The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1888-09-08
The Connecticut Manufacturers for
Cleveland.

a Bridgeport Connecticut, correspondent of the
New York Times, gives column and half review
politics in that state and city, In 1884, says the
correspondent the free trade scare caused the loss
many votes to Cleveland but the predicted ruinand
low wages to follow his election have not come to
pass. and his 1874 plurality Blaine in 1881 will
be much larger this year over Harrison. The cor
respondent writes:
But the tariff que stion was new to the people in
the campaign of 1881. and did have the effect OF
keeping thousands of Connecticut voters in the Re
publican ranks who but for their fears of free
trade would have preferred to vote for Cleveland
as against the tatooed knight. The results of the
election and nearly four years of Cleveland's pros
porous Administration have disabused thousands 81
these of their doubts. They have overcome their
fears of a Democratic administration especially
under President Cleveland, but they that the ad
ministration and the country have made but slow
progress in their respective channels because they
Republican Senate and the burdens of tariff that
benefits few very wealthy people, while it handi.
caps the business of the masses Therefore, while
the Democrats have welcomed to their ranks several
notable converts from the ranks of high protection
and Republcanism, the Republicans cannot show q
Among the Republicans who have Joined them.
selves unto the party of tariff reform and march
ing to victory under the banner of Cleveland and
Thurman are the following. any one of whom is
good for full company of followers: Isaac Holden
General Superintendent of the Wheeler q Wilson
Sewing Machine Works 1.-THE President of the Com
pany, Nathaniel Wheeler, is an old-time Democrat
and an ardent supporter of Cleveland) Enoch p
HICKS, OF HICKS u Johnson, carriage manufactu-
rers; James T. Patterson of the Bridgeport Organ
Company; Alfred ii. Hobbs, of the Union Metallic
Cartridge Company Mr.. Landon, Of Parsons & Ian
don, iron founders, and E. II. Cole, of the Eaton
Cole 4 Burnham Company, extensive manufactu-
rers of brass goods Other prominent manufacturers
whose Interests would lead them to advocate the
high protective tariff idea of the Republicans if it
did anybody, and who are supporting Cleveland and
Ters of wool hats; Major d. NJ. Read of the d. NJ
Read Company. manufacturers of carpets; Fred
Hurd, President of the Cabinet Machine Company
Frank Armstrong of the Armstrong Manufacturing
Company suspenders: Henry Atwater, of the Male
able Iron Company; p H. Skidmore Jr., iron foun-
der, and Horace Wilmot, of the White Manufacture
ing Company, lamps forcarriages and carriage trim
mings.
Mr. Nathaniel Wheeler is the President also of the
Willimanuc Linen Company, and largely inter
ested director of the New York. New Haven and
Hartford Railroad He said yesterday that as far as
his observation went President Cleveland stood
much stronger in the estimation of the people oil
Connecticut this year than he did four years ago
He had shown himself possessed of great executive
ability and extraordinary grasp; had given the
try wholesome, business INSTRUMENTATION OF the
government; had shown himself willing to protect
the interests of every class in the country again 81
foreign encroachments oppression, and had dem
onstrated statesmanlike concern for the business
interests of the whole country. What more did any
one want? People who four years ago were fearful
of connections and disaster if the Democrats came
into power had learned that under President Cleve-
land the whole country was tranquil, and q far.
sighted policy of economic government and tariff
reform prOmotive of general prosperity assured
What effect would the adoption of the Mills bill
have upon the wages of your operatives?' Mr.
Wheeler was asked.
1T would have no immediate effect We should
continue to pay good wages we do to-day. Later
on, perhaps. by increasing the foreign demand fol
machines 1t might cause some increase in wages, but
the benefits of the bill would probably be shared
alike by the producer and the consumer. The in
would not be very great IN any event, but
against that threatened with the loss of oul
entire foreign trade, for the foreign manufacturers
are improving the quality of their work every day
and competition at home has run our business down
to bed rock. Ifmachines were made more eXpen
/ siye by increased duty materials. even
the home consumption would be reduced and we
would make fewer machines. have every conf
dence in the common sense of our workmen. and
haven't the least doubt but that this State will poll
an increased majority for President Cleveland One
of our largest manufacturers, Mr.. Enoch z. Hincks
a Republican who voted for Blaine in 1854, made =
speech for tariff reform the other day and declared
his intention to vote for Cleveland Well, the Re
publican paper here has been filed with abuse Of
him ever since but it capped the climax of foolish
ness day or two ago by publishing reply to Mr.
Hicks argument over the signature of one of his
/ workmen' What shows the tolerant shirt of thi.
campaign, of course but fortunately the number OF
workmen who know better than their employers
what is to the interest of his business is not very
Mr. Isaac Holden said: YES this is prosperou;
/ community. A large proportion of our workmen
own their own homes, and more of them could i
they wanted to. But the country has been prosper
GUS up to this time in spite of the tariff 1t has never
benefited US bit, but has unjustly Disseminated
against by heavily taxing our raw materials. Oul
State consumes over $780, 900 worth of raw mate
rails annually in its manufactures of metallic anc
fabric goods Upon every dollars worth of it alarge
tax is paid the Government that does not need Il
and knows not what to do with it when it gets it
| This is a burden upon our business. and one tina
makes our finished goods cost more than they need
and that in measure restricted the sale of them
That proposition is plain pkestaf, and is Sc
thoroughly understood by the masses of the work
ngmen of Connecticut that the free trade scare doe
not scare this wear worth a cent am perfectly sat
sfied with Grover Clevelands Administration, anc
don't think Mr.. Harrison could give us better one
even if he had wings and crown OF glory. The Is
! sue is business issue, and that makes Il the hes
kind of political issue. And Grover Cleveland ha:
demonstrated his consideration for the business in
IereSts of the country over and over again. He i
perfectly right the tariff issue, and the country
| with him