The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-07-28
.THB GENERAL MOVEMENT
From CIevoIand's Camp to the
Protection Ranks.
THE PARTY HATH "FLoPPED"
And the Voters Simply Let the
Leaders Slide Down the Free
Trade Tlumc-AL Lending DEM
ocrat who is for Harrison.

To apply the name choppers" to those
Democrats in this community and State,
numbered by the score, who are coming
out for Harrison, the Republican Con-
gressional and Legislative ticket, and
Protection to American industries, is a
missioner. Sud one of these Demo-
Gratis, Il well-known commercial traveller
for Main street house, who for business
reasons declines to allow the use OF his
name:
81 am no topper 1t is the party
that has Topped. have for some time
had doubts as to the sincerity Of the
friendship for. Protection protested by
Democratic leaders, but as long US they
gave me any excuse to remain with
them, my party prejudice, the power oil
that strange spell, name,' kept me q
Democrat. Now l cannot Blind myself
to the fact that the Democratic party is
Free Trade concern. Look at Senator
Kenna; he used to be Protectionisti
now he is n Free Trader. Look ut the
Regisicr; there was y time when its ex'
pressions conceded with my views.
have not changed my views; it is the
Rcgister and Mr.. Kenna that have flop
ped.
"Whcn say the Democratic leaders
OF to-day are Free Traders, l do moi
mean they are for abolishiug the tariff
certainly not. But a revenue tariff is
practical Free Trade, and | will never
vote with those who favor tariff for
revenue only. My father is farmer,
and has been n leading Democrat in his
section. He has never altered his views
OF the tariff, and he still stands where
his party stood years ago when they de-
manded the abolition oil the Internal
Revenue tax; consequently my father
to-day is, like myself, a good Republican
in ali but name. So are hosts OF his
neighbors who have been Democrats
Indeed, ! know but one influential
Democrat who is still in harmony with
the party in that community-and he il
the postmaster" II,
The most general movement from the
Free Trade camp to the ranks Of Pro
lection, over which floats the Harrison
banner, is among the cigar makers. An
INTgLLIGENCER reporter has i'll the past
two days talked with seven men OF thls
class who have always been Democrats
and who frankly say they intend to vote
the Republican ticket. One reason they
assign Is that the Democratic Free Trade
policy. us endeavored to be put into ef
| feet in the Mills bill, would forever pre-
vent the abolition OF the Internal Reve
nue. tax, and this means that a cigIl
maker cannot hope to set up for himself
without somewhat OF capital to start on
| There is scarcely cigar maker in Wheel
ing who does notiforthis or other reasons
desire the abolition OF the Internal RGve'
nue. system. Besides this, most cigal
makers are men OF intelligence, and
have unusual opportunities to discuss
Interesting questions, from the character
of their work. 1t almostnecessarily fol-
lows that they are now very generally
coming over to Protection, not alone
from the selfish consideration mention
ed, but on broader grounds. Prominent
cigar makers, Democrats until lnteIy, say
there is scarcely a shop in town which
has not from two to half dozen men
who will vote for Harrison this year and
who have never been Republicans be-
fore. This statement is vouched for also
by other leading cigar makers, and adj
mitted by Democrats among them who
bnvn nof vet decided to come over.