The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1896-10-02
SOUTHERN SHOPS
FOR GOLD.
Startling Predictions as to
the Consequences of
Free Silver.
VIEWS FROM The SOUTH
Free Silver a Menace to Bust
ness, and Should It Win We
Would Have the Worst
Panic Ever Known.


Panic Ever Known.
The Manufacturers Record of Balti.
more, a high class publication devoted to
the industrial conditions of the south, re-
Gently sent to several hundred southern
manufacturers letter containing two
queries:
First.-What In your opinion would be
the effect upon business If the gold and
protection ticket would winp
Second What in your opinion would BIO
the effect upon business II the silver-free
trade ticket would VIM
The Manufacturers Record states that
the replies received to the foregoing quer-
les We're startling in the dire forebodings
Of large majority of overwhelming dis
aster should free silver win" Out of 151
replies, 1874 were unqualifledly against free
silver and regard it as q menace to all
business interests, Is were In favor of sill
yer, and 10 were noncommittal. Running
through many of these letters was the idea
that should free silver win we would
have the worst panic ever known"
The Manufacturers Record continues:
"These are not the views Of theorists; they
are not the predictions Of men who can
foolishly BIZ charged with trying to create
a panic; they are not the statements of
Wall street nor of professional politicians
On the contrary they are the sober fears
of hundreds of the foremost manufacture
ers of the south, the men who have been
leading that section toward activity and
itxy. ,fr he, hav 70 haap ab
ing employment for tens of thousands of
laborers; of men who in most cases are
going to change their lifelong political as
sociations In order to vote against what
they believe would be great calamity.
Tho Manufacturers Record begs the peo-
pie of the south to study these letters, to
study their meaning and to realize how
the business men of this section regard
free silver
The business firms responding against
free silver were divided among the differ
ent states as follows: West Virginia. 81;
Georgia, II; North Carolina, IA; Virginia,
IA; Tennessee, 0; louisiana 2; Mississip-
pi, 6; South Carolina, Z; Alabama, II;
Texas, 2; Maryland, 2; Kentucky, 8; Ar
kansas, Q, and Florida, l.
Following are some of the replies:
The Cotton Industry In North Carolina.
Charlotte Cotton mills, Charlotte, N.
G.: 1.-THE success of the Mckinley ticket
would lead to an early revival Of business.
If Bryan should be elected, there would
ensue such u panic as this country has new
er seen, with disaster to all kinds of bust
ness"
From the Coal Mines, West Virginia.
j. W. Graham, Central City, W. Va:
"First-With sound money and protective
tariff, factories will start up capital will
seek investment, business generally will
be good. Second-Free trade means to con-
tinue business as 1t now is and drive man
ufacturers to the wall. Free silver means
one of the greatest panics ever known"
From Kentucky Rolling Mill.
Newport Rolling Mill company, New
port, KY: "First-If gold and protection
ticket should win, business in every line
would boom at once with such a boom as
our country has seldom seen. Second
Should silver and tree trade ticket win, the
result would be most disastrous.
A Voice From tho West Virginia Salt In
dustry.
Hope Salt and Coal company Mason,
W. Va: "First-We are of the opinion that
business would begin to revive at once aft
or Nov 8, election day. Second-We think
1t would BIO one of the most disastrous &C.
currences that could possibly befall this
country. God forbid its ever taking place.
Tennessee's Foundry and Pipe Works Speak.
Chattanooga Foundry and Pipe works,
Chattanooga: "First-Our opinion is that
with the success of the gold and protection
ticket, Immediately confidence would he
restored, business would revive and We
would have the good times we enjoyed
prior to 1899. Socond-The same depressed
state of affairs that now exists, with no
hope for immediate future"
Alabama Says, "More Confidence"
F.P.. Randle, Rock Mills, Ala: "First-
Good. Sccond-Disastrous The people
need markets and employment. Not more
money, but more confidence and security"
From the "Debtor Glass" In Tennessee.
Herman Justi Nashville: "First-Busi-
ness would steadily improve. Second
business would at once get worse ami fail
ures would occur in increasing numbers
every day. These arc my honest views,
and l should add have been lifelong
Always Democrats, but Against Bryan.
Guild g. White, Chattanooga: ave are
for gold standard and tariff for revenue
only. We will not support Bryan, as We
think his principles menace to the coun-
try. We have always been Democrats If
silver should win, we think the class who
seem disposed to elect him would be most
injured. If gold wins, we think the coun-
try would return ut once to prosperity"
Right to the Point From South Carolina.
Pacolet Manufacturing company, Spar
tanburg S. c.: "First-Buslness would
revive. Second-PaIic and less business. -
South Carolina Says, "Means Unparalleled
Prosperity"
Union Cotton mills, Union, S. G..
"First-Thc success of gold and protection
means unparalleled business prosperity
and renewal of confidence Second-Should
silver and free trade win, the outlook is
TOO dark to venture an opinion"
An Opinion From Maryland.
Laurel company, cotton manufacturers,
Baltimore: Frst-Great prosperity wo1ld
extend over the whole country. Second
Panic, bankruptcy and general ruin to
credit, honor and business. "
Virginia For Protection and Sound Cur
rency.
J. L. Roper Lumber company, Norfolk:
ave are ready to go upon record as prophe.
sying much better times provided gold
and protection ara upheld in next Novem-
bers election. A proper tariff and sound
currency is what we sorely need to be as.
sured Of"
Free Silver Means Ruin, Says Arkansas.
Fort Smith Lumber company, Fort
Smith, Ark: "First-Business will revive |
and prosperity return with the election of
William Mckinley. Second-Frce silver !
and free trade means ruin to the manu- |