New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-06-23
THEY ALL FEAR BRYAN.
RHODE ISLAND MANUFACTURERs THINK
HIS VICTORY WOULD BE DIS
ASTROUS TO LABOR

ASTROUs TO LABOR
Providence. r. l., June % (SpecaD-Robert
Knight. the surviving partner of the great cot
ton manufacturing company B. B. & r. Knight,
is the largest manufacturer Of cotton goods In
/ Rhode Island, operating $4,000 spindles and
employing 5000 people, Mr.. Knight stated to
The Tribune representative that If Bryan were
elected President it would prove most dis
astrous TO business interests and incidentally,
the interests Of labor. Larger importations of
cotton goods under the Wilson bill, just pre-
vious to the passage of the Dngley bill. affected
the cotton business for more than year into
President McKinIey's term. For the last two
years. up to sixty days ago, however, the cot
ton business has been exceedingly prosperous.
For the last two months the demand for goods
has fallen off decidedly. This is probably due,
in a large measure, to the 1uctuation in the
price Of cotton and the expectation the part
of buyers that cotton will be lower. If the
Democratic candidate for President should be
successful in the November election, that fact
would Immediately affect the manufacturing
business of all kinds decidedly. If as Mr..
Knight hopes and believes. President Mckinley
should be triumphantly reelected, he antci-
pates a continuation of the prosperity which
has attended the cotton business for the last
TWO years until recently. The 5000 people who
are dependent upon Mr.. knights mills for
poyment generally agree with him in hoping
for the same result.
H. c. Atwood. treasurer Of the Wiamsville
Manufacturing Company, manufacturers of fine
white shirt goods. at KilIingIy. Conn, whose
office is in this city. declares that if Bryan were
elected it would have immediate effect Of
checking the cotton business, in common with
nearly all other industries The buyers will
wait for future developments and a working
out of the new ADMINISTRATORS policy before
they dare to purchase goods in large quantities.
This would result in either causing mills to shut
down or in greatly reducing the number Of
employees until such time as matters readjust
themselves.
Ex-Governor D. Russell Brown. Of this city.
is the head Of the house of Brown Bros. Co..
which is the largest concern dealing in tex
tile mill supplies in the world. Their deal
ings are exclusively with textile mills all
the United States. Whatever affects the tex
tile Industries affects their business also. There
fore Governor Brown is well qualified to speak
10 the damaging effect Of Democratic Admin
istration on the mill business. When asked as
to the probable effect upon business prosperity
in case of Democratic success. the Governor
said:
I can condense my opinion into short
sentence: Remember 1892 After the defeat of
President Harrison for reelection became
known the woollen business was cut off almost
fnstantaneousy. The woollen mills throughout
the country were largely closed down, and some
of them bought mill supplies for years. The
cotton business did not feel the disastrous eff
feet quite so suddenly but it came no less sure
~. The recovery In the woollen business did
not come to any considerable extent until near
" two years after the Cleveland Administra-
ton had closed. During the last year the tex
tile business has been remarkably good in all
parts of the country There is just now little
slackening in cotton manufacturing, due largely
20 the fact that dealers hesitate 10 buy
falling market The price of cotton has been
forced abnormaIly high by speculation. 1t has
been easing off somewhat lately. and lower
prices for cotton goods are anticipated by buy
ers who therefore hesitate to place orders.
IF Bryan should be elected a Democratic
House would also probably be elected with him.
Attempts would be made to upset the present
legislation on the tariff and currency. which
would result in great uncertainty and con-
sequent disaster 10 the business interests Of
the country. If the manufacturing business be
comes dull labor Will suffer accordingly. The
labOring classes also ought 10 ce made TO re
alize that with the success Of the free silver
policy their wages would be paid to them in
a deOased currency, ana that they would De
the ones TO suffer more than their employers"
The business Of manufacturing articles Of
ieWelrv and silVerware is one of the largest In
dustries in Providence. The 300 separate firms
and corporations, together with their allied tool
makers, enamellers, electrO-platers and other
cognate enterprises, employ in prosperous times
from 1900 TO 1900 people. II may be said in
passing that this is of the few Industries
that the trust promoter has yet been unable
10 get control Of The concerns are for the
most part small firms Of moderate capital and
consisting Of men who have risen 10 their pres
ent position from the bench. Dutee Wilcox is
the president Of the Manufacturing Jewellers
/ Board Of Trade which comprises in its member
ship nearly all of the older, weather. and more
conservative jewelry concerns. Mr.. Wilcox,
himself a large employer Of skilled la Dor Of the
highest class. is also an extensive land owner,
and is affected more or less as 10 his rents by
the prosperity Of business. Mr.. Wilcox has re-
Gently returned from a trip 10 Europe. From
conditions which he saw there he is more than
ever persuaded that high protective tariff Is