The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1893-08-11

or the Sherman law would you advise to
better matters?
8. Are there any other suggestions you
can offer?
| Among the large number of replies we
find one from Bennington firm, and
note, also, that their letter is type of
all the others. The unanimity is won
derful, irrespective of party; for, oe it
known, there are Protection Democrats
as well as the Free Trade Republicans,
and protectionists are as one man on this
issue.
Messrs. Holden, Lenard & Co., maui
facturers of specialties in fine wool dress
fabrics, with Offices in Boston and New
York and mills at Bennington, write:
In answer to yours of the End will say
that the reason for our running on half
time is because of the uncertainty re-
garding tariff legislation. In view of
the fact that the party now in power has
been advocating change in the tariff on
wool and woOlens, and we have to make
| goods which do not reach the consumer
until nearly a year afterward, we can
not find buyers who are willing to place
orders while there is so much uncertain
| ty ahead. And if there is not a change
in sentiment soon we shall be compelled
to shut down entirely.
Answering your second inquiry, will
| say that we think the Sherman act
should be repealed, although that is a
matter of secondary importance in this
| present crisis.
1t seems to us that if this Congress
would give the Country assurance that it
will not interfere with or change the
present tariff for at least two years
there would be an immediate change in
sentiment, which would renew conf
dence and warrant us in starting again
at once. Without such assurance the
future of manufacturers in this Country
is indeed dark in the extreme.
The market for woolens is not at pres
ent overstocked, and, with the exception
of this fear of change in tariff, cOndi-
tiOns are exceeding favorable for doing a
large amount of business in our line.
Yours truly,
HOLDEN, LEONARD & Co.
The Jounal in commenting upon these
replies says: ut is worthy of MOTTO
that whereas President Cleveland, in his
message published in full elsewhere in
these columns, attributes the prevailing
business depression to the Sherman act,
the gentlemen who to large extent car
ry on the business of the Country and
who might reasonably be supposed to
know something of the cause of the pres
ent dullness declare universally that the
principal cause is undoubtedly probable
tariff tinkering, thus confirming the
special articles published in the Journal
a month ago
president Cleveland says in the mes
sage which he sent to Congress Tuesday,
after depicting the existing stagnation
4 believe these things are principally
chargeable to Congressional legislation
touching the purchase and coinage of
silver by the General Government
"These business men, however, assert
unanimously that probable tariff tinker
ing is what has caused the present situa
ton. They admit that the repeal of the
silver purchasing clanse of the Sherman
act would help to relieve the Country,
and they hope it will be repealed. But
assert that an assurance that the tariff
would not be changed is what is
needed"
This seems to be the sentiment, also,
of the New England Congressional dele
CATION on the Message We copy Sena-
tor Proctor, who said:
''lf were to say anything about the
message, which it is perhaps not neces-
sary for me now to do, | should speak
very well of it. | am well pleased with
all the recommendations regarding sill
yer, which is true, have no doubt of
every New England Congressman. The
President represents the views of our
community in that portion of his mes
sage. AS to the tariff feature, it is not
as strong or as threatening as had sup
posed it would be. If he were TO say
anything at all, he could hardly say any
thing less, and it is rendered so subordi-
nate in his message and is coupled at
the same time with a recommendation
that the silver question must first be
disposed of that it seems to me the
threat, for after all it is threat as to
the tariff, is not so important that it
ought not to give to manufacturers of
New England any great concern"