The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-16
THE BUSINESS MEN
OF the Country demanded the Rsuominu.
tlon OF HaFrison.

tloa OF Harrison.
Meas York Tribute.
II Is now generally conceded that the
denomination of tho President was
largely due TO the influence Of the bust
ness interests OF the country. SIr. De-
pew has expressed this opinion, and,
ps the recognized Harrison leader in
the convention, his judgment may be
accepted as conclusive. A large major
ity OF the delegates wero uninstructed,
and were influenced by the private dis.
patches which they received from the
business centers Of tho country. These
dispatches favored the denomination of
the President, and were most effective
in producing tho result.
The Same force which impelled dazed
and questioning delegates to cast their
ballots at Minneapolis for Harrison will
inevitably influence voters at large in
November. There is a general agree
mont among business men that thor
interests will DO promoted by tho con-
tinuance OF q safe and successful Repub.
lican administration. Prudent men
discern clearly the disturbance which
would be produced in tho business
world by the election OF OF Democrat
ic President and the control Of both
houses Of Congress by the party OF tariff
agitation and FREQ coinage. a long 20.
Rod o. uDcertainty would follow, during
which business men would not know
where they were standing or what
might be coming. Tariff revision,
whether it is attempted by Republic
cans or Democrats, is dreaded by bust
ness men, since it is always a
protracted process, the result Of which
can never be accurately forecast Dur
ing the transition period general bust.
ness stagnaLes and languisles, and every
important mercantile interest is re.
lieved when it ia brought TO an end.
The success Of the Democr attic party in
November would involve the resump-
ton OF tariff agitation and the uusettl-
ing OF all the prevailing conditions Of
trade. The conservative opinion Of the
business elements OF the country is
against tho premature reoponing of the
tariff controversy in Congress. Under
a Republican administration and with
Republican Congress- they have the
assurance that the tariff act will stand,
and that the orderly course OF business
will not be interrupted.
What practical men perceive is the
fact that the Mckinley act is operating
on the whole very differently from what
Democratic opponents anticipated, and
more satisfactorily than its Republican
advocates yentured to predict two
years ago. It has exerted a stimulating
effect upon all productive interests, has
maintained a high level of wages, and
SO far from increasing prices for the
consumer has in many instances rednc-
ed them. With the reciprocity clause
it has enlarged the foreign demand for
American breadstuffs and manufac-
lures, and at the same time has not in
creased the cost OF imported food
products. Many classes Of business
men, who were not convinced at the
outset that the Mckinley act
was either necessary or expedient, now
admit that their prejudices wore not
justified. On every side in business
circles there is strong preference
shown for allowing the act to remain in
operation long enough TO be practically
tested. The influence Of all conserya-
tive business men will be powerfully
exerted during the next five months to
prevent the unsettling effects of a
Democratic victory for so-called tariff
reform. The Republican party will
profit heavily by this Influence. AS it
was strong enough to secure the Presi-
dents denomination at Minneapolis, it
promises already to be sufficient to Sc
cure his reelection.