Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 September 1893 — One of Them Caught. [ARTICLE]

One of Them Caught.

We have drawn attention to the fact that there was a loss of business of 8500,000,000 during July, as compared with July, 1892, but the returns of bank clearings made to firadstreefs for Augosi show the enormous loss of $1,170, 000,000 in the country's trade as compared with August, 1892. More than a billion dollars loss of business to the country in a single month! Such is the effect of proposed Free-Trade.—American Economist.

A representative of the Brooklyn Eagle recently ran across a “protected lord.” He was sitting on the piazza of a hotel at Manhattan Beach enjoying the sea ■breezes. Unlike many of his brother “lords,” he saw the storm coming in time to lay in something. To the reporter Mr. A. P. McCombs, the manufacturer in question, said: Yes, I am one of the robber barons out of a job. I come from a little town up the State. I started a little factory there eight years ago. When Harrison was elected I built a big addition. I had 700 hands working for me, and my factory

was the backbone of the town’s prosperity. It may be said to have lived on the wages I paid. When the electioneering came round last fall I was invited to speak. But I did notattempt any oratory; I had no idea that there would be Democratic votes cast in my town. I told the people it was a matter of bread and butter, • and they were as much interested in it as I, and I left the matter there.

A Democratic orator followed rue, and demonstrated that the Chicago platform meant release from the imposition of the robber baron of protection: that American manufacturers did not need protection; that the workingman got none of the benefits of protection, and that none of the factories would close nor would any of tiie workmen be thrown out of employment by the great increase of importations that would take place. I thought my people knew better, but when the votes were counted the rainbow hued oratory was found to have had its effect. The town had gone almost solidly Democratic.

It wasn’t any use kicking. I saw what was coming, and just took $28,000 aqd soaked it away in a trust company. When the banks began to break and the factories closed and the hard times came my customers cancelled their order and I had to shut up. The poor little town is finding its lesson in political economy a bitter dose; but as for me, I’ve got that old $28,000, and I can sit here very comfortably and wait till the clouds roll by. I am a robber baron and the workingman has smashed me, so I am supposed to be dead.