Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 September 1893 — A New Stary on Judge Dykeman. [ARTICLE]

A New Stary on Judge Dykeman.

Dun’s Review, which is unquestionably good authority, says the times are improving. There is still plenty of room for more improvement, but still there is some improvement. A conservative estimate of the number of now unemployed skilled workmen in the city of Chicago places them at 75,000. And Chicago, owing to the "World’s Fair and other causes is better off in that respect than most cities. Still there is an improvement. The financial stringency, the actual scarcity of money, has passed away. That, was an effect of the panic, not the cause, and was bound to pass away in a short time. Money can be borrowed now at the banks about as readily as ever. But there is also some improvement in manufacturing industries. Many mills are resuming, in whole or in part, generally with reduced forces, and wages, but that is better than absolute idleness. What is

the cause of the improvement? The democrats, who have been almost frantically endeavoring to convince the country that the silver bill was thecause of the panic, will try to ascribe the improvement to the impending repeal of the Sherman law. This will not do, however, for while the improvement has been most marked during the last two weeks,yet during that very period, the prospects for the repeal of the Sherman law have daily grown less, until even President Cleveland has practically given up the fight for repeal. No, the cause of the improvement is not in the prospects o f silver repeal, but it is to be found in the constantly growing probability that the Democrats will not and can not carry out the pledges of their platforip. in regard to the tariff. The fears of Democratic free trade caused the hard times, and the growing belief that those fears will not at present be realized, is is causing the improvement.

Perhaps the most amusing spectacle yet presented in Ameri. can politics was that of the Democratic governor of West Virginia, elected last fall on the free trade platform, appearing before the Ways and Means committee in an appeal for protection to American industries. The press report of the proceedings says: Governor McCorkle, of West Virginia, said he was not a mine owner, but theGovernorof a State which has just 16,000 square miles of coal mines, and is just in the beginning of progress. Continuing, the Governor eloquently spoke of the natural advantages of his State, and made an earnest plea for the retention of the duties on coal. He said he wanted protection for the greatest industry in his State. When the Governor had finished, Mr. Tarsney asked: “When were you elected Governor of West Virginia?” “Last November.” “The ph-.form upon which you were elected was for a reduction of duties, was it not?” “Yes sir.” “Then why are you advocating protection ?” “I do not believe in a tariff which gives four or five times as high a protection to one industry as another. We are great producers of coal, and I think we ought to be protected." Mr. Reed told the Governor he thoroughly agreed with him, but he would like to have his assistance in bringing the Democratic members of the committee to the same understanding on the question as he (McCorkle) seemed to

lave. Mr. Reed said he had, in vain, attempted to explain to the Democratic members the fallacy of their position, but with the asutstance of a Democratic Governor, elected on a Democratic platform, he might finally accomplish his purpose. These humorous remarks on the part of the ex-Bpeak-er caused much merriment, and the Democratic Governor, who had advocated protection so eloquently, retired amid great laughter.

A good story is told on Judge Dykeman. When the gas committe went to Pittsburg, says the Logansport Journal, they interviewed Manager McCrea, of the Pennsylvania R. R. Co. about the right of way, and then called on the manufacturers of pipe. One of these manufacturers offered to show the party the city, and when they accepted the invitation took them up an inclined plane railroad which earned them to a hill top from which they could see the city. Judge Dykeman was filled with wonder at the immense manufacturing establishments and asked why they seemed so silent and dead. “Are none of them running?” asked Judge Dykeman. “Only the two that you see, way down the river there where the smoke is coming out of the chimneys.” “Why, why is that?” “Well, you see Pittsburg went Democratic last fall,” said the manufacturer. Judge Dykeman quickly changed the subject and after that when he saw a silent factory asked no questions.