The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-08
HE FEARS FREE TRADE.
A Big Democratic Manufacturer Re-
nounces the free-Irade Party.
How the Great Fight for Protection and
Prosperity for American Labor Pro-
crosses all along the Lins-Ths Tariff
Helps Business.

NEW YORK. Sept. s.-Florien Grosjeau,
the head of the LaLance g. Grosjean
Manufacturing Company of Woodhaven,
L. l.. has announced his intention to de-
posit his vote this year for Harrison and
Reid, and the policies of protection and
reciprocity. Mr.. Gros1ean has always
been Democrat.
The company manufactures agate iron
ware, and gives employment steadily to
about 1.4O0 men. The factory building
covers six acres. The people who labor
under it's roof take away several thou
sand dollars I'm wages for each day OF their
toll
The president is native of France,
and came to America forty-two years ago.
Some thirty-one years ngo he established
n spool factory In a basement at the cor
ner OF Hester and Elizabeth streets, en-
nucleus OF the large industry of which he
is to-day the head.
Mr.. Grosjean has a strong, clear rea-
son for the faith that Is In him. II am, !"
he said, Every fond OF Mr.. Cleveland.
have always voted the Democratic
help elect It. Both times that Mr.. Cleve-
land ran / voted and worked for him.
but can no longer aptagonize my own
interests, and the interests OF the 400
men In our employ, by lending encourage
ment to free trade propaganda. 1t Ia
PLAIN to me that the establishment Of a.
Free Trade system would eventually
force us to close our factory aud throw
out of work the operatives, most Of whom
have now comfortable homes on Long
Island. Personally, would strain a
point to vote for Mr.. Cleveland, but prac..
tical experience has given me fear Of
the results Of Free Trade, which no argu-
ment, personal or political. can overbal-
ance France and Germany both tried
Free Trade and forsook 1t, and now from
England come the premonitory murmurs
of great crisis. Great Britain will be
forced TO adopt some species Of protective
tariff system"
What has been the effect of the pres
ent tariff upon your business?"
"Well, on the strength Of 1t we are now
making an addition to our factory, and
will take 800 more hands into employ
ment. II believed that free trade law,
or anything approximatinK v, was to be
passed in the near future l should stop
these improvements and prepare to 20
out of business. We use about 100 tons
of iron week in the factory. and are now
erecting a rolling mill in Harrisburg, Pa,
which will employ 600 inen. We have
never had a strike. and our men seem
well contented. Personally, could re-
tire from business and clo-c the factory,
but do not wish to do so as long AS we
can pay good wages to hundreds Of men
aud make ends meet.
Under free trade provision I should
never have been able to start my factory.
The Democratic calamity cry that the
Mckinley bill, IL It became a law, would
bring disaster upon the consumer, has had
two years for verificatson. As yet the
disaster has not come. The workipgman
gets as good, and in many cases better,
wages aud the price of commodities have
not advanced. II the workingman here
paws larger price for his necessities than
the laborer of Europe, 1t Is balanced by
the fact that his wages are many times
I'm excess OF those OF his brother on the
other side Of tho water. The protection
under which he earns and buys is con-
stantly creating larger demand for tho
product of his labor"