The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-11-26
Conclusions of Republicans After In
yestigating the Recent Defeat.
1t Was a Triangular Conflict Between the
Manufacturer. LabOrer and Farmer. in
Which democrats Played Many Tricks.
The Homestead Trouble and Low Wheat
the Weapons Used by the Enemy.
Indifference Of Voters Under Prosperity Also
Played Its Part-Democracy Probably
Robbed in Ohio by Mistakes of Voters.
CAUSES OF DEFEAT.

CAUSES OF DEFEAT.
Republicans Discuss the Matter am. Arrive
at Conciusions-Tricked by Democracy.
Special TO the indianapolis Journal
WASHINGTON, Nov. 25.-It was q triangu.
lar conflict between the interests of the
manufacturer. IsbOrer and farmer This is
the conclusion of the highest and ablest
men connected with the present admins
tration in their searches for the causes
which led to the recent Republican defeat.
Never was a presidential election fraught
with so many surprises. and never were the
leaders upon all sides so utterly at sea as to
the real reasons why the voters made such
unusual changes in their political positions.
There has been q thorough discussion, In
private CONVERSATIONS, as TO what led up
to the defeat at the polls. and
the field has been canvassed by
the President, members of his Cab
met and the leaders of the party in Con-
gress. There has been an honest desire mp
on the part of the Republicans to get at
the root of the trouble which brought
about the upheaval, so that, If the fault
rested with their party, they might rectify
the fault. while the Democrats have hoped
to locate their vantage-point and hold it.
1t is the belief of the wisest and best
informed Republicans in Washington that
the universal prosperity which exists now
and which was so emphatic on election
day. is r esponsible for the change in politi-
cal sentiment. Had there been less con-
tentment and. therefore,, less indifference
as TO what became of the work on election
day, the result would ave been differ
emit. 1t was found, too. thatin.many sections
of the country there was discomfort npOn
the part of labOrers and mechanical. grow
ing out of Ignorance as to true economic
conditions. Labor agitstors had been en-
ployed by the Democrats to SOW seed of
discomfort, and well they performed their
duties. They made the labOrers and
could, that the present tariff law
was for the benefit of the manu-
facturer and farmer; that the exporters
only prOfited by it. and all the ADVANTAGE
the laborer had he secured through his
labor unions; that the lsborer and me-
chanic paid higher prices for what they
bought, and got nothing extra by virtue of
the tariff law for his work. 1t was q case
of representing to the laborer that he could
eat the cherry, and at the same time save
il. In many instances he believed that the
manufactures only grew richer by the pro-
tective tariff. aud In dong SO he became
more grinding.
In connection with the labor question 1T
Is found that the Democrats played smart
tricks in many parts of the country. 1t
will be recalled that when Governor Nc
Kinley was running for reelection to Con-
gress in his Ohio district, two years ago,
his Democratic competitor hired peddlers
to travel over the district two weeks be-
fore election and offer for sale tinware.
The prices they asked were two or three
times more than the ware could have been
bought at in tho market. When the
farmers demonstrated against the prices
and refused to buy the peddlers explained
that II was owing TO the new Mckinley
tariff law, which was going to make tin
ware and everything else several times
higher In price. ana would actually make
farm produce lower. The trick had its
effect. 1t prejudioed the farmer against the
author of the tariff law and defeated hlm
! for reelection.
About q month before the recent election
labor agltarOrs, representing themselves to
be from Homestead, PIttsburg, YOungs-
town and other places. appeared In various
cities in the States of Indiana. Illinois,
Wisconsin, Now York and elsewhere, and
solicited contributions for the Home
stead strikers. Their solicitations were
largely made behind the doors of
the lodge. and in their talks for 'as-
slstance" they painted pictures of how
| Carnegie q Co.. who were protected by q
Republican tariff, had ground the laborer
down to q pulp. and they pictured how the
present tariff was for the rich and against
the poor. The effect was potential. Ii
turned Republicans into Democrats. The
trick seems not to have been realized at the
time by Republicans.
Then. again, there can be no doubt that
Carnegie and Friok had it in" for the Re-
| publicans because the latter had not put
up, instead of down, the duties upon Car
nsgie manufactures in the preparation of
the tariff bill. The Homestead strike
was precipitated at q time and con-
the Republican party. Since the cleo
tion. after the changes have not
been made which gave victory to the
mills, the strike has been declared at an
end. Mr.. Frick. who had always stood at
home and voted as q Democrat, plaotered
the country with kilograms and letters
representing himself TO be a Republican,
saying he had always been n Republican.
etc. He did nothing but assist IN bringing
about Republican defeat. Republicans
here say it was q whip-saw against them;
il was In the very conditions for the DEM
ocrats to gain votes upon the two sides of
every question.
The price of wheat was very low. because
Europe had q large crop. The farmer was
compelled TO pay high WAGES for farm la
Dor. because the new tariff law had so stim-
ulated manufacturing that the la borers all
wanted to go TO the factory. The farmer
could not see how it was that a law could
favor him when it permitted the price
of wheat to be 65 or 20 cents,A and
he was compelled TO pay Sl.50 q day for
farm hands. And yet the laborer believed
the tariff law compelled him TO pay more
for his food and clothing. and gave the
credit for his high wages to his labor
unions. And still. on the per contra side.
the manufacturer saw his mechanics and
laborers. many of whom made from 81 TO
els q day. CROWNS rich. while an
Overproduction in his line made low
prices for his products He said
he didn't care for a law or a
party which turned over the profits of his
business to the laborer. while he got moth
ing, and at the same time fostered labor
unions which dictated how he should run
his factory. what prices he should pay for
labor, and when and how he should run his
business.
Altogether there is not In the conclusions
of the thinkers of the party here any thing
which would tend to weaker faith i'm the
efficacy of the Republican principles of
tariff protection. On the contrary 1t has
received strength. p. S. II.
HI PERPLExiNG BALLOT LAW.
1t Now Looks as if Cleveland Wonld Have
Carried Ohio but for Errors 80 Voters