The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1912-10-15
THE ELECTION ISSUE

three weeks distant, and the parties
and factions are lining up for the final
struggle For the next twentyone
days excitement is sure to run high,
and there will be frenzied appeals to
prejudice and to everything except
calm reason.
Because OF this, it is exceedingly i'm
poftant that every voter look at the
case dispassionately and not swayed
by either prejudice, enthusiasm or
false theory. Because of the attrac-
tive personality of one candidate or
anothr the voter should not allow
himself to be blinded to the real con-
ditions and real dangers.
The chief danger that confronts the
people of this part of the United
States, at least, is that the division
of the Republican party may result in
the success of Woodrow Wilson, the
Democratic candidate. Wilson is
man of high character personally
above reproach, and politically sincere
and honest. But it is to be remember
ed that in this campaign Wilson is in
partnership with the free trade south,
which is bent on destroying the pro-
tective system which has built up the
industries of New England.
Down there in the south and south
west they look at political questions
universally from the standpoint of the
producer of corn and cotton. Because
of the conditions of soil and climate
they are absolutely free from the dan
ger of competition, and their only aim
is to secure manufactured products
more cheaply. 1t is not strange that
they are for free trade, even though
they disguise it by calling it tariff for
revenue only.
Three times in the history of this
country, the Democratic party while
in control of all branches of the ma
tional government has enacted tariff
for revenue law. Three times such
enactments have been followed by
great industrial depressions, and the
nation stands today confronted by the
probability of fourth misfortune OF
this character
ANY man or woman who can re-
member back twenty years knows
what the country passed through in
the second Cleveland administration,
but the new edition of voters who
have come to their majority within
the past fifteen years have only me
word of others as theiF guide, and It
may not be amiss to consider some OF
the things that happened right nero
in Vermont, under the last Democrat
ic tariff for revenue law
Here in Bennington, the number OF
men and women employed in the var
ious mills dropped off more than one
third, and in some cases more than
one-half. For instance, the Charles
Cooper company, manufacturers OF
knitting machines and supplies, drop
ped in 1896 and 1896 TO fifteen EN-
ployees. working thirty-two hours
per week. The big mill was closed
entirely. and there were dozens OF
houses in the northern and western |
mart of the village that were boarded |
UP until prosperity returned. The |
knitting mills did not suffer so severe
". but all of them largely decreased !
their working force and shrunk their
pay rolls from twenty-five to fifty per
cent.
over in Brattleboro, the great Estey /
Organ company dropped over two
hundred and fifty men from their pay
rolls for upwards of a year and a half
and scores Of families were compelled
to move away in search ON employ
ment
In Burlington, the big mills at WI
nooski were practically shut down,
and hundreds OF employees suffered
actual want until the Republican par
~ returned to power. and the Wilson
German tariff law was repealed.
Not alone did manufacturing con-
Germs suffer, but also many other
branches of production. For instance
he price of spruce lumber dropped to
eight or nine dollars per thousand
which was less than the cost Of manu-
acture. Not only did the owner of tim
Der lands feel the pinch but muchmore
20 the men employed in the lumber
amps and in the mills.
An interesting incident in this con-
,ection is told by Marshall ]. Hap
rood of Peru. When the great depres-
,ion came on, Mr.. Hapgood owned a
aree tract Of timber land on Stratton
Discouraged by the outlook
Of land I