The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-01-10
BUREAU OF THE SENTINEL.


Congressman Bynum is in receipt of
numerous patent" protests against the
passage of the Wilson bill These pro-
tests have been prepared by the pro-
tected manufacturers who are COMPEL
ing their employees to sign those which
are supposed TO emanate from labor, and
themselves sign those which seek To
show that the business interests" can
not stand the proposed reduction in
duties. But Mr.. Bynum understands the
animus and the source of these so-called
protests and is unmoved by their
threats. He doesn't hedge one bit and
apparently ne doesn't care who knows
it. The other day ne wrote two letters
on the subject. The first was to a man
ufacturer as foIlows:
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,,
WASHINGTON, d. c.. Dec. %. 1898.
''Messrs. Strickland & Co, Kokomo,
IND:
Dear SiT5-Yours of the 2Sth inst pro-
testing against the enactment Of the
Wilson bill or any similar measure to
hand. l. do not concur in your state
ment that if the measure be passed the
democratic party VIII be as dead as 1t
was in 81 If the democratic party
now fails 10 redeem its pledges to re-
duce taxation and TO eXtinguish the
power Of monOpOlies to plumber the great
mass Of the people it could certainly
have no claim TO future support or re-
specC. The organized effort now being
made to intimidate representatives. and
drive them from the support of a great
principle, the foundation of popular gov
eminent. is evidence to my mind that
the interests of the people We're never
in greater jeopardy and needed more
courageous defenders. The prOudest act
of my public life Will be TO vote for this
measure. Very respectfully,
wv. d. BYNUM."
The other letter was in reply to one
of the printed protests signed by the
employees of George Merritt & Co. of
indianapolis and was as follows;
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. %, 1898.
Mr.. Harry Willard, Indianapolis, Ind:
Dear Sir-I am in receipt Of petition
signed by yourself and others, employees
Of George Merritt & Co, requesting me,
in the most earnest manner, to vote
against and TO use r-S influence to defeat
the Wilson tariff bill. You assert that
the passage of the bill would have a
most disastrous effect upon the industry
which gives you employment and that
If you are thus deprived Of your means
of earning a livelihood or are obliged to
work for reduced wages you will hold
those responsible who vote for the bill.
Members Of congress and especially
those on the committee of ways and
means have been the recipients of SINH
lar petitions from different sections Of
the country. The printed form of the
petition, with blanks 10 be filled with
names Of state and pOstOfFice as we'll as
of the firm in whose employ the petit
TONERS are engaged, convinces me that
the same was not the voluntary act of
those whose names are attached, but the
inspiration of those who have long beer
OF II
taxation and who rather than surrender
their power to eXtOrt contributions from
the great mass OF the people are now
engaged in the cruel work Of threatening
their employees with reduction of wages
or a loss OF employment should the pro-
posed measure become a law. The or
ganiZed effort now being made to intimi-
date representatives and drive them
from the support OF great principle
only demonstrates to what base ends
selfish greed viii resort to accomplish its
objects. My sympGthies are and ever
have been with the Wage-Workers and
for that reason ] have been an uncOm-
promising advocate Of tariff reform The
labOring classes, with but few excep-
tons, have been the victims and not
the beneficiaries of the so-called pro-
tective system. Your statement that in
case the Wilson bill becomes a law your
wages will be reduced has no foundation
in truth so far as the effects of that
measure may operate. The bill provides
for rates Of duties on wooden cloths of
40 per centum. In other words your en-
plOyers viii have, under the Wilson bill.
on wooden cloths a protection Of $40 on
every hundred dollars worth Of goods
made in their mill. l unhesitatinglv
venture the statement that your en-
ployers do not pay 10 their operatives $40
in wages for every one hundred dollars
worth of goods sold by them, much less
$40 more than the wages paid by Euro
pean manufacturers for the same GUAM
tity Of goods Believing that the Wilson
bill is the only remedy for the deplorable
condition which now envelopes the whole
country and which has gradually crept
upon US under and by reason Of the in
sane policy of endeavoring to tax our
selves rich. ] shall not only cheerfuIlv
support the measure but do all / can to
promOte its speedy enactment into law.
Very truly yours, w. d. BYNITM"