Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-09-20
Here is One of Then,


The Brooklyn Eagle recently pub
lished pen picture of ''robber bar
on" as depicted from life by repre-.
sentative of that journal. This sketch
is particularly brought to the attention
of the journals advocating the caging
OF the barons and the pulverizing of
protected industries. A. P. McCoomb
is described by the Eagle reporter as a
stout comfortable looking man. who
sat smoking on the piazza at Manhat.
tan Beach" On being addressed Mr..
McCoomb did not deny his identity,
but said with refreshing candor: "Yes,
| am one of the 'robber barons out of
job" The reporter then urged the
"robber baron"to tell his story, which
he did in the following interesting
manner. -'t'o.
l come from a little town up the State.
l started factory there eight years
ago. When Harrison was elected l
built big addition. had 700 hands
working for me, and my factory was
the backbone of the towns prosperity.
1t may be said to have lived on the
wages paid. When the electioneering
came round last fall | was invited to
speak. But did not attempt any ora
tory; had no idea that there would
be Democratic votes cast in my town.
l told the people it was a matter of
bread and butter, and they were as much
interested in it as ], and l left the mat
ter there.
A Democratic orator followed me,
and demonstrated that the Chicago
platform meant release from the impo.
sition of the robber barons of protec-
tion that American manufacturers
did not need protection that the work
ingman got none of the benefits of
protection, and that none of the factor
les would close nor would any of the
American workmen be thrown out of
employment by the great increase of
importations that would take place. l
thought my people knew better, but
when the votes were counted. the rain
bow hued Oratory was found to have
had its effect. The town had gone al
most solid Democratic.
1t twasn't any use kicking. saw
what was coming, and just took $685.
900 and soaked it away In trust com
pany. When the banks began to break
and the factories closed and the hard
times came my customers Cancelled
their orders and had to shut up. The
poor little town is finding its lesson
in political economy bitter dose but
as for me, I've got that old $4,000,
and 1 can sit here very comfortable
and wait till the clouds roll by. ...,
am a robber baron and the work
man has smashed me, so l am sup
posed to be dead.
In the industrial upheavals which
the changes in the tariff are sure to
bring about the ''robber baron" will
be likely to light upon his feet. The
Press believes. with President Harri-
son, that the rich man who loses half
his fortune is not entitled to the SYM
pathy that the workingman is who
loses half of his wages or all of his
job. A few thousand dollars per an
mum, more or less, for one man, is not
such an important factor as the wages
of thousands of men. In smash
ing one ''robber baronn both Mr.. Dana
and Mr.. Watterson should remember
they are sometimes likely to smash a
great many workingmen. The Press
has never advocated protection for the
benefit of the manufacturer, but solely
! for the reason that experience points to