Omaha daily bee., 1896-10-25
FROM INDUSTRIAL PARALYSIS
Why the Country Suffers and the Cure for
the Disease.
PRESENT CONDITIONS IN SEVEN STATES
Judiciuus Protective Tariff and
Cessation OF Cheap Money AEi-
tntion the Main Highway
to Prosperity.

CLEVELAND, o., Oct. 22.-(Correspond-
ence OF The Bee)-Since the nomination OF
Mckinley in st. Louis have visited a
dozen or more states and studied the indus
trial condition in the principal cities. II
the states | have visited for this purpose
fairly represent the condition OF the country
1t is not too strong statement to say that
we are suffering from an industrial paraly
sis from which nothing can rescue US ex-
cepting the election of Mckinley, the re-
establishment of a judicious protective tar
| IN and the cessation of this incessant agi-
tation Of the money question.
The centers of industrial and commercial
| energy visited in this trip were principally
! in the west and northwest, though l stopped
short time in the Lehigh valley, to in
! qulre into the condition of the silk indus
try, which l found to be, in consequence
| of the conditions referred to above, together
with Japanese competition, in a deplorable
| condition. 1t Is only of recent years the
| silk industry, to any great extent. has mi
| grated to this valley, which heretofore has
| been more identified with coal mining. This
| came about from the fact or its excellent
! location, and the lack Of employment for
| the daughters OF the miners who WELD
pick and shovel in the mines. The result
| was large number of new and until re-
| Gently. prosperous mills. and employment
for thousands OF girls at wages varying from
| So to 80 week.
IN OHIO.
Coming westward to the pottery district
Of East Liverpool. found that the Wilson
| German bill had largely increased imports
| and reduced wages; that over half million
in wages alone had been lost; that our
legitimate market was slipping from us;
that the business had simply been trans
ci1 To nth 40
OF the Atlantic; that the people engaged in
this industry were looking forward anx-
iousy, counting the weeks and the days to
election, when they could by their ballot
express dissatisfaction at the legislation
which had brought these miseries upon
them.
In the Mahoning valley many Of the large
concerns were either idle or working a third
OF the time and the men who should have
been employed were lettering in large
crowds in the public square, or Diamond"
as it is called in Youngstown. Many Of
these artisans have been out of work so
long that they are discouraged and all but
disheartened. and their arraignment of the
political party of the past three years and
n half is even more scathng than that of
the most impassioned campaign orator II
is work and wages these men want. and
they take little interest in the squabbles
over gold and silver. They naturally realize
the fact that they need a good. honest
| uulidI even luOTt WHtn times are bad and
work is scarce than they do in flush times.
that the more the dollar buys the better
| for them.
Incredible as such a statement seems. I
base 1t on the authority OF Mr.. James II.
| Mutt, that CT the Z 900 men engaged in the
iron industry in Youngstown and vicinity
less than 100 are now at work. This gives
some idea of the intense suffering which
must come upon many industrial commun-
ties this winter IL these men are not put
to work. The same authority, who, by the
way, Is the secretary of the Mahoning and
Shenango Iron Manufacturers association
embracing in its membership the nineteen
firms in the Mahcning and Shenango valleys,
says that in 1892 the total receipts and ship
ments by these firms amounted to upward
OF 100000 tons. while in 1898 and 1894
they were little more than 1000 900 tons.
The aggregate in 1896 will he less than one
half of that of 1895, which was rather bet
ter than 1894
Almost precisely the same conditions ex-
ist In the large mills of Cleveland, which
is n manufacturing city of considerable i'm
. portanco. Between 1880 and 1890 Cleveland
made stupendous progress; indeed, know
OF no city that showed a more satisfactory
growth, both in commerce and manufac-
lures. The city went through the panic OF
1893 better than some other industrial cen
ters, but II is now feeling the effects OF
the lack of confidence and enterprise and
the general distress which has followed the
| abllallUu Vi the question ana the
threat OF a 5O-cent dollar. Building has
almost entirely stopped Shipments OF
lumber to mills and of coke and coal for
manufacturing purposes have greatly de-
creased. AS result, many thousands are
unemployed, and great dissatisfaction ex-
lists. Those out of employment, while at
| first ready to take up any new theory that
promised to improve their condition are
now beginning to realize that financial
system which gave employment to 25O,OOO
additional persons every year between 1880
and 1892, is pretty good system to tie up
to. They are beginning to realize that a
currency which was flexible enough to add
$500, 900 900 in ten years to the manufac-
turing capital of the United Statse, to say
nothing of the hundreds of millions which
were put into buildings thus employing
mechanics, is sufficiently flexible to give
us another taste of good times as soon as
the fear Of the 5O-cent dollar permits the
people to pour their hoardings into new
enterprises which give life to the COM
| munity. instead of into vaults, bringing
Industrial paralysis and destruction.
IN WISCONSIN.
Travelling through the state of Wisconsin I
found the majority of farmers thrifty and
opposed to any change in the financial sys-
tenn. In the lumber regions there was great
distress, aud probably by this time rs 600
persons thrown out of work because of the
heavy importation5 OF Canadian lumber at
time when the demand for our own was
much less than usual. In a state where the
families occupying owned farms and homes
Tree from debt numbered las, ,69S, against
1876 who occupy incumbered or mortgaged
farms and homes, you may expect a conserv-
alive sentiment on the money question
Indeed a majority of the farmers of Wlsco T.
sin belong to the creditor class. They are in
dustrious. thrifty and saving. | met indi-
yldual wisconsin farmers whu were as
capable of discussing the financial issue as
some of the public speakers. Men who had
gone over the whole argument. for and
against were convinced that, in spite of all
The talk, they were better off with the pres
ent dollar and Its purchasing power than
they would be with 50-cent dollar and the
myriad troubles II would entail upon the
! country. They were all anxious for a set
| Element of these questions, and hopeful that
the election of Mckinley will bring about
better condition of affairs believe that
Wisconsin is safe for Mckinley as New
| York state.
IN MINNESOTA
The cities OF st. Paul and Minneapolis as
well as Milwaukee, have seriously felt these
| times, and are anxiously waiting to touch
the button which will start 'up new indus
tries and new enterprises the moment Nc
hlnleys election Is an absolute fact
AZ Duluth. Mimi. | saw two practical IL
lustrations or object lessons In free trade
and financial disturbance. An immense
bridge between Duluth and West Superior
n m tu lE,t.,