Kansas City daily journal., 1896-10-28
The R.ilro.d Parade.

From the Chicago Tribune. va
The great parade Of railroad men on Sat
urday night in the interests of sound
money and of the candidacy OF Mckinley
was one of the most memorable events OF
this remarkable campaign, not alone IN
this city but in this country. What was
the animus of this great parade OF 1900
railroad employees?
First and foremost: Of all, 1t was gen.
uine. bona fide. earnest declaration to all
men who cared to know that the railroad
employees OF the country are In dead earnest
in their maintenance OF sound money. IN
the preservation Of represent standard OF
currency, in preventing the expulsion OF
gold from circulation, in preventing the
silver dollars from being reduced one-half
In purchasing and wage-paying power, and
IN preventing the reduction OF greenDack
values tone-haf for. the same purpose.
This magnificent railroad demonstration,
further, was intended to show the Popo-
cratic headquarters, which it passed in its
line of march, that no coercion or undue
influence had been brought to bear upon
the railroad employees. but that 1t was
their free and voluntary act; that they
have appreciation and intelligence enough
to know that their interests depend upon
the present standard of money; and that
they will prevent, as far as they can by
their voices, votes and influence. the dread
full, injurious, bankrupting, smashing down
change proposed to be made by the Popo-
The railroad employees Rme here from
distant points in large delegations to join
their brethren in the city and make this
great demonstration to the whole country.
These 1900 wage-earnerS see as clearly
as any one else that If the Bryan doctrine
contained in the 16 to / Chicago platform
Is carried out the railroad companies from
whom they obtain employment will be Grip
pied and incapacitated from paying wages
which will give them and their families a
decent livelihood. II railroads have to take
half-value money they will only be able to
pay half wages. Therefore. they are
prompted by enlightened selfishness in car
ing for their families. They cannot afford
to advocate and help carry out the wild
theories of Bryan1sm, and to have such a
horrible experience as changing the money
stantard of the United States to the Mex
lean and Chinese standards. and for no
better reasons than those set forth by
Bryan.
These are the reasons why the railroad
men turned out in such great numbers
They came in numbers as great as the
companies could spare, for time is an i'm
portant element in their labor In addition
to those who are at regular work there
were many who have been laid OF until
Bryan meets his Waterloo November 8, and
there were others who are doing only par
ttal work on railroads which have been
crippled by the agitation 10 break down the
money standard of the country. II all
could have come who wanted to come and
who could have been spared there would
have been three times the number. There
are about 46,o0O men on the pay rolls Of the
railroads in Illinois, and nearly every man
of them would have been in the ranks.
The procession was enthusiastic, impressive
and artistic to its last detail. 1t was the
| largest railroad procession ever made in
| this country, and the longest that ever
| will be made. as there is no other city in
the country where such a procession could
be organized and carried out. And the in
tention of these railroad men was Just this.
| to show that they know If Bryan be elected
they will be struck as pensioners, bank de-
| positors. and loan association investors, as
policemen, firemen, and school teachers will
be struck-in word. they will be knocked
| out Of half their Wages