Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1894-11-03

ard wants to 60 10 Congress to tear
down the wages Of his fellow workmen.
II should try TO tear down the wages
OF my fellow men, should be tearing
down my own. From whom do l ex-
pect to make my own wages in the
future? From the wage-earners OF
Wheeling. Where does any lawyer,
doctor, merchant or business man
of Wheeling-no matter what-maSe
his income, except from the
laborers OF the city? Then the astound-
ing and curious proposition is made that
want to 90 TO Congress TO tear down
your wages, and thereby cut down my
own. II is but for two years that VIII
have the power to tear down your
wages, because after that time, II you
find me wanting Ia any respect, you will
have that greatest privilege OF the
American citiZen-the right 10 turn me
out and 10 brand me as an unfalthful
servant. Applause.
We are ascend led here tonight for
business too serious for frivilous dis
cussion. l know that others find it best
to deal with these things 10 light ana
frivilous way. 1 know that the other
gentleman DESTROYS Of representing you
fuds il 70 his interests TO go to the
door of my home, and there seek to
edify you by low abuse and vulgar ridl-
cule which cannot fail to reach the ears
of my mother. l have another idea OF
the way to deal with the electors OF
West Virginia. Applause. IL Is the
judgement Of the Republican candidate
10 gather around him crowd
in the street no place
so well suited to him as
ny mothers doOr-where his vile ridi-
cule should DO pang TO hurt her and
not help him. l am not here for that
purpose. 1t is more serious business
than that. l know that your destinies,
your wages, your very being depends
largely upon the legislation enacted in
Washington, aud l am here to ask you
to place in my hands my share OF that
power for two years, and that being so,
l have no time to tell you funny stories
about colored boy and white boy
and a coon hunt. Laughter. This is
no time for funny exhibitions. II is too
serious d business. Applause.
II you see tit to elect me-if you see
it 70 elect Captain Dovener-then your
| Congressman, in conjunction with
| other members, has the power to legis-
late for you in any direction they may
| deem advisable, and by whatever sys-
| TEN and TO whatever extent, and TO also
| legislate upon the circulating medium
by which you exchange the product of
! your toll for the neceSSaries Of life.
/ | see before me men whom l count
| as my friends, although they differ with
me in politics. But don't believe they
are less patriotic than l am, or that
| they want TO tear down anything. l
/ nave too much faith in their honesty,
/ and l believe they think they are right,
| and l claim to have the same right TO
| opinions that l cOncede to them. APP
plause. Therefore l want to reason
with them as TO what is best for all peo-
/ pie, and as to how they should vote on
/ next Tuesday.
Recently, after hard struggle, Con-
greSs changed the tariff law. Everyone
knows that while it was being acted upon
| there was depression, a lack Of conf
| dence in business, and an unsettled
state Of affairs generally. That is al
ways the case when there is an attempt
/ 10 change the tariff laws, and they
/ should not be interfered with unless
| there is a great advantage TO be gained.
| If there should be Republican ma
| jorty 10 the next Congress, and 1t
/ should proceed TO legislste upon
| the tariff, you know that they will be
/ unable TO make any change in IL, yet
we will have all the agitation and evil
/ influences which are inseperable from
such an effort to no purpose, and to no
| advantage. The tariff has now been
| changed, and l submit to you that no
ruin has been wrought and 90 damage
done, as our Republican friends pre-
dicted. Are our Republican friends
satisfied with the present tariff? No
| They know that no injury has been
wrought by IL, out their only source Of
complaint is that it was not cut enough
to injure the country and thus give
them an excuse for charging that ruin
upon the Democratic party with some
show of truth. Yet they are holding
up that old bOogaboo Of tearing down
wages and Of free trade, and are making
out OF il what they can. Think
over this, my Republican friends. Have
they told you what they expect to do
about the tariff if they are restored to
TO power? Have they told you how
they expect to re-enact the Mckinley
bill? No; they only cry free trade, the
paralysis of industry, and that the De-
mocracy is in the employ OF English
free trade and is only DESTROYS OF bene-
fling England at the expense OF our
own people. 1t is all too absurd. l
don't say that they mean to destroy
everythiug;" that they are robbers, "
"thieves," or any of those things. But
| do say that the politicians among
them are crying these things into your
ears for the sole purpose Of getting
back into Office, and not for the purpose
Of bene6ting the wOrkingmen. APP
pause.
say without fear Of contradiction
that the Republican party never raised
wages, and never intended 10. II this
is not true, you can judge Of me by my
effort when l assert again that they
never raised wages, although we have
lived under protection for thirty years.
You know whether they have raised
them or not,
Come up here, my puddler friend. 1
see one across there, aud regret that
he is going TO vote against me, although
he is a good friend of mine. For thirty
years, my friend, you had protection.
How much did it raise your wages?
Didn't they 60 down as the tariff came
upP Applause. Come up here my
mailer friend. know many Of you, aud
l remember when you were the proud.
est and best paid of all the skilled work
men Of Wheeling. l remember when
your skill gave to Wheeling the proud
title OF being the Nall City. know
thai the tailors will saw that they sold