Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1888-07-27
Prominent Democrats Who
VIII Not Support Cleveland.


the leading citizens of Brooklyn ant
is the head of ,hc great soap man
ufacturing firm that bears his name
has been a lifelong Democrat. ii,
was Presidential elcctor four year
ago on the Cleveland ticket. He i
one of the trustees of the Brooklyn
Bridge, and in Brooklyn his nam,
is 4 household word. He is a mar
of great wealth, and holds the high
est position in social and bushes.
circles. Mr.. Higgins has declared
that he will not support the fire.,
trade candidate this year, becaus.
he believes his election would b,
one OF the greatest calamities tina
ever happened to the business O.
this country. When visited ycster
day by reporter for the New York
Press MIR. Higgins explained hi.
position by saying:
"The election of Cover Cleve
land as President of the United
States upon the platform dictated
by himself and adopted by the
Democratic convention, would be
in my judgment, the creates,
calamity that could befall the indus.
tries of the country. | have AWAY.
been Democrat, but | cannot and
VIII not support Il party that ad.
vocates free trade or has any ten.
dency that way. 1shall vote for Har.
rison and Morton, and not only vote
but work for them. lam a business
man and my interests and those OF
the whole country need protection
Should Cleveland be elected my
factory and hundreds of Others
would have to close and the men
who have earned livelihood in this
business for years will have to find
other work.
l am not a member of any Demo
cratic association, and therefore
cannot resign, but haye voted and
worked for the Democratic party all
my life; but now | propose to sup,
port the Republican party, which
has the true interests of the country
at heart. l will show you how the
soap industry would be effected by
free trade. Nearly 1000 900, 600
pounds of laundry and factory soap
are manufactured in this country
annually, giving employment to
about 10000 persons, whose average
weekly pay is $40, as against $4.S5
received by the English la borer for
the same work. The present duty
on common soap is twenty per cent,
which barely keeps the English ar
ticle out Of our markets.
Caustic soda, which is practically
raw material for soap making, has
paid a duty of nearly 100 per cent,
for many years. It's present price
in New York is less than two and
one quarter cents per pound, so that
less than one and one quarter cents
per pound has to pay the cost OF
making packages, paying freigh,
and two or three profits. Until
four months ago all our caustic soda
came from England, but we now
produce a part Of what we consume
The Mills bill proposes to remove
all protective duty on soaps, and this
If it becomes law, will close up all
our soap factories. L have spoken
to many prominent business men on
the subject OF the coming election
and can count many prominent
Democrats who have never voted
any but the Democratic ticket
who will this year vote with the Re.
publicans.
With them, myself and HUNDREDS
of thousands of workingmen it IS a
simple question Of whether we shall
vote with the Democrats and go Out
of business or vote the Republican
ticket and retain the prosperity we
have heretofore experienced and al
present enjoy. l am convinced
that if Cleveland is elected free
trade will drive us out of business. -
The attitude taken by Mr.. HIg.
gins carries CONSERVATION to the
Democrats Of Brooklyn, as he wa,
the last person in the city
that any one expected would boil
the party. He is an honored mem
Der Of all the leading clubs Of the
city, and his action will have Z
widespread effect. lie has Away,
been large contributor to the Dem
ocratic campaign fund, and while h,
has never held office his counse
has always been sought by the lead
ers of the party. The fact that h,