Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-01-31


| monetary conditions but came almost
} solely from the fear of the results of
! political change Mr.. Penrose referred
! briefly to the election of 1892 which
ches of the government for the first
time since the civil war. The radical
platform and the prospect of great
| changes in the financial policy of the
country caused q stoppage of all bust
ness enterprises with resulting dis
asters. The uncertainties of the Dem
passage of the Wilson tariff bill. 1t
has been estimated that this measure
cost the country, in business loss and
stagnation, more than the entire cost
of the civil war.
During the first year of tariff re-
form there was a decrease of over
101a per cent in the number of persons
employed, and of nearly 151s per cent.
in the total wages paid, which in the
following year were still further re-
duced nearly II per cent. There was
a reduction of over IS per cent in the
value of the products, and this de-
cline in business continued during the
second and fourth years of the Cleve-
land administration. Mr.. Penrose
said:
H. of thp Me-
Kinley administration there was i'm
mediately turn for the better during
the year With the passage of the
Dingley bill these increases became
very marked being accompanied also
by an increase in the average wage
of all employees. In 1899 a marked in
crease is shown in all lines in Penn
sylvania. In the rolled iron and steel
industry there is an increase of 80 per
cent. in the number of men en-
ployed compared with 1896; and GA per
cent. in the wages paid. In pig iron
81 per cent. increase in men employed,
and So per cent in wages paid. In tin
plate works an increase of 14O per
cent in men employed, and 1872 per
cent, in wages paid.
similar fluctuations were found in
Massachusetts,, New York, and other
states. As an illustration of the great
prosperity brought about by Mckin-
ley it is sufficient to recall that there
were $4,000 more persons employed by
the railroads during the first year OF
the Mckinley administration than
during the last year of Cleveland's adj
ministration. There was an increase
of over 100000 persons so employed
during the two years of Mckinley's
administration as compared with the
decline of over $4,000 during the ad-
ministratjon of Cleveland. Wages
steadily increased from s to 40 per
cent.
''It seems incredible that the terrible
experiences of the regime of free trade
coupled with the threat of free silver
should be so soon forgotten Failures
and suspensions closed banks. lack of
employment, reduced wages, strikes
ard boycotts throughout the country,
the march of Coxey's army, the great
labor connections in Chicago and else
where. loek-outs, conflicts and distur
Dances, industrial depression, and pow
erty and hunger characterized the
Democratic period.
Il yield to no man IN my deNOtlOn TO
good government. I am willing to DIS
cuss and consider in a spirit of fair
ness all legislation looking to the ad-
vancement, progress, and the correc-
ton of abuses. That abuses exist is
admitted by all and we point with
pride to the achievements of the Re
publican party in the executive and
legislative departments in the correc-
ton of these abuses"
1t is well that thoughtful men of the
older generation should point out to
the younger men the bitter lessons of
those years when industry had barely
lifeblood sufficient to keep it alive
from day to day, and when hundreds
of thousands of laborers throughout
the country We're unemployed, or en-
ployed only such portion of the time
as would give bare existence to them
and their families. IT is well that the
younger generation of voters be given
warning against a possible repetition
of such conditions as existed prior to
McKiney's election. The danger at
this time is imminent and must not be
lightly considered. Should the Demo-
eracy gain full control of all depart
ments of government with their rad
ical tariff revision plans and their
reckless proposed expenditures piled
upon a greatly reduced revenue, any
fair minded, thinking man can see
that disaster must follow.
1t was this same folly of radical
overturning of conditions without re-
gard to results that not only made the
last Democratic regime one of the
most costly experiments in the history
of the American government, but
caused such popular criticism and I'M
rest as to overthrow the party in all
branches of government. But the
leaders of that party seem not to have
gained wisdom or prudence. They are
already waging their campaign and