The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1893-11-09

that We are all in the same boat, so tt
speak, SO far rs the hard times are con.
ccrned Maine aud Massachusetts alike
feel the effects of the present business
depression. but here in our state wt
probably feel it more than you do in
Maine. rs We have larger number of in
dustries than Maine, which are depressed
by the tariff uncertainty. Some peo-
pie are beginning to see that ii is tn,
tariff uncertainty. more than the silver
bill that effects trade and home indus
tries and some who shouted vigorously
for Cleveland and reform would like the
privilege to day to vote and undo what
The last national election did. The re-
peal of the silver bill does not bring the
relief which was anticipated by some
aud more hight begins to dawn ON tn,
minds of some who this WI, the only
twig which stopped the wheels of pros
pcrity
AmeSbufy. like other toNn, in our COM
mon wealth has lis share al that class of
people whose eyes are being opened by
the stern facts of disaster to industry
caused by tile change in the National adj
mini,tration. In ls9l. business here
was good. our carriage manufactures
making aud shipping 2jooo carriages of
all descriptions. In ls92 the trade was
still better and larger, in fact, II was re-
ported IL the greatest year of proSperi-
" ever known in this business. and the
outlook for 1893 indicated Il still larger
increase. The cotton mill. al the same
time were running on full time and
GOOD pay. aud there Wa, nothing up to
the time # The national election to in
dictate that there WAS la be any falling
of in the tide of prosperity. Bul when
the result OF the election became known
our manufacturers began To feel i'm
mrdiatcly the influence OF the declared
purpose of the new admiuiSr ration to
overthrow the present tariff. ucertain-
tv n to what prices would prevail on
either raw material. or manufactured
products, the orders coming in. began to
decrease. and it was uncertain whether
it would do to buy stock to run the shop
and factories with.
With the falling of of orders there
was il falling of of cash receipts, thus a
lack of funds with which to buy stock
or pay the help. This unfortunate con
dition of affairs kept growing worse and
worse till one after another of our
shops began to shut down for an indeii-
mite period, and the cotton mill had to
follow suit. After while the cotton
mill tried to start, and it run full time
one week shutting down the next. This
continued till the lst of October then
they began to run ON full time each
week. with II cut down in pay of from
ten to fifteen per cent. 1t looks doubt
full now about the corporation being
able to do any better than this all win
ter. Unless there is some assurance
that the tariff will not be disturbed it is
not safe for business to make any plans
for the future, and if Congress takes up
the tarifl bill with any indication that
the platform laid down by the party in
power is to be lived up to, and the
Mckinley bill sweepngly repealed, then
our industries will be thrown Hat again
aud those who are fortunate enough to
have any work even at small pay will
undoubtedly loose what they now have
1t is surprising to see how blind or
stubborn some men are who claim to be
rrforners. and to seek the highest good
of the greatest number. and yet 90 to
work to get up IA small party which only
divides the forces and throws the bal
ancc of power into the hands of those
who are doing their best to overthrow
the prosperity of the country. In this
state the Prohibtory and Popuist par
ties are simply tools to help throw the
balance of power into the hands of that
party which to day is blocking the
wheels of our manufacturing institutions
and using the hall, of national legiSla
ton for schoolhov debates. 1t is com
mon to attribute the disasterouS coDdi-
I ion al "a fla IN. In thn DOM
oc,aic Party, but in my Judgement the
blame rests largely with these two
minor parties. who held the balance of
the power, and knew that neither of
them could elect their ticket. at the
same time aimed if they could not win,
to defeat the party which had given the
country lis great prosperity, and bid
fair to continue that prosperity They
knew at the same time that defeat to the
Republican party meant the turning
over of the administration of the gov
crnmcnt to "A party whose platform of
principles, as earnestly announced meant
the destruction of our SHIPPING, our
commercial, and our manufacturing in
tcrcsts. Thus before IN enlightened
civilized world, every man who voted
ut the last national election carried the
ticket of either these minor parties must
bc Judged rs contributing his influence
to bring about the present disaster to all
the best interests of our country.
If he can derive any satisfaction from
the situation it must be simply in the fact
that he had his own way for now he
must share in the suffering which his
own acts brought about. Here we have
IA state election on our hands and we are
wondering how many voters will repeat
the folly of endorsing the course of the
present administration by carrying Il
side ticket in the name of reform, for
every vote in this election must be sig
niticaut for one or the other of the two
great parties in the state must condemn
the party in power at Washington. The
great issues of the Nation for the present
will be decided, advanced or defeated by
one of the other of the two great parties.
and their success or defeat in the sew
eral states will help to determine
whether it shall be success OF defeat in
tn" halls of Congress aud as II Nation.
j. II. l..
Amcsburv. Mass. Nov. B.
An Authors Wife.