The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1892-10-21
Professor Quits theG.O.P
Though a Lifelong Republican His Con.
ViCtiOnS Revolt Against Harrison.
And Says That Cleveland is the Man
Needed by the Nation.

stitute Of Technology, Hoboken, has re.
nounced the republican party and will
henceforth support the cause of democ.
racy.
Prof. Leeds declares that his affiliations
with republicanism have been constant
throughout his life. He has stood by
the g. o. p. and fought for it as long as
its aims and policies seemed v~irtuous
and for the national good. But in his
mind the day when those traits domin
ated has passed. The future safety and
development of the nation. he says, rests
in the carrying out of the principles of
the democratic party. Being an honest
and contentious man. he follows his
convictions.
When seen at his home in Hoboken he
said to a reporter:
Il am for Cleveland and democracy.
Allow me to say in the beginning, how
ever, that l have no personal feelings
against Mr.. Harrison. However, | am
for Cleveland. whose record while in Of
flee was beyond reproach. BIT my real
reasons for changing my politics are my
convictions. 1t is not possible for me to
be faithful to those convictions and vote
with the republicans this fall. | am in
full accord with the democratic platform
and desire to support it.
IL admire the democratic speeches in
this campaign. | have observed with
pleasure that the campaign is conducted
nnfira1N, 6tHaropf fron, ~,o,,l-. -..
1t is not a campaign of blind adherence
to party anu regard for the popularity of
leaders. but one entirely in advocacy of
principle.
Il believe that the doctrines of the
democratic platform are such as to be in
full and entire harmony with the objects
and purposes of American government.
as set forth by all our wisest statesmen
from Washington down.
The more especial reasons for my
change of opinion are due to the OBJ.
servance of the results of the republican
party. ever since the issues raised by the
war were dead.
Il think that every one had a right to
expect that the country should be re-
lleved OF burdens imposed by the war
debt. More especially when We saw that
the country was able. without running
its Industries. very rapidly to reduce the
national debt. But instead of diminish
ing the enormous sums raised by duties.
the republican party adopted the policy
OF increasing them. ] began to inquire
what were the objects in view, and at
what point this policy of inordinate tax
alton would stop. In the first place.
certain facts, which i think cannot be
gainsaid, show that this policy Is reduc-
ing a very large portion of our popula-
ton to terrible straits of distress and
poverty, ,
Some two years ago | rode from Mid
dletown. Conn. to Williamstown, neal
the northern border of Massachusetts.
and back again. | passed through much
OF the land of the Berkshire Hills. !
found that the oft-repeated statement
that the farmers were abandoning their
homes was only too true. The ride
lasted for " weeks, and each day |
passed on the high road from five to six
abandoned farms.
During the month of Setember Just
passed took a similar ride through the
most fertile country of northern New
Jersey and found everywhere indications
that things were going backwards and
the conditions of life growing constantly
harder and harder for the farmers. |
Scarcely a young man to whom / talked
but was anxious to leave the farm and 90
into manufacturing or commercial pur-
suits. The reason they invariably gave
was that no money could be laid aside |
on the farm. Wages of from S16 to $40
a month left them no margin at the end
of the year.
Farm lands throughout the state
that fifteen years or go G sold at S75
and 500 per acre are now offered at 80
and 60, and the only investment in farm
properties that prudent men are making
is in taking the constantly offered mort
cages. Inc farmer is constantly grow
ing poorer, and the land is more and
more passing into the hands Of rich men.
who secure it by mortgage.
"Another industry that ! have some
familiarity with is that of the manufact-
ure of iron. ] have spent a good deal of
time looking into it in Pennsylvania, AL
ALBANIA and the districts in the north of
England. The number of tons of pig
iron produced in this country isin excess
Of that produced in England. In Ala
bama, instead Of having to seek the ore
in deep pits. as in English mines, it is
taken right from the surface. Coke in
our southern centers is cheaper than at
Durham, England. Pig-iron is made for
between So and 50 a ton. 1t has been
made for less than 50. The most compe-
tent iron founder / know OF has written
to me over his own name that he hopes
soon to see the day when he will turn out
a ton of foundry iron at a little over SO
per ton.
Under such conditions, the enormous
tariff upon an article OF prime necessity
in Almost every variety OF manufactured
goods is not merely a tax; it is a palpa
BILE robbery.
THAT such is the case is also shown
by the fact that many men who a few
years ago were comparatively poor are
now enjoying almost untold wealth 1e-
rived from profits in ironmaking.
''Still another industry which ! have !