The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-13
THE TIMES At ANDERSON
WHAT MKINLEY PROSPERITY HAS
DONE FOR THAT CITY.
Chats with WOrI<insmen I'm the Big
PIants-As Democratic Manu-
facturer Sees 1t.


Special to the indianapolis Journal.
ANDERSON Ind, Oct EFF the voters
of Indiana could all come to this city and
talk with the men they happen to meet OH
the street about conditions here there would
no longer be any question about how they
viii vote when they go TO the polls in No
vember. Four years ago this city was
struggling for means to maintain and feed
It's citizens who were unfortunate enough
to be thrown out of work by the fears
aroused by the election of Democratic adj
ministration, and found the effort a most
severe one; but now factories are running,
some working night and day. stores are
crowded and the railroads are doing a
business here never equaled before.
In 1894. under the Cleveland administra-
ton, the picture presented on many sides
was want, misery and suffering but now
even the school children show in their
bright and laughing faces as they go to
and from school the enlivening effect OF
the prosperity that has reached us. Morn
ing, noon and night the streets are crowd
ed with men going to and from their work
and between times their wives, daughters
and sweethearts are down town buying
abundant supplies of everything. In fact,
as one man here said to me this morning.
this city never before presented such a
scene OF contentment, thrift and prosperity.
Even the Democrats who refuse to be in
terviewed on the subject admit that they
really did not know until recently what it
is to have their factories running to their
utmost capacity. When a Democratic man.
ufacturer is approached and asked for a
statement of his business, his usual an
swer is that he does not care to be inter-
viewed. Sometimes he tells the truth by
saying that he does not care to furnish
campaign thunder for the Republicans
A short time ago j. r. Ferris superin-
tendent of the Seton Manufacturing Com
pany. OF this city, was asked to tell some
thing about the prosperity that had in
creased his force of employees and conn
PEELED the running of his factory full time.
he Is a Democrat. The company makes
all kinds of paper boxes. bags oyster buck
cts etc.. and now employs fully 200 per-
sons, mostly girls. People here who have
observed the factory say it has a much
larger force now than it ever had, and en-
ployes say they understand that there are
orders for long time ahead Mr.. Ferris
was asked for statement similar to those
furnished recently by other manufacturers.
i do not care to be interviewed on any
political subject" he replied. "Of course
business is better than it was in 1879 and '94:
II 1t were not we would be closed down
Mr.. Ferris then continued to say that the
factory was running full time and with a
full force and had difficulty in keeping up
win orders: But he would not admit that
the Republican party had anything to do
with the improved conditions. He said he
Inougnt the good times would have come at
tniS Tune under any administration.
, Dld 1t never occur to you Mr. Ferris
that the good times always come to this
country under Republican ruler"
But / don't think the Republican partv
is responsible for that" was his evasive re-
Ply # is the result of the general con-
1t was remarked at the time that Mr.
Ferris would have a hard time making his
employees think the Republican party had
nolIhiing 70 DO with the improved conditions.
ana interviews with some or the leaders in
assertion
William Jones is roll turner in the mill
Of the American Steel and Wire Company.
he was asked to make statement of the
condltions and the prospects viewed by
the workingmen, and particularly as he
VleWeu me situation
The general business conditions seem to
pe very good, ne began. In fact / never
Defore knew time when the prospects for
work and plenty of work at good wages
seemed better than now. We are working
al the time and getting good pay. The con-
slant advance in the Improvement of ma
cnlnery has affected US a little. In til
last year few men have been displaced ~
machinery, but this has also resulted in a
larger capacity for the mill. This gives all
the men working by the ton more money
than they earned before, but cheapens the
product winch in turn helps to create
larger demand for 1t and in the end will
give work to the few men that were dis
placed. Few years ago mere were con-
slant calls from men out of EMPLOYMENT
Tor work In the mill or If that could not
be obtained. Tor little financial assistance
10 Keep them from starving. The work
could not be supplied and the men who were
working were not making enough money so
they could AFFORD to be liberal in their char
lty. Now there are few applicants for
fact the conditions are so good that with
large number of men out on a strike in
the wire and nall department of the plant
they have not found 1t necessary to ask for
are working and earning enough money to
assist the strikers all that Is needed. Three
or four years ago no assistance could have
been given"
Charles Bryant is a glass gatherer He
says that aside from some drawbacks
caused by dissensions in their union, which
caused it to split into three branches a few
years ago. the prospects could not be
brighter. Window glass factories will be-
gin work next Saturday with the prospect
of working two or three months more than
any have run for two or three years past
fThe schedule of wages he said. lis now
above the ages paid under the Wilson
bill and the outlook is bright The pros
pect for the future is excellent The only
thing for US TO fear is the dissensons in
our union. AS long as we hold together we
can hold our own. F."
Albert Gilbert. a window-glass blower
was present while Mr. Bryant was talking
and occasionally added his Endorsement to
ditions seemed to indicate that glass work
ers would havera0re work this season than
they had had for several years.
WALTER A. ROYSE.