him again; but | did not decide
to vote for the Republican nominees
until | knew who they were. | an
nounced my intention to vote for Harri-
son and Morton the day they were
nominated, and what has since occurred
has made my determination all the
firmer. / shall vote for them cheerfully,
and il had fifty votes | would give them
to the Republican nominee"
"You are influenced by the tariff issue
only"
"Yes, sir; by the hostility President
Cleveland and his immediate followers
manifest toward the manufacturers;
their unnatural desire to foster British
interests at the expense Of American in
dustries." =,
"Do you endorse the Chicago plat
form?"
az do, emphatically, and l do not en-
dorse the st. Louis platform and the in
terpretation Mr.. Cleveland, Mr.. Mills,
and those who are now in control OF the
Democratic party, put on it"
"You can doubtless tell me reliably as
to the position of your son, Mr. Frank
Hearne," the reporter observed.
ayes, sir; he stands with me. We
have had numerous talks on the sub
ject, and his position as stated to me is
the same as l have explained my own.
l know numerous others, here and
elsewhere, who feel the same way. On
nv recent visit to New York and Phila-
delphia, | met numerous leading and
influential gentlemen, known to me in
the past as active Democrats, who de-
clared their intention to vote for Har-
rison on the Protection issue. | think
the number will increase every day, in
view OF the contest over the Mills bill
now progressing in Congress"
Later in the conversation Mr.. Hearne
said:
81 have been Democratic voter for
forty-eight years, and II is q little hard
after that lapse Of time to find myself
out OF line with my party, and to have
no spot of ground left on which l can
stand politically without parting COM
pany with my former associates. But |
claim to be better Democrat to-day
than Grover Cleveland. l was q Demo-
crat when he was
Mewling md puking In the nurses arms
land am Democrat still. l do not
desire TO be known as Republican. l
do not wish to become Republican.
But il the Free Traders succeed in cap
turing the Democratic party for good
and all, l shall be driven into the Re-
publican ranks. My son feels the same
way, and there are numerous others
with us. We desire to administer an
effective rebuke to the leaders who have
led our party astray; We think the best
thing that could happen to the party
would be an overwhelming defeat, and
we want to help give it to her. II that
does not bring her to her senses, in all
likelihood we shall have to forsake her.
"If the publication OF my views will
exert any influence, shall be glad. l
want 70 do all can TO secure Grover
Cleveland's defeat. l am in earnest in
the matter, and have no desire to con-
ceal my views"
Few readers OF the INTELLIGENCE will
need to be informed that Mr.. Frank
Hearne, here spoken OF, is the General
Manager % the Riverside Company's
works, and n practical manufacturer OF
national reputation. He has always
been known as Democrat. Mr..
Hearne's two younger sons, Mr.. Garth
Hearne and Mr.. Joe Hearne, have al
ready joined the Republican party,
Another son, Mr.. w. Fl. Hearne, the
well known lawyer, left the Democratic
party several years ago, and has since
been valuable worker for the Republic
can cause.
A NEW YORK DEMOCRAT FORPROTECTION.
Ono Who Supported Cleveland Warmly
Will do Rs much for Harrison.
Mr.. G. @. Shayne, of New York City,
A. E,,,u;o,.,i