Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1888-07-12
THE W0RKINGMEN
Of New York Suspicious of Mr.,
Cleveland and Free Trade.
LETTER FROs Hon. JAMES O'BRIEN
TO SAMUEL ]. RANDALL.
Stern Protest Against the Rule of
Texas and Arkansas Statesmen.
The National Democracy Standing on
Sinking Land"
A Rebellion Of Democratic Labor
Voters of New York Imminent.


NEW YORK, July 2-The Herald this
morning prints the following letter from
ex-senator James O'Brien to Hon. S. J.
Randall, of Philadelphia:
NEW YORK, June %, 1888.
Hon. SAMUEL J. RANDALL
Il House of Representatives.
DEAR SIR: When we were in Congress
Ilearned to respect You for the sturdy way
that YOU stood up for the industrial inter
eSts of our country. Great changes have
taken place since then, but notice with
pleasure that you have not changed, and
that to-day you are the same true friend
of the workingman.
There can be no doubt of the fact that
thousands of Democrats in this city who
have to support themselves and families
by daily labor believe that if the Mills
bill becomes law it will do them great
injury By throwing them out of employ
ment, and they are more than disappoint-
ed at the action of some of our Democrat
ic representatives in Congress, who seem
to them to be against protecting the in
dustries and labor of our country.
The message of Mr. Cleveland has Gre
ated the impression that he has started
on the road to free trade, and they say
that this will seriously injure the eOun-
try; and they point to the loss already by
decline in values of millions upon mil
/ lions of dollars, which has fallen on our
manufacturers and producers, all caused,
as they believe, by this message, follow
ed by the action of the Democrats on the
Mills bill They insist that our country
attained its greatness by a system of pro-
lection to our manufacturing interests
and our wOrkingmen. To withdraw this
protection and thereby cripple, if not de-
strOy, these industries and reduce our
mechanics to the condition of European
labor, seems to them to be great wrong,
and many of those who earn their living
| by honest industry say that they will not
submit to be robbed of their employment
which is the source of their livelihood.
1t can not be expected that they will vote
for candidates who seek to close their
workshops by changing our laws so that
English manufacturers can send their
goods here and underSell their employers.
II does not require argument to show 10
the wOrkingman that he can not get
money unless he can get work, and that
he can not get work if the mill where he
is employed has to close; because what
is made there can be purchased in Eng
land, sent here and sold for a less price
than it can be manufactured by his en-
plOyer. They say, what does it matter
if can buy my clothing little cheaper
if l have not money to buy either food
or clothing? Is it not better to keep in
this country what it costs to produce a
manufactured article than to send its
cost to England, even if our people have
to pay an increased price for that article?
A few hours ago friend and a Demo-
crat, now working in factory on First
avenue, where over two hundred voters
are employed, said to me that if the Dem
Ocrats succeeded in doing what the ma
jority of those in Congress seemed deter
mined to do, that the mill where he was
working would have to stop, and then he
would be idle. and that if he could not get
other employment within a reasonable
length of time, his family would be with
out the necessaries of life; and he turned
to me and said with an earnestness that
could not be mistaken: " Mr.. O'Brien, |
"am not going to be diverted from pro-
tecting my home and family by any
"sueh humbug as the cry, You want
whisky free, and YOU want to tax the
"necessaries of life Nor will l." said
he, s'vote for a candidate for Congress
"who will vote as Texas and Kentucky
want him to vote. There they have
"black labor, fed on hogs and hominy,
land am not willing to help men into
"Office who want to force me and my
4" family to their level"
Already in two Congressional districts,
Democrats employed in factories, recog-
nizing that lower prices mean reduced
wages, have requested some of their num-
Der to confer with employees in other fac
tories with the view of OrganiZingt to op-
pose any candidate for Congress who may
favor the Mills bill or 4 similar measure.
II this opposition crystaliZeS, and num-
ber of workingmen who are Democrats
come together and pledge themselves to
vote against candidates for Congress I'M
friendly to American labor and American
interests, they may vote against our Pres
ident, and feel as though Mr.. Cleveland
can not afford to lose this vote in addition
to the Democratic that was cast against
him in 1884. l may add that if our city
spoilsmen stir up fight over the nomi-
nation of candidate for Governor we
will not be in position to stand the loss
of Democratic vote, for we must have
a united party to make certain that the
Democrats carry this State.
With great respect, l am, very truly
yours. JAMES O'BRIEN.