The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, August 27, 1896, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, THURSDAY, AUGUST 27, 1896. MEN OF INDUSTRY WHO STAND BY McKINLEY. Representatives of every calling to which men devote time and energy to provide for their families and secure for themselves the necessities and luxuries that honest labor affords, were interviewed yesterday as to why they were Republicans and why they intend to vote next November for McKinley and Hobart. Of those interviewed all declared their sole reason for casting their vote for McKinley was the fact that their votes would be drops in the bucket to make up the plenitude of protection. “Protection,” they said, *‘will stimulate industry. It will set in motion the machinery of factories that has long been idle. It will give the mechanic work to do; it will help to raise wages; it will bring more money into the stores, because when prosperity reigns the workingman, of whatever craft he may be, will spend his money and receive therefor comforts and necessities.” NO MORE DEMOCRACY. T. J. McCOY has been a Democrat since he was old enough to cast his first vote, and has never in his life voted for any other than a Democratic Presidential nominee. His occupation is that of an ironmolder and he is employed in that capacity by the firm of O’Connell & Lewis. “This year I am going to cast my first vote for a Republican nominee for Presi- dent,” he declared. “Major McKinley is the man in my estimation who represents the best interests of the laboring classes. “My reason in brief for thus voting is, protection is the only thing that will draw this country from the slough of despondency. Business in my line has been going down hill for the past four vears. We neyer had such hard times under a Republican administration, and especially under the McKinley bill. “As regards the money question, I am for & bimetallic standard, but I do not be- lieve it can ever be bad, except by inter- national agreement. We are not ready for it yet, anyhow, and the financial policy adopted by the Democratic party can Te- . sult in nothing but chaos. Iam conser- vative myself, and when I look around me and see men idle and begging for_n chance to earn bread for their families I cannot help but conclude that something is ‘rotten in Denmark.’ If McKinley be elected I shall confidently look forward to the time when the country will be as prosperous as it was before the ‘Stuffed Prophet’ began his despotic career.” J. W. RAPHAEL’'S IDEAS. « believe the country will thrive under a protective system,” said J. W. Raphael s‘that will open our mills and give employ- ment to our wage-makers. “If McKinley is elected I think there will be a restoration of confidence, and upon this hinges the investment of capital. Capital is timid at the best. If there is a Jack of confidence naturally investment ceases until it is determined if it is safe to invest. “The principal thing to-day is to protect our own industries so that employment may be given to American labor. The money question is only a snare and a de- lusion. The thing is to give the wage- earner a chance to earn money. There is ample money in the country. It has been hoarded up, and till the people, the capitalists, are assured that an investment is safe, there will be ne revival of indus- tries. ¢TI shall vote for McKinley. We do not, however, influence the men in our em- ploy; they may vote for whoever they choose. “Regarding the money question. To siit the whole thing down, only 8 per cent of the business of the United States is transacted with coin; 92 per cent of it is with checks and bills of exchange. But what seems to me paramount to all other things in the campaign is to give the workmen steady employment. Let him earn the dollar and let him have it in his pocket. I believe the Republican platform has in it the ingredients of prosperity. “What we Californians want to do is to expand our commerce and make San Francisco a great manufacturing City. We want the commerce of the Pacific. What we produce we should find a market for. Instead of dumping our fruits in the bay we should dry, can and ship them to the Orient. The voung merchants of our City shbould look to this. We must reach out for more trade and take up the task une :omplebed' by James G. Blaine—reciprocity with sll countries contiguous with our own.” IT WILL HELP DRY GOODS. “Bo far as the dry-goods business is concerned,” said Marshall Hale, “the tariff directly affects the trade. Protection means protection to American industries. It means to give the infant industries of the United States a chance to grow and become competitors of the markets of the world. Before the McKinley bill went into effect we were importing a great many foreign goods. After its passage we bought at home. Among the infant industries which were started there were velvet mannfactorids, ho- siery, dress goods, cassimeres and woolens of all kinds. Now we are forced again to buy foreign goods. Instead of employing the laborers of the United States we are fill- ing the coffers of England, ¥rance and Gérmany. Everything is regulated by supply and demand, and if the country be prosperous the people will buy more.” TALE OF A BRASS-FOUNDER. NEIL C. WHYTE of the firm of De Rome & Whyte, brass-founders, said: *I was born a Republican, I guess, and shaill always be one. McKinley’s election will help my business, therefore I will vote for McKinley. His election will cause a gen- eral prosperity. The principles of the Re- publican platform if carried out will bring better times. As astandard to work on I consider it the foundation of finan- cial soundness and business confidence. “The stopping or rather restricting of foreign immigration 1 consider one of its main features; also the protection of our industries. In protecting the manufac- turer the farmer should not be forgotten. I believe that the tariff should be a little more than for revenue only. ‘It should be used to erect new institutions, help new industries and build warships. Yet [do not believe in putting the tariff too high “The restoration of confidence on the election of McKinley will do much to help the restoration of prosperity. “Taking off duty on statuary has hurj us a great deal. Outside of that our trads isimpeded by the general depression. I look forward to profit and easier times next year. I feel confident of the return of the old Republican party to power.” PROTECTION THE ISSUE. W. H. PRICE is emploved by Clabrough & Golcher as a gunsmith. Price has worked in many of the largest establish- ments in the country. Atthe time the McKinley bill went into operation he was employed as expert gunsmith by a large manufacturer of guns. “Iam for McKinley,” hestated emphati- cally. “Why? Simpiy because times were far better in my line of business when his bill was in operation. “That is the chief reason. I believeina high protective tariff. While I was in Chicago the McKinley bill was passed by Congress. Prior to that time the firm, in common with all others, had been obliged to manufacture the cheapest grade of guns to be had 1n order to make any salesatall. As soon as the bill was adopted we were able to turn out first-class guns and could get a fair price for them. ‘“As regards the currency question I do not deem myself well enough informed to speak, but on the one issue of protection alone I am in fuvor of McKinley, and I believe he will be the next President.” Mr. Price evidently had no doubt of the final result of the campaign. He clainied that all people required was to think a little in order to vote for McKinley. FROM A REAL-ESTATE MAN. “T am 2 Republican,” said J. J. MCEWEN, *‘because I believe the protective ques- tion the most intelligent one before the public to-day. No more striking 1nstance of the fallacy of the so-called advantages if the reduction in tariff or free trade can be cited than in the coal question. Under the Republican administration the Govern- ment received a duty of 75 cents a ton on all foreign coal brought into market. Our Democratic friends held that if the duty were taken off coal ali manufacturing indus- tries concerned in its consumption would flourish. The Wilson tariff bill reduced the tariff on coal 40 cents per ton, and what was the result? It cut no figure atallin the price to the consumer. There was really a slight advance. “The men of industry and means who start business enterprises and the wheels of factories into motion have confidence in the Republican party. If the party succeeds 1 look forward to a revival of industries and to general business prosperity.” £ FREE SILVER RUINOUS. F. A. BASTIAN is employed as machinist at the Joshua Hendy Machine Works. He did not have much time in which to ' talk, but made the most of it. He is out and out for McKinley end Republicanism, and declares his belief that free silver would ruin the country. “When the free-silver agitation begsn,” he said, “I was at first inclined to become a proselyte to that policy, but after due study and deliberation I arrived at the conclusion that it would mean financial disaster. “In my liné of business the effects of Clevelandism have begun to make theme selves felt. I believe in protection, and my faith in its good results has never wavered for an instant. Japanese are coming here every day, and after they have learned the various traaes they go home and manufacture articles at prices with which an American workingman can- not expect to compete. “For instance, suppose they learn the trade of a machinist; they will manufac- ture machines of all kinds and send them here at such low rates that unless our manufacturers are protected by a sufficient tariff they will force them to reduce workingmen’s wages and employ other artifices in order to maintain their business. “Yes, sir; I am for McKinley because he is the workingman’s friend, and my vote will be cast for him, From what I hear he will have a walkover, so far as the laboring classes are concerned.” ADMIRES “THE CALL.” . MARTIN FUCHS is employed as pattern-maker at the Vulcan Iron Works. From his busy task he stopped long enough to give his views on the political question, and they were thoroughly Re- publican. “My first vote was cast’ for Rutherford B. Hayes,” he said. ince that time I have always considered it a safe policy to stay with the party of my early choice. . *“I voice only the sentiment of the large majority of men employea here when I say that I am an out and out McKinley man. Iam that simply because I believe the welfare of our Nation lies in adhering to a protective tariff. “Business in my line was brisker and pay was better under the McKinley bill than it is now. If something is not done pretty soon the wheels of all our factories will cease running. “For twenty years I have lived on this coast, and during that time no paper but TuE CALL has ever passed my threshold. I admire its sterling Republican policy and hope soon for the day when McKin- ley’'s portrait will ornament its front page over the caption, ‘Behold the people’s choice! Democracy with all its attendant disaster is doomed!’ " W. H. NOLAN FOR McKINLEY. “Four years ago,’”’ said W. H. Nolan, the shoeman, ‘‘on my trip around the world in Smyrna, Turkey and Asia, my dragoman told me to be careful not to laud the nameé of McKinley. ‘They are all crying down McKinley,’ said he, ‘for he was the cause of nearly all of the American carpet-buyers leaving this country.” The McKin- ley bill causea such high rates on carpets that it did not profit the American buyer to go outside of his own country. “1 know that the McKinley bill has advanced the American interests in the lines of the carpet manufactures. If I had been 2 Democrat at that time I should certainly have turned Republican. “In Singapore, Japan and Hongkong they all cry down McKinley, but Turkey has the greatest hatred for him. I don’t see how we are going to have gold or silver without protection.” A PAINTER’S THEORY, E. H. BLACK, painter and decorator, said: “If Bryan be elected we never will * have any good times. What I beiieve will result if McKinley be elected wili be the ease and confidence with which money will be invested. Then I shall get some of it. On the other hand, I believe if Bryan be elected this country will ex- perience the greatest disaster it has yet gone through. The man who has money will nct invest unless he has a zood reason for doing so. Rents are low now, and this affects my business. Property-owners will have no improvements made. They will let a house go as long as possible without repair. A house that rented for $45 fifteen years ago now brings only $25. The rents have been reduced because peo- ple can get nothing to do. 1lay the cause of the whole matter to a lack of protection to our industries. “I have a prune orchard in the Santa Clara Valley. The Wilson bill has hurt me in this. With this bill removed I could double my profits. I believe when ithe Republican party gets into power it will give confidence to the people and our country will see a change. The advent of the Republican party into power is of vital importance to me. When they feel the impetus given to all the trades and factories times will begin to improve.” A BLACKSMITH’S IDEAS. “I can’t see,”” said JOHN PETTY, the blacksmith, “that the silver proposition will help the workingman at all. What we want is protection. We can’t expect to cut older countries out of the market. T have always been a Republican—ever since, in fact, 1 came to this country from England. I think McKinley will bring vrosperity. I see no other thing to help us besides protection; without this there can be little labor to do. Free trade means starvation wages. I am sure pro- tection will help my business by helping everybody else. Times will be easier, there will be more to do for every class of workingmen, money will be more plenti- ful and then I will make more money. “That is my creed in a nutshell. Let me and my fellow-workmen make more money and there will be more money in circulation for all. The storekeepers will benefit, the farmer will benefit, the min- ing man and wholesale dealers will all benefit by my getting better wages and more money. This silver talk makes me tired. Itis not the real issue of the day. ‘What we really want is protection; that is, a fair field for our own work. McKin- ley wants to give us workingmen a fair show, and I mean to vote for him, as many more who think about the matter deeply intend to do.” A SAW FOR CLEVELAND. JOHN VANCE is a carpenter who does odd jobs in the region of North Beach. He was busily engaged sawing some boards when the question was asked him astohis stand on the party issues before the people. Resting one hand on his knee he quickly answered : “I am for McKinley, of course. How could any man who earns bis bread by the sweat of his brow be otherwise? Just answer that for me, if you can. “Before Grover Cleveland went into office the last time I was able to earn $3a day right along. Now I sometimes make only half that sum and am outof work most of the time. Yet these Bryan men—they are devilish few at that—come up to me and ask me to vote for free silver. I wouldn’t vote for McKinley if he was for free silver. Anything the Democrats favor seems to be a hoodoo to us, anyway. I am not going to vote for a party that makes life a struggle for existence, not if I know myself, and I am confident I do. I wish Cleveland’s neck were under this saw now. *‘What beats me is the way the Democrats make promises. They will make a bushel to win one vote, iail to carry them out and then expect to gull 2 man again the next election. 2 “They won’t fool Vance, as they never have,” and John picked up his saw and went to work again. - THE BICYCLE STANDPOINT. J. B. CONWELL, the bicycle-dealer, said: *I am a Republican because the best thing in this world is an honest man and, next, an honest party. The Republicans have never broken a pledge, therefore they are the honest party. This is generally why I am a Republican, 5 “Specifically, a high protection is what we need. America should be for Ameri- cans. History has proved that high tariff is best for this country and a low tariff best for foreign countries. I am s Republican because I want an honest dollar, aud I xnow of no mathematics by which you can make a foot rule of a six-inch stick. The Democrats are holding out faise hopes. I could give yon many more reasons and talk all day on the subject, but it seems to me that these are enough for anybody.” HE WANTS PROTECTION. ©] want everything that is not manufactured in this country brought in free of duty,” said ANDREW J. JESSUP of the Pope & Jessup coffee and spice mills, yes- terday, “and I wanton everything that this counry cant produce a tariff. Tariff on foreien goods helps our business in this way. It starts money into circulation and makes all kinds of business liven up. Consequently there is more money to spend and we will sell more coffee and spices. “Prosperity must come with McKinley. Then, because of this protection, our me= chanics will all bave work, and our busi- ness will be helped indirectly. I am in favor of keeping this country in the hands of the Republican party. Don’t want free trade. “All this talk about the financial issue is beside the question. If the workingman only looked ahead he would understand that what he wants is protection for his own labor. As long as foreigners can come here with their goods and undersell him the manufacturer has to close aown, pay small wages or diminish his force of workmen, No man will invest in any undertaking which is liable to fail through ruineas comnetition_. Let us settle our business on a sound commercial foundation first through protection and then settle the currency question. What the workingman wants is work, and then he will deciee upon the kind of money he should be paid in.”’ WANTS PROTECTION FOR WOOL. PHIL LIPPITT of Brown Bros. & Co., owners of the Oregon City Woolen-mills, eaid: “I have lived on this coast for forty years and during all that time I have been a Republican. There are many svindles lying idle now, and machinery all overthe couniry is rusting because of the per- nicious legislation of free trade. This would not be the case if Republicanism and Protection were in power. We are manufacturers in our business of cassi- meres, woolens, blankets, flannels and all kinds of clothing. We have a house in New York which is selling cassimeres in that market, and they say they seil now so many hundred, where under a protec- tive tariff they would sell so many thou- sands. If the manufacturersin the United States were protected produce of all kinds would be advanced, simply because there would be a demand for It, and laboring people, if all were employed, would create this demand. “Let the spindles run, the mills be opened and the factories be given work, so that workmen may find employment; then prosperity will dawn and a greater demand will be manifested for products of every description. *Yes, sir; I have been a Republican since the war. I believe the Republican platform will be effective in removing most of the hardships of the laboring classes. I believe as soon as McKinley is elected we will get prosperity in our country. He is the champion of the cause of prosperity. “I feel particularly elated this morning,” Mr. Lippitt continued, “because I read that Illinois has nominated a gold State ticket. This means McKinley. Iam in favor of assisting the laboring classes, and I believe protection the ounly thing that will set them on their feet. “I agree with McKinley on the financial question. I belfeve in sound money. If any metal is to be made a standard let it be gold. “I cannot say too much, however, in regard to the wool industry. It is in every State, and exceeds by many millions of dollars the silver question. By the tariff for revenue only this industry has been made dormant, and it has changed consumers to producers by driving the wool-growers to farming. From this condition of affairs has originated the depression in prices.” ONLY FREE LUNCH NOW. FRANK ROBINSON is employed as foreman in the lumber department of the Bellingham Bay Improvement Company, and is about as strong a Republican in his sympathies as a man can well be. He says a Bryan adherentisa marked man in the region where he lives, a sort of Ishmaelite as it were. *Inever was a Democrat,” he said, “‘and each succeeding year only tends to con- vince me that I am on the right path. “When Cleveland went into office four years ago Democrats promised us $4 a day and roast beef. We are lucky to get $2a day and a free lunch. Timesare harder than I ever expectea to see them ina country so teeming with natural resources, “Every day men come to me who were howling for Cleveland and free trade four years ago, and admit that I was right for laughing at them then. They have now come to the conclusion that the only safe policy is a high protective tariff. “As for the financial question, I regard it as entirely nonsensical to advocate free silver. Look at the countries where silver monometallism prevails—what is their condition? Democrats sre now endeavor- ing to bring us to a pass where a laborer will get only 20 cents a day, as they do in Mexico. Some people are, going to be pretty badly surprised when this coming election is over,.I can tell you.” HE DISLIKES ALTGELD. “Even if I were a Democrat,” asserted D. R, HENSHELWOOD of the firm of Doane & Henshelwood, *I would not vote the Democratic ticket at this particular time. “My reasons for this are various. In the first place, the Democratic leader has the scum of the country at his back. Wouldn’t this be a besutifully governed Nation with Altgeld, say, for Secretary of State and Debs for Secretary of War? ‘Well, I should say it would! “I am for Mr. McKinley, because he has the great mass of right-thinking men at his back and because I believe the policy he has adopted is the only one that will save this country from disaster. N “If Bryan be elected as the President of these United States we shall occupy the same position as the poet so graphically ascribed to Rome—we shall stand ‘the Niobe of nations.” ”’ Mr. Henshelwood was very emphatic in his expressions. He seemed to be con- vinced that the only hope for the working- man lay in electing McKinley. He re- garded him not only as the standard- bearer of the Republican party, theapostle of protection and the exponent cf free labor, but also as the guardian of law and order and commercial stability. ‘“What the country wants,’’ said he, “‘is a man who will inspire confidence, and that man is William McKinley.” A WAGON-MAKER’S VIEWS. ‘W. J. DARREN, who manufactures and repairs wagons and does general black- smithing, said: “Iam for McKinley because McKinley is for protection. I will cast my vote for him, you may be assured. If materials from European ports are cheaper than what we can make, our manufactures will certainly never be bought nor made. “The Republican administration will insist on a restricted immigration. At the present time Japanese labor comes in here and works for 10 cents a day at the same labor that our people get from $3 to $4 a day for. We can’t compete with such conditions. “‘The great trouble at present is the lack of confidence. If McKinley gets into office confidence will return, and with confidence will come prosperity. “Our business is seriously affected at present because of this lack of confidence, There is very little drayage at present, and consequently very little repairing done. Draymen do not care to expend much money in fixing up their wagons, because their small business makes it impossible. I wasa Democrat last election, but since then I have seen the ruinous effects of the Democratic policy and legislation. There is no hope for prosperity but in McKinley ana protection. Protection is all & man wants, We bave no new work in our business at all to speak about. A man can’t feel justified in putting his money into new wagons or drays.” A GROCER’S FIDELITY. A. QUADE, the grocer, said: *‘I beiieve in restriction and protection. I believe the election of McKinley will brighten the basiness condition of the country. This will do it if anything can. My opinion is that if he be elected the financial part will regu- late itself. The money question is the hue and cry to get the vote of the laborer. “Republicanism will help business in general, and therefore help my business. The Government then will be placed in a self-supporting condition, which it is not to-day.”