Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-10-07
DEMOCRATS
LISTEN TO ADDRESSES BY GgN. CALDWELL
AND COL. ARNETT.
A Large and Enthusiastic Open Air Meeting Last
Night-Ths Campbell Meeting Next
Tussday-Poliieal Notes.

The Democrats of Benwood opened
the campaign in that city last night
with an open air meeting in Deegan's
lot. A stand was erected, tastefullY
decorated with flags and bunting, and
lighted with two locomotive headlights.
The Boggs' Run band was out during
the evening and rendered a number OF
spirited selections before the meeting
was called to order. Mr.. James Bar
rett acted as chairman, and on the
platform we're ex-Mayor Jos. Mahood,
Samuel Blake. Enoch Rush, John
Digby, Hon. Alex. Dorsey and Editor
Shaw, Of MoundsVllle, and other prom
inent Democrats.
The first speaker lntrouced was Cen
eral Alfred Caldwell, of this city, who
spoke for nearly two hours and held the
close attention of his hearers. The
audience was large and was composed
almost exclusively OF workiDgmen.
General Caldwell was frequently inter
rupted by applause, as he drove home a
point in his characteristic style, or drew
from his apparently inexhaustable fund
Of anecdotes to illustrate fact.
He began by reviewing the history OF
the Democratic party, and showing
that it has always been the party OF the
people as against the aristocracy. He
took up tariff legislation, tracing it
from its inception to the present day.
and devoted some time to an exposure
of the fallacy Of high protection argu-
ments. He showed that trusts and
combinations of capital are the off
spring OF McKinleyism. Our produce
tive capacity is beyond our consumptive
capacity A high tariff limits US to a
home market, and the necessary result
has been an effort to keep down COM
petition by what was first called com
binations and associations OF manu-
facturerS, bnt have subsequently been
termed trusts"
The original Western Nail Assocla-
ton was the progenltor OF trust and
combination, in an endeavor TO make
the American consumer in the home
market pay larger price for the man
ufactured product. The manufacturers
formed their associations, and knowing
the capacity Of the home market, and
that to operate their machinery and
plants to their full capacity, would
glut it, reduced the time Of operation Of
their several mills In proportion to
their productive capacity, thereby cur
failing production to the ConsumptiVe
capacity of the country.
In the letter, they kept up the rate
OF wages to their employees, who were
said to be protected by the tariff. By
not giving them employment, they vio-
lated the spirit Of the compact with the
workingmen. For example, one mill
was allowed to work two weeks in Sep
TENDER, ten days in October, three
weeks in November, and so on. The
price OF the product would be kept up
as against the American consumer,
while the time the mill would be idle,
the mechanic was deprived OF all labor
and compensation. This was the legiti-
mate result OF having only q home
market, under the Republican protec-
tive tariff.
Gen. Caldwell took up sections in the
Mckinley bill, and contrasted them
with the Wilson bill. Provisions OF
the latter were treated specifically, es-
peclally iron, coal, leather and wool.
Ia closing, the speaker paid his re-
spects to the A. 2. A. and similar or
CARNATIONS, denouncing them in vigOr-
Gus and scathing language. He eulo-
gized the Congressional nominee, Hon.
John A. Howard, and closed amid pro-
longed cheers,
1t was nearly ten o'clock wen Gen.
Caldwell closed. The audience had
stood for nearly two hours in the cold,
but showed no disposition to dispense.
Chairman Barrett then introduced Col.
w. w. Arnett, Of this city. Owing to
the lateness Of the hour, Col. Arnett did
not enter into a discussion Of the issues
Of the campaign, except in general
way. He talked for nearly half an hour,
however, and had his audience alter
nately cheering and laughing. The
meeting was an excellent one, and the
speeches made good impression.