The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1888-10-11

On Saturday last, Oct. 9th, the Scandina-
yians Of Chicago gave Mr.. Thomas hearty
and enthusiastic welcome to the Garden City
Of the West. Central Music Hall, the finest
hall In Chicago, with a seating capacity of
5000, was filed with Swedes at an early hour
The admission was by ticket. and every
ticket for seat or standing room was taken.
OF Mr.. Thomas's address, the Chicago Tri-
bune says:
Hon. w. w. Thomas, Jr., made clever
speech. The audience alternately laughed
over and applauded his speech. 1t was an
excellent exposition OF wit and wisdom. At
one moment the audience was treated 10
good, hard sense, and the next TO humor.
The Chicago Inter-Oeean gives the follow
ing notice Of the meeting;
Central Music Hall was packed TO the door
with Swedish American citizens last even
ing, at the Harrison and Morton meeting.
They had come to hear the Hon. w. w.
Thomas, Jr., ex-United States Minister 20
Sweden, and Mr.. j. A. Enander speak about
the tariff, and to judge by the. enthusiasm the
speeches created II was very evident that the
audience was In sympathy with the speakers
and thoroughly understood the logic Of their
reasoning.
The meeting opened with an organ solo,
after which Mr.. Enander made short in
troductOry speech. The Swedish Singing
Society then sang chorus In their native
tongue. At its conclusion Mr.. Thomas STEP
ped to the front of the platform TO make the
address OF the evening. The speaker con-
fined himself principally to showing what
would inevitably result II the Mills bill be-
came law.
What would be the result" be asked, III
the duty on wool should be taken on? The
raising of sheep in some foreign countries Is
so cheap that the farmers here could not
possibly afford TO handle them. Therefore
the inevitable effect would be the ruin Of the
sheep farming industry, and the remaining
sheep in the country would be, In less than
~ months, led TO the shambes. And when
your sheep are once slaughtered what Is TO
prevent foreign combination from raising
the price Of wool as high as they possibly
can? You have a gentleman here whom
the papers Familiarity call 'Old Hutch A
short time ago this gentleman possessed
nearly all the wheat in Chicago. A number
OF spectators had to get wheat, and Mr..
Hutchinson was enabled TO make them pay
for it whatever ne asked My friends you
have wool In ChicB50 and we must have wool
in Maine and in all Northern States. IL we
are ever obliged to buy our wool
from combination Of foreign deal
ers they win be able to ask for 1t what
short-signted policy Of President Cleveand's
which demands cheaper clothing for the next
twelve months, when for the next twelve
years this country would be under che thumb
OF the foreign wool producers.
"YOu hear great deal about the Eastern
States being protected, but the Mills bill
strikes hardest at the lumbermen and the
farmers Of the great Northwest IL Is really
a sectional measure. 1t leaves a duty OF 6S
per cent on sugar. product Of Louisiana,
and 100 per cent on rice.
Mr.. Thomas continued and made clear.
comprehensive speech, covering q great
many points on the tariff, and was warmly
applauded.
Mr. Enander, at the close Of Mr.. ThOmas's
address, made a short speech In Swedish
The chorus then sang another song and the
meeting broke up with three rOrsiDg cheers
for the Republican candidate.
Mr.. Thomas is to make four speeches in
Illinois. The remaining three will be at
Paxton, Galesbury and Moline. At each Of
these cities there is a large Swedish pop
ulatiOn