The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-07-19
PERTINENT TOPICS.

A well-known dry-goods dealer: 81 do
not wish to be interviewed about markets
and trade, but l will give my views with
out my name. 1 have recently returned
from New York. In the twenty years that
1 have been "A buyer the markets were never
so nearly bare. Comparatively speaking,
there are no goods i'm the market. The
home manufacturer. fearing the changes
of the tariff, will only manufacture as much
as he sell, while the importers are hold
ing back, waiting for the passage of a bill
which will relieve them of half the duties.
Still there never has been time when
such bargains were to be had in seasonable
goods by looking for them. Such goods
are sacrificed by manufacturers and Jop-
bers for fear they may lose more with a
reduced tariff. Goods were retailed
as low as now, and think they can never
be lower. if low, as now. Trade? You
see what 1t is-some all the time, but very
light and unremunerative compared even
with previous years. On Sunday We adver-
tised literally in the Journal, and on Mon
day had a full trade because there are
people who will take advantage Of bar
gains. In the great bulk of dress goods in
general use the American manufacturer has
had the market for four years. AS an
American l am proud TO say that all those
lines of goods were never better in quail
ity or so desirable In style. Assured as the
American manufacturer was by the Me-
Kinley law, he prepared for the making of
such goods. When the change came after
that law we expected that, inasmuch as
the duty had been increased. those dress
goods would be or 10 per cent higher,
and the importers put them up. but at
once found that goods better than the inn
ported, for which we had paid 4212 cents
when imported, were offered US for 50 cents
when made at home. The next year the
same goods were bought at 37la cents
such the result of complete protection
and home cOmDptitiOn- We have
artistic goods than years ago. Then
woman who wore a costly silk dress was
dressed; now the woman is dressed who
has the gift of combining the much cheaper
patterns of the season. Our public schools
are very largely to be credted for the
change. This revolution has made it posi-
bic for those OF limited means TO dress
with as much taste as those who have an .
abundance. Trade has fallen off all along.
The well-to-do, seeing their incomes decln-
ing, have bought sparingly. Hundreds of
families who kept a servant "a year ago
now get along without one, and the result
is that considerable class of liberal buy
ers have dropped out. The families of wage
earners Of all descriptions are buying much
less. l mean salaried men, statesmen,
clerks, and, generally, the men and families
who earned from SIP to So a week in good
times. Now many Of them earn a pittance,
and nearly all have had their wages or in
comes reduced considerably. Yes, the rep
reSentativeS of importers have been here
offering to deliver goods at certain prices,
conditional upon the passage of the VIII
son bill or some similar measure 1t is
now too late for any action which Congress
may take to affect the fall or early winter
trade, because IL would take so long To get
the industrial machinery OF the country In
motion again Confidence must precede ac-
tivity, and employment must be resumed TO
start business in earnest. There are too
many lawyers and mere theorists in Con-
greSS-men who know nothing about prac-
teal business"
A high railroad employe: IF all the rail-
road managers in Chicago had made agree
ments with Debs to take back the men
who had deserted its service this road
would not have done it. Many have been
taken back, but not who was noisy
offensive, and our foremen knew every one
of them-have their names. Nor will such
men from other roads be employed by US.
Every man who has worked on a railroad
must bring a good recommendation. Men
who will destroy the property of railroads
not fit men to be employed on them.
There is no spite about the matchmaking
but common prudence: The farmer would
not rehire a man who had left him without
cause set fire to his fences, and then tried
10 prevent other men from working for
him. Would the merchant employ a clerk
who left without notice and turned a water
pipe upon his goods? Railroads will know
pretty well whether the men they
ploy will desert them on the order of some
person like Debs. 1 do not know about
politics. L can't tell whether the DebS in
surrection will increase the Popust vote
temporarily laid off ten days ago by one
of the roads because the strike stopped
business and made their services unneces-
sary must be we'll aware that Debs's
movement the cause. / cannot see
why the depriving of all of these men of
pay day can make them yearn for the
Debs party"
Capt. John E. Cleland: 1.-The militia has
acquitted itself so creditably and has been
of so great service TO the State in the
present crisis that it will be some time be-
fore one will hear a sneer about play SOL
ders. The State must support a we'll
drilled militia Arbitration? | must study
that; but l think that if, pending a con-
siderable strike. impartial commission
should hear both sides and render a de-
cision upon the evidence. the parties them
selves would come to agreement. The
one who stood out against such decision
or, rather. opinion, would have public opin-
Commissioner Ruckle: mo man deserves
more praise for strangling the trouble
about the railroads here than Sergeant La
porte. The night of the strike he had COM
mand at the critical point, and his con-
duct was admirable. Then, the engineers,
conductors and firemen, who, for the most
part, are as good citizens as indianapolis
possesses, by their persistent attitude of
quiet loyalty 10 the roads employing them,
eXerted a powerful influence Many of these
men own homes and have families here.
and they naturally kept their agreements
with their employers. They are that kind
of men,"
a tenant: Rents must come down for
houses. L am paying as much rent as |
did before the hOodums in the large cities
voted for Cleveland and free trade in 1892
My wages have been cut and the prices of
| everything have fallen except rents. Why
not rents? Do you see the empty houses?
There are no less people, but they have
gone to cheaper rentals In some of the
suburbs reached by the electric railways
rents are a third less than inside the city
limits"
landlord: Tenants want so much now
and taxes are so high that it will be i'm
possible TO cut rents much and have any
| thing left. Yes, l have heard the suburb
| story for several years. 1t is attractive as
a story but disagreeable in practice
| that many who try ii are glad TO get back
| into the city, so that they can get car
| oftener than once half hour and later
| than 10 o'clock in the evening.
WEATHER FORECAST