The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1896-10-31

From the St Louis Poss-Dispsteh-
John B. PirtIe "a state agent for Ken
lucky Of the Travellers Insurance Com
pany Of Hartford, Conn. In that
capacity he has acted, also, as the agent
Of Mark Hanna and has exercised the
power # his position 70 cOerce the sub
ordinate agents in his jurisdiction into
support Of Mckinley.
The Kentuckian- Citizen. Of Paris,
Ky. publishes correspondence between
Mr. Pirtle and c.. 5. Mebane, the agent
at Knoxville, Tenn. which shows Mr..
Mebane 10 be every inch man, what
ever else it may show Mr.. Pirtle TO be.
Under date Of July 90 Pir1le wrote 70
Mebane that he hears that he Mebanel
is supporting Bryan In the course Of
a long lecture he says:
We cannot have working for Us men who are
willing % cut our Own ~ vel As their own
tnroats.
And concludes by saying.
I hope you will be able TO write to NE that
you have discovered your error.
In the course Of a lengthy reply Mr..
Mebane strikes two clear notes with
strong hand. In one place he says;
When the corporation assumes this right to
force its employees 20 sacrifice their own opinl-
ous as To- what will promote their individual
interest IN order that legislation may De enacted
which viii benefit the corporations az the eK-
pense Of the people. we mist abandon al claim
10 a government Of the people BY the people
and for me people. and resign ourselves *
clusively 10 & government Of the plutocrAts. by
the plutOerats and for the plutocrzts.
His letter concludes as follows:
You intimate Il your letter that a failure on
ny part 10 comply with your Instructions. OF
rather your wishes. IN this matter viii result in
the severance Of The slender lie which nov binds
me % the Travellers Insurance Company. IN
other words. II dare 70 exercise the privileges
Of a tree and independent American citizen. 70
think, speak and vote As NY conscience dictates
on political matters. ny Means Of subsistence
will Dc cur OF aud shall be left with ny wife
and children % srarve a. far as you ARE con-
eerned. IN orrter 20 teach NE how dreadful 4
thing IL Is to have any mind AZ al which q
not A the disposal o. your graf company. Is -
VERY nArt 70 get employment nov under the
plurocratie rule Of the goldbugS. and II they
continue in power IL vii be harder sill Seger-
theless ny wife e patriotic woman. Who would
sooner srarve with ne than nave ne tishouor
the country which gave rs birth By yielding %
your -raItnruus suggestions. aud We have teCid-
ed that the God who helped our fathers win
their Independence VII not desert Is nov that
she var Is % Be fought OrsF again. and 90 De-
heFe that With His assistance sc can get along
without the TraFeleus Insurance Company.
And nov. 81 mat y8u have seen 6t 20 cause-
leSxlT Insult Al honest citizen q The United
States By oferiug % purchase his conscience
through t1e threat 10 cut "a his means q sub
sistEnce IN the event d loucumu APPLIANCE I le-
sire % say that n ny opinion he uan Eho.
having C tn ms power - bring suffering and
pr1Fauun upon helpless women aud children.
would exert hat noEer a. promote the success
uf bis political lpilions ~ vance as personal
or business interests q mean enough - have
underhid JUDAS Tscxrt0t tor the lob % betraytng
our Lord And Master % his persecurors
Yours truly
g. 49,. sve,s,l A.sene
such men a. this are worthy Of this
country and this century. They are
men