Birmingham state herald., 1896-10-02
MINERS FOR BRYAN.
Interesting Interview Hith Mr. Fred Diecher of the National Mine Workers ASsoca-
 ton, as He Took the Train.

MT. Fred Diecher of Neesonyille, O., national officer of the United Mine Work CTS Association of America, who has been visiting the various subordinate lodges in this district for the past twenty-five days. left last night for his home.
 Mir. Diecher was seen at the union de- pot last night by a State Herald reporter and he talked very freely of his mission here and the conditions of the miners.
 The miners here, he says, are in better condition than they are north. While they feel the effect of the stringent times they realize the situation and are con- tented.
 "From your visit among the miners. MT. Diecher, what position do you think they will take in the coming national campaign?" asked the reporter.
 Tn Alabama 95 per cent of the miners will vote for MT. Bryan.
 "There is no truth in the report thus far of any efforts to coerce the vote of the miners here. 1 have been informed, how ever, that such an effort has been made among the railroad employees
 In the north efforts to coerce the vote of the miners by the republicans have been going on for several months. A few in order to hold their places, have agreed to support Mr. Mckinley but, thank God, we have the Australian ballot, and they can vote their convictions without re- straint and in secret. We have a better ballot law than you have in Alabama. have one of your ballots with me. It is not so much trouble to vote as we ar- range it. For instance at the head of the democratic ticket is printed @ rooster, and above the rooster a ring If you wish to vote the whole ticket you sim ply make a cross mark in that ring. If you do not wish to vote the whole ticket you ignore the ring and make a cross mark in front of the name of each can didatp VOu want tO vote fOr On the re- publican ticket is printed the eagle, and the two, therefore are easy to distin- guish
 'I take the democratic and republican tickets to Illustrate, the populists and prohibitionists all have insignia to des- jgnate their tickets.
 And, by the way, do you know we have great many populists and prohibit tionists? And they are all for Bryan and SeWall, too.
 q received a telegram today from the chairman of our state committee and leave for home to enter actively into the campaign.
 We may not carry Ohio, but we in- tend to make MT. Mckinley think we will.
 "The working people will not follow the lead of MT. Hanna. They know he is no friend to labor. Only last year he re- fused to sign a contract with organized labor I visited one of Hanna's mines several weeks ago, ana 70 Der cent. or the English speaking miners there say they are going to support Bryan and Sew all.
 "The congressman from my district, elected two years ago, was Q republican and made the race on a free coinage plat form. He is for the gold standard man, of course, but is kept too busy explaining to ever secure a reelection.
 "We are going to make death strug- gle to elect MT Bryan, and whether we succeed or not, I say now the American people will never be satisfied until they are privileged to try free coinage.
 If you care to publish any remarks l have made, you can say that while the working people are for Bryan and Sewall and free coinage, they are not anarchists but American citizens who believe in right and justice between man and man as before the law.'