The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-10-22
PLAIN TALK.
Open Letters From a Worklngmen to
President of the United States.

-
q living-one Of the "horny- handed som
of toll" for whose condition you have shee
30 many crocodile tears. My father, whs
was an honest, industrious and skillfu
mechanic, with high opinion of the vslu,
of learning, early sent me to school, with
the intention of giving me an advanced ed
ucation, IL economy and his means should
permit. Fond of study and filed with his
desire that should outstrip my fellows
became O faithful scholar, and In time
reached the High School OF the city
While making good progress in my studies
aud when near the top OF the school my
father suddenly died. The situation the n
get what further education / could in
leisure hours at homes practice, by the
way, have always kept up.
Early Struggles.
My father, man who spent money
freely for the comfort and pleasures OF his
family, had left almost nothing for our
support. With only few dollors in the
house, a mother and young sisters, who
with myself had to live, the situation
was serious.
i was forced to seek immediate work
and pay to keep the wolf from our door.
This j got by taking the best chance
could then find-in the shop where have
been employed ever since. Being young
and without experience at the time, my
pay al first was small, but enough for US
to exist on with economy, though not
without struggle.
Experience and time, however, made
me skilful, and my wages were increased
until i received the highest rate in the
shop-enabling us to live with comfort.
Years passing with no relief from the
family burden, and no better chance for
work or pay, gradually gave up my early
ambition and settled down to my trade as
permanent means of subsistence. Later,
my mother died, my sisters got husbands
and left home, and too, married; my
wife and one boy OF school age now con-
stitute my family.
From my marriage until lately my
life Was even and pleasant. lived well
and literally, providing my family with
a good support and some enjoyment. My
small home was well though plainly
furnished; the butcher, the farmer and
the grocer found in me good customer; !;
and the dry goods, clothing and other
dealers were regularly visited for some of
their goods.
My pay came every Saturday night, and,
not dreaming it would ever stop, spent
about all Of it for our comfort. My days
were passed in the shop and my evenings,
except when out visiting or at the theater,
at home smoking my pipe and reading
books or the daily papers. My wife, busy
about tho house or out gossiping during
the day, was my constant COM
panion after work, the only
time we could have together.
My boy, too, made one of the family
party, working over his lessons ut school
or with his tools, often asking curious
questions about things he did not under
stand. Altogether we found pleasure in
our life--which did not much vary up to
IS months ago.
Work at the Shop.
With your election things with me took
turn. Our shop, which employed only
four hands when / first entered il, was
then running with over 80 men. The
business had increased so rapidly in
the previous two years that we could
hardly keep up with the orders, and
steps were being taken TO enlarge the
shop and employ more help. The
articles we made were In gen.
eral use and demand, and, being protected
by patent, no danger or fear existed Of
competition under any circumstances
from like goods imported from Europe
Such being the case, it did not seem possi-
bic that your tariff-process could affect
the trade in any way; and most OF US in
the shop thought that, though 1t might
make difference with workmen en-
pioyed in woolen and some other indus
tries, as was said, we could not be injured,
while many expected to be benefited. We
were soon shown our mistake.
Not long after the election a rumor
came from the office that orders were fall
ing of and business getting slack. We
noticed that goods began to pile up
somew hat and fewer were going out, but
the work kept on with the usual force.
The first Of the year passed with the
rumors getting more frequent. After
you took office In March, the situation
grew rapidly worse, and our employers
looked serious. A large stock of
goods accumulated with few shipments,
and orders came fol. laying of some of the
packers and truckmen. Very soon we
were all put on three-quarter time, at tho
usual pay; after which so many men were
applying for our places, wages were rs-
duced to the rate of three quarters; and
ii months ago the shop closed. being
discharged and forced with the rest into
the ranks of the unemployed.
On the Tramp.
At first the situation did not strike me
as serious, for hopes were held out that
business would soon become better. This
you had promised, and you had repeated
ly told us that IL we should
ever lose our places there was always
plenty OF COED paying work to be
found. Not liking to be idle,
and wanting wages, however, / soon set
out to find employment, IL only until a
start up should be made. / first applied to
the shops employing men in my own line
of trade, but without successful were
either dischargipg men, running on short
time or closing. This search took some
time. The business situation getting
worse, and learning that our shut down
was likely to last, became alarmed, and
concluded to try for other work; my cir
cumstances had become such that was
forced TO do so. then tried other places.