The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-12
corruption OF the Labor Vote.
D the Editor of The Virginian:

To the Editor of The Virginan:
An attache OF the New York World
was in this city Il day or two ago, en-
route to his parents home in the noun
tans of Virginia. and in conversation
with me stated that though the World Is
an anti-Bryan paper, there has recently
been formed a Bryan and SeYall Club,
composed of the operators and others,
and that OF the 100 men employed in the
World composing room, 123 Joined the
club. This is another indication Of the
popularity OF the Democratic ticket in
the Empire State. especially among the
l2boring classes. And In no State of the
Union Is the workingmen's vote so pow
erful as I'm New York. There can be no
question that the labor vote throughout
the country, II left free from the coercive
methods of employers and the influence
OF Hanna's corruption fund. would be
cast with practical unanlmity for Bryan
Every labor organ In the United States
and every labor leader of Importance has
endorsed his candidacy, and their infiu-
ence is being eXerted to secure his cleo
ton. But as counteractive of this, the
paidagents of Hanna are At work among
the operatives of mills and factories
throughout the country seeking by the
corrupting use of money to secure their
votes for Mckinley. James Creelman,
the celebrated correspondent, writing
from Wisconsin to the New York World.
says OF this corruption OF the labor vote !:
The worst element in this cam
paign Is the part which Mark Han
mas fund is playing. Candor COM
pels me to give the facts without
regard to whether Mr. Bryans cleo
tlon would be good thing or Il bad
thing. There is plenty of evidence
In my opinion to show that this is ra-
pidly becoming the most corrupt and
corrupting political struggle known
to the American people.
Bryan may be defeated, but the
influence of money and OF Mark Han
mas methods upon the voters OF Wis
consin. in common with the voters of
other States, viii not disappear after
election day.
Let me give one example.
speak of matter l know and under
stand. The Reliance machine works,
owned by the Edward p. AllIs Com
pany, are situated In Milwaukee,
There are employed In this establish
ment something like 800 men. Here
the Bryan sentiment is very strong
III Is an absolute fact that eigh-
teen workingmen in this establish
ment are At this moment on the pay
roll of the Republican State Com
mittee as secret political agita tors
Their companions are ignorant OF
this fact and do not suspect 1t,
The result is that these men have
All ihliueiCc winch tney could not
possibly WELD were the truth known.
The Republican Committee has
also. am informed. upon its pay
!oils large number of men in anoth-
er establishment, which employs
about two thousand workingmen. In
several of the factories here gold
standard arguments are pinned each
week to the envelopes containing
wages.
THE Republican Committee has
also sent men into the mining dis
tricts of Wisconsin to offer So in Mexi-
can silver for S2.75 in American mon
ey.
1T is impossible to make an honest
statement OF the political situation i'm
Wisconsin to-day without revealing
these facts. but Mckinley will carry
the State without doubt"
1t is well to appreciate the cnemy's
strength. In this campaign there is ar
raigned against the Democratic party the
mighty power of money, but only the
most hopeless pessimism can make one
think IL power that is irresistible. The
sturdy honest. the honest pride, the An
glo-SaXon love of fair play that has ever
characterized the workingman of Ameri-
ca VIII be proof against this shameless
attempt OF the agents of money COM
pines to barter from him the sacred
privilege of the ballot.
NORWEGIAN.
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