The San Francisco call., 1896-09-26
Ridiculous Predictions Made by
Springer Before the Bill
Was Passed.
MILLS AND WoRKMEN THROWN
INTO IDLENESS.
Visiting Delegations to Canton Are
Also Told of the Evils of
Free Coinage.

CANTON, OHIO, Sept. 25.-Maior Nc
kinley made four speeches to-day. The
first one was shortly after o'clock, and
from that time till 2:30 he was busy re-
ceiving his callers. Every visitor insisted
upon shaking hands with the candidate.
Tomorrow there are seventeen delega-
tions expected. They will bring in the
aggregate more than 10000 visitors to
Canton. One railway company has ar
ranged for fourteen special trains. Major
Mckinley has found it necessary to make
his speeches shorter. All of his speeches
Saturday except one will be brief. To-day
he made his longest speech to delegation
from Seneca County, Ohio. 1t was wool
speech and was largely addressed to the
wool-producing States.
George Z. Str0th of Tifin was the
spokesman for the Seneca County delega-
ton. His address was strong and his re-
marks in presenting Major Mckinley with
a handsomely framed steel engraving of
the late General William II. Gibson were
particularly eloquent. The picture was
presented on behalf of the widow of Gen.
eral Gibson. In response to Mr.. Strotn' S
address Major Mckinley SAID:
Ny tellow-citizens and ladies and gentle
men: I have been very much moved by the
generous message which has been presented 10
me by your spokesman III your behalf. /
reeiproeate the kind words he has uttered and
the generous terms in which he has expressed
your assurances of good will and support
You could not have brought TO me a gift
dearer or more to be cherished and longer to
be cherished than the picture of my old friend,
your friend, the friend of every soldier, the
friend of the whole country-General William
II. Gibson [Great cheering.l
am glad to congra tulate your county upon
being now in the column OF Republican coun-
ties tapplausel, and 1 would not have you
forget that the only way it has become Re-
publican county is because the Democrats,
loving their country and wanting prosperity,
have joined the Republican ranks. Laughter
and applausel And you must keep them with
you and continue to recruit from their ranks
to your own. [Applause.l This year is an
especially good one Ior that sort of recruiting
service. Men of all parties this year, as in the
contest OF the Civil War. when the Nation
was threatened with dismem mberment, are
standing together for public honor and public
honesty Tor good currency, good credit and
National good faith. IApplauseI
This is year when those who stand op-
posed to us indulge in glittering promises.
They offer remedy which they say will cure
ali our ills. We might accept their services
and take their remedies if we had not been
doctored before. La lighter and applause.
Free trade and free silver are the false friends
of labor. IApplause and cries of "Thats
right"l They lure with promises of cheap
commodities and cheap money. The partial
trial of free trade has proved that the Cheap
commodities promised are dear to labor and
at the cost of labor, and cheap money will be
equally dear to them and sacrifice to their
highest and best interests. [Cries OF That's
right."l We cannot but remember the prom
ises that were made to the people in 1892 of
the universal benefcence which was TO follow
the Inauguration OF arif-for-revenue-only
policy, and with which prodigal bounty it was
to benefit labor, increase the purchasing power
of wages and decrease the price of everything
1t bough and increase the price of everything
# made. [Applause.l They did not "pan
out"
Springer. made in the House of Representa-
tives April T. 1892 when he was advocating
free wool. There may be some wool-grower!
in this audience. [Cries of "Yes.'l This il
what he said: "Pass this bill and thousands o
feet heretofore bare, and thousands of limb
heretofore naked or covered with rags will b'
clothed in suitable garments, and the condi
tion of all the people will be improved
[Laughterl 1t will give employment TO $4,000
more operatives in wooden mills. 1t will in
crease the demand for wool and prices will in
crease, and with increased demsn nd for labo
wages win increase. Those who favor its pas
sage may be assured that they have don,
something TO promote the general veal, some
thing to scatter plenty DER this smiling land.
Well, the free-wool bill was passed. Hav,
any of you realized the promises then made
ICries of "No, no.'l Wool was made free anC
every man in this country knows how poorl.
the performances have tailed with the prom
ises then made Instead of adding $4,000
laborers to the payrolls OF the woolen-mills
has taken off more than that number. Th
price of wool has fallen, and with what effec
upon the manufacturer 1 will show hereafter
The wools of Ohio, Pennsylvania, Michigan
New York, New England, Connecticut anS
Missouri, tWenty-four varieties, washed ant
unwashed: The average price in April, 1890
was 3O.3 cents per pound; in April, 1896, 17.4
cents per pound, a decline of more than 42 pc
cent. The wool of Texas, California, Oregon
Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Mexico
Georgia and the South, twenty-six vari
cites secured: Price in April, 1890
was 49.I cents per cound; in April
1896. 27.4 cents per pound, decline
Of "A. Q per cent. Other woods, ten varieties
sconred: In April, 1890. 459 cents per pound
in 1896 285 cents per pound, decline of 81
per cent. So great decline cannot be found
in anv other commodity. Ohio wool ma
dronped from % cents in 1892 to 1S cents pc
pound in 1896. This viii give you some idet
nj what free wool has done for the wool
producers in the United States. How has i
affected the manufacturer 1t is well known
that there is but one customer for the wool
grower of the United States, and that customer
is the manufacturer of the United States
The American wool-grower has no foreign
market to-day. He cannot compete in any
other market with the woods grown on cheaI