Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-10-05
A TALE OF WOE.
The Story of One Workingrnan Who
Voted for s'a Change

NOlSu ioE a Si1dNye.
CHICAGO, Sept. 27.-To the Editor
Seeing an article in your paper short
time ago referring to the closing down
of factory in Kenosha, Wis, as a
result of the Democratic tariff policy,
[ wish to give my experience in the
matter.
One year ago I was employed in
factory in one of Ohio's most prosperous
towns. My wages were 1915 per day
and I was doing well-supporting my
family in good shape, sending my
children to school and paying for a
home of my own. | had always voted
the Republican ticket, but, like great
many others, decided that we ought to
have change. [ could point out no
reason for it, but my head seemed to be
turned by the hue and cry against ''the
robber tariff
I had it pointed out to me that my
employer rode down to his office in a
carriage every day, while l walked.
My employer lived in brick mansion,
while / had to be content with frame
cottage. The tariff was responsible for
this and the Democratic party, if placed
in power, would right the wrong.
Well, we hurrahed for Grover and
induced others to hurrah for him. Our
employer came to us and said that,
while he did not want to coerce his
employees, we would be consulting our
own interests by voting the Republican
ticket. His business depended largely
on tariff laws which the democrats
would repeal. If they won he might
be compelled to close down. This
scared us little, but we decided it was
only bluff and our votes went in for
Grover. To our great delight he won.
One man especially went into delirium
of joy. "God bless you, Grover! God
bless you!" he cried; ''now working
man can live" l saw him the other
day, and more woebegone specimen |
hope never to see again. His wages in
the factory were So per day. After the
election our employer came around and
said shat, as he had large surplus
stock on hand and the future was very
uncertain, he did not dare accumulate
any more. Accordingly he laid off half
of the men. He has since closed the
works entirely.
I did very little all winter except look
for work, but early in the spring came
to Chicago and got work in connection
with the Worlds Fair. Wages we're
good and paid up debts I had incurred
during the winter, besides sending
money for my family to live on. [ was
nearly even with the world when [ was
again laid off and since then I have
passed through enough to melt the
heart of craven image. I have
tramped the streets day after day in
search of work. [ have slept many a
night in a vacant lot and went supper
less to bed at that. have received
letters from my wife telling Of poverty
and hardships which [ was unable to
relieve. I have lost my home, and my
wife and children have taken refuge
with her folks, who are farmers, but on
account of the drought their crops were
a failure and they are not much better
off than we are. I tried to get work on
the drainage canal, but not being a
Chicago married man [ could not. 1t
was the same in regard to work on the
streets. I was actually obliged to 60
and accept charity from the Kopperel
relief agency. What the future will
bring do not know. 1t is dark and
gloomy enough. [ do know that the
Democratic party played a confidence
game on us, but it never will again.
They promised US better wages and
cheaper goods, but instead of that we
got soup-houses and no goods at all. [
also know that if Cleveland got a
majority of the votes of the country, a
majority of the brains did not vote for
him. Ny tale of woe is finished and it
is the tale Of thousands. Give us one
more chance at the hypocritical horde
that deceived us and we will put them
to sleep for another thirty years.
II. G..