Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1894-03-01
The "Hired Man" and Populism.

Mr.. w. S. Hanna, the president Of
the Kansas State Political Alliance,
delivered an address in Smiths hall In |
this city on last Monday afternoon.
There was nothing remarkable in the
address. The speaker reiterated the
familiar pessimistic hash which has
become 80 nauseating to the people.
But there was one remark Of the speaker
which is at this time very significant.
Referring tothe decline Of interest In
the Populist meetings, the speaker said
In substance, "Even hired men are be-
coming independent, and | notice they
are not attending our meetings the way
they used to-"
The fundamental mistake Of the en-
tire Populist party is the assumption
that because the laboring men consti'
tute large majority of the people, that
any set Of demagogues who may organ
ize themselves into party, claiming
to represent the laboring class Of the
community, can count upon swinging
the entire body as a political force. The
"hired men" are thinking men and are
not 30 easily handled that anybody can
bunch them together under some catch
word, a name or a banner, and use them
as social or political force. No intel
ligent person is surprised that the
laboring man is not attending the
Populist and Democratic meetings the
way they used to-" They have learned
TO their sorrow that the Populist dem
agogue Is utterly incompetent to deal
intelligently with the interests OF any
class Of people.
Every movement that has been made
by the Demo Pop freetraders has been
blow at the interests Of the laboTing
men. The laboriDg men Of this country
have seen the industrial prosperity
built up during thirty years Of Repub
lican rule menaced by the battering ram
of tariff reform" in the hands OF
Democrats and Populists whose avowed
leading principle is the overthrow Of
protection to American wsgs.earners.
Sixteen months ago the condition OF the
American wage Garner was superla.
lively prosperous. His wages were
higher than wages had ever been known
in American history; all of his clothing
and much of bis food that he had to
buy were unusually cheap, but such
Populist de magogues asllanna DESTROYS
Of leading the laborers into the free
trade camp said that these well paid
men were STARVING workmen," and
advised them TO vote on the "otheI
siden and against their "bloated en-
ployers, and the robber barons of the
tariff"
Multitudes OF "hired men" were
thus deceived into voting against theil
own interests; but experience has
brought home to them the conviction
that they were cruelty deceived and
they can hardly be blamed II they
manifest little interest in the success
of those who 30 basely deceived them
The laboring men remember that be
fore the whitening blight of the fret
trade Wilson bill came upon the land
the factories and mills give abundant
labor at good American wages Il
millions of employees and that thu
"hired men" lived in comfort and con
tentment, many Of them In home
purchased with the earnings of pro
: tected labor. They have also learne
that when the shadow Of free trad
l began to settle on the country tina
/ prosperity disappeared, factories wer
e closed, u multitude Of "hired men'los
Z their employment and restitution too
y the place Of plenty.
3 1t ought not to be a matter Of SUI
: prise that Mr., Hanna and all otht
q advocates OF destruction Of America
y wages should observe marked fall
ing off in the attendance OF "hire
men" upon their meetings, 1t ougt
, not to surprise them that the wal
earners who were humbupged int
voting for Cleveland, Weaver al
tariff reform by lying promises
better times" aud "better wages,
should chow determination
y repudiate the policy of pauperism al
" the party that has caused their desi
tuition. From one end Of this land
the other wherever they have had {
>, opportunity to reach the ballot DO
% the "hired men" the laboriug me
" whose interests have been betraye
whose wages have been reduced, who
I. homes have been made desolate by III
~ free trade abomination called Il
so Wilson bill, have arisen in their mig
re and condemned the Populist and Del
- oc-atic parties which have brought
d, them only poverty and ruin.
ia And we mistake the signs of I
n times, and the sentiment Of the labC
!" ing men OF this country, II in Mover
Do Der next they do not express wi
emphasis equally as emphatic as d
the "hired men" of Pennsylvania Ia
1. week, that they are not longer TO
IA deceived by the rantings Of the n
AZ trade demagogues, and that they pI
poe b return TO the protected waR
which they were IPeaivinO VIII