The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-09-09

New YoRK. Sept. S.--Tho Tribune has
the following:
There is big factory at Woodhaven,
L. l., owned by the Lalancc 4 Grosjoan
Manufacturing Company. They turn
out agate ironware and give employ
ment steadily to about 400 men. The
factory building covers about six acres
the space of about forty city lots. 1t
ia handsome building, and the peo-
ple who labor under its roof take away
several thousands OF dollars in wages
for each day Of their toll. The presi-
dent OF this prosperous concern is
FlOrien Grosjean. lie is native OF
France, and came to America fcrty.two
years ago. Some thirty.one years ago
lie established a spool factory in a base
ment at Hester and Elizabeth streets,
employing only three mon, That was
the nucleus OF the largo industry OF
which he is to-day the head. The city
office OF tho company is at No. ~ Gill
street -.
Mr. Grosiean. who has been q life
long Democrat, has announced his in
tention to deposit his vote this year Tor
protection and reciprocity, and Harri-
son and Reid, and he has strong, clear
reason for the faith that is IN him.
81 am" he said yesterday, very
fond OF Mr.. Cleveland. | have always
voted tho Democratic ticket and have
done what could to help electit. Both
times that Mr.. Cleveland ran | voted
and worked for him, and helped in the
partv's hurrah when he was elected;
but can no longer antagorizemy own
interests and the interests OF the Jour
teen hundred men in our empty
lending encouragement to free
trade propaganda 1t is plain
TO me that the establishment
OF free trade system would eventually
force US to close our factory and throw
out OF work the operatives, most OF
whom have now comfortable homes on
Long Island. Personally, | would strain
n point to vote for Mr.. Cleveland, but
practical experience has given mo fear
OF the results OF free trade, which no
argument, personal or political, can
oyerbaIance. Franco and Germany
both tried free trade and forsook it, and
now from England come the Fremont
tory murmurings OF great crisis.
Great Britain will be forced to adopt
some form OF protective system"
"What has been the effect OF the
present tariff upon your business"
"Wcll, on the strength OF it we arc
now making m addition to our factory,
and will take six hundred moro hands
into employment. If I,believed that a
free-trade law, or anything approximate
ing it, vas to BIO passed in the near
future, l should stop these improve
ments and prepare to get ont OF bust.
ness. We use about hundred tons OF
iron week in the factory, and are now
building a rolling mill in Harrisburg,
Pa, which will employ six hundred
men. We have never had strike, and
our men seem well content. Personally
could retire from business and close
the factory, but do not wish to do so as
long us We can pay good wages to hun
dreds Of mon and make ends meet.
"a few days ago l had talk with
Congressman Coombs, of Brooklyn, and
told him meant to vote for Harrison
and Reid on tariff grounds. He said
that free trade or tariff for revenue
meant q duty Of 40 per cent after all.
told him that such large duty was
protection really, aud the sooner the
Democrats gave the country to under
stand it in that light tho better for
them. But somehow I do not see it in
the same way Mr.. Coombs does.
an the course OF O few years we
shall be manufacturing rs fine quality
OF tin in this country as they do in
Wales. Does any one pretend to say
that tin could be made hero in oppo-
sition TO the pauper labor which is en-
ployed in Great Britain? The question
answers itself. Steel rails are manu-
featured here now, yet only few years
ago England had a complete monopoly
OF that industry.
I'VE must reason from effect back to
cause. Did free trade bring about that?
In looking at this matter l admit that l
form judgments more largely from my
personal experience and practical OBJ
servation than from an analysis of
theories or speculation. Under free
trade provision should have been able
to start my factory. The Democratic
calamity cry that the Mckinley bill, If
1t became u law, would bring disaster
upon tho consumer has had two years
for veriiiCation. AS yet the disaster
has not come. The workingman gets as
good, and, in many cases, better wages,
and the prices OF commodities have not
advanced, Ii workingman hero pays
a larger price for his necessaries than
the l0boser Of Europe, it is balanced by
the fact that his wages are many times
in excess of his brother on the other
side OF the water. The protection under
which he earns and buys is constantly
creating a larger demand for the pro.
duet OF his labor.
81 am out squarely for protection and
reciprocity. That means mutual FREQ
trade, aud we will not be giving away
something Tor nothing. The increase
in our trade with South American coun-
tries siuce reciprocity measures went
into effect has created CONSERVATION in
England. That in itself is eloquent.
intend to do all can to elect Harri-
son and Reid, and shall take pains to
see to it that employees in my care have
thorough opportunity to gain clear
understanding OF tho questions at issue
in this N0pnnoit,1, -