The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-05-11
THE True IssuE.


Ashort time ago IT was announced that
some manufacturers OF Pennsylvania were
preparfng 70 form free silver party. A
conference was held In Washington City.
end shs brief reports Of II tei.graphed
left the impression that those merchants
were seeking to inifuence congress in favor
OF Q tree silver bill The movement 90
casloned great surprise. and Mr.. James
Dobson. one of the leading manufacture
err OF Philadelphia, was Interviewed By
the New York Tribune on the subject
He made the following explanation:
"whatever interpressssca may have
been placed upon the conference, that vas
not its purpose. The original idea. ~ Il
Was preached TO me. was TO show the
silver senators who had blocked the pas
sage of the D!ngiey revenue bill thai
higher customs duties were OF as much
consequence 10 the mines. the sheep and
lumber Of the West as to the mills and
factories of the East II seemed worth
willis to make an effort 10 convince the
silver senators that they were only In
Turing the material interests OF their
states. without advancing the cause Of
silver. by holding up the revenue bill
Why. there were several manufacturers
invited to the conferences who did not
favor bi-metailism."
Mr.. Dobson admits that some Of the dis
advantages under which American manu-
facturers labor. through the competition
of countries like Japan. might be alleyi-
ated by international bi-metallism. but he
~aaftxrs that thu avfl~ ~ fr.> rofrs - No.
this country would be infinitely greater.
The free silver Republicans cannot plead
that they were not informed of the oondi-
tons which exist nor Of the benefit the
Dingley bill would have wrought. Mr..
Dobson showed them that whereas. under
the Republican tariff. his pay roll was $685.
90 a month 1t Is now only 10000. Not half
the people who wore working full time
with good wages In Dolan's mill can get
any work there at all now. The Textile
Manufacturer Journal also shows that
out OF 42,2s7 employees in the wooden mills
answering circulars OF inquiry only z7.as
are now at work. or "a per cent. the pay
rolls also showing an average reduction
of 1S.s per cent. since 1892; and almost sim
liar results are shown In other branches Of
the wooden industry. In dress goods, car
pets. blankets. yarns and knit goods. Com
partiveiy. the prostration of this industry
is greater than 1t has been in fifty years
When the agitation set In for free trade.
and Republican statesmen endeavored to
convince tho people that, bad as things
were. they would be very much worse
under . lowered tariff they were answered
that things could not b any worse.
A very sharp experience has taught Us
how very much worse tiiey could be than
they had been: and although a restoration
Of the tariff might not at once renew all
few people who would not gladly welcome
back that time ~ . Godsend compared to
what the country has suffered for the past
three years.
The course OF every citizen y clear: Ne
must endeavor to get back to a point
whore every willing worker can find work.
1t will be time enough then TO figure out
how matters may be made even better. A
man who is earning enough TO keep his
family Is in a much mora suitable frame OF
mind to calmly consider political economy
than one who Is distracted by vain efforts
to provide for their daily needs.
This is why the great issue OF the cam
paign Is tho tariff. A return to normal
conditions will enable US to see more clear
ly and judge more dispassionateIy. That
TINA fs coming. the sentiment NJ tba MAJ
pie is unmistakahIe, and but few months
stand now between our Idle Industries and
renewed confidence. Capital. which is now
eagerly accepting So per cent. will seek
investment In more profitable channels.
and labor will be stirring to do its share
In putting activity into every min and fac
tory now closed and darkened. and .etticg
into motion wheels now rusting IN idle
ness.