The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-10-25
BRYAN'S DAY BEGUN.
People of Ottawa Addressed Early
in the Morning.

BUDA, ILL.,, Oct. 24.-Early this morn
ing William ]. Bryan began his work
Before 8 o'clock he spoke at ottawa.
and good-siZed crowd cheered his ar
raignment of the gold democrats. His
speech was devoted i'll the main to- a
general shaking up of the men who,
he said, nominated a ticket in order
to elect a republican. Ex-President
Harrison and ID. E. ingalls,, president
of the Big Four Railway company,
were given a few words.
At La Sale Mr.. Bryan spoke from a
nat car from the rear Of the train, to a
large crowd Of enthusiastic admirers
of himself and Gov Altgeld. The ac-
ton Of the latter gentleman during
the strike some three years ago, here
and at Spring Valley, made the miners
their loyal supporters of him, and the
crowds at both places this morning
showed demonstratiVe evidence of af-
lection for the governor and for the
presidential nominee. At La Sale, Mr.
Bryan said in part:
Two distinguished men have called me to
account because of advice which / gave to
railroad employees In speaking of the at
tempt of the railroads. to coerce their en-
ployes, | said that in these hard times, when
employment is so difficult to find, did not
want to advise laboring men to do anything
which would lose them their employment,
and added that they should wear republican
buttons If necessary, march in republican
parAdes If they were commanded to do so
and even contribute to the republican cam
paign fund If that was required by their
employers, but that they should vote accord
Ing to their convictions on election day.
Mr.. Ingalls,, the president Of a railroad in
speech at Cincinnati, denounced me for adj
vising employees to deceive their employers,
and ex-President Harrison has charged me
with teaching immortality in giving the adj
vice which 1 have quoted. Now, I desire to
Justify my position. The right to vote ac-
cording to ones conscience is a law given
right Coercion is violation of law, and
when advise employees to vote as they
please, even though they must wear repubi-
can buttons and march in republican pa
rades, l am taking higher moral grounds and
giving more patriotic advice than those who
countenance coercion and appeal to employees
to vote the republican ticket on election day,
merely. because they have been compelled to
wear republican badges during the campaign.
When a man criticises me for advising en-
ployes to express their honest convictions at
the ballot box, ! ask what such people think
of the Australian ballot?
The Australian ballot is a secret ballot.
and we have adopted it in this country in
order to protect American citizens in the
right to vote according to conscience. with
out being subjected to discharge or persecu-
ton. When Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. Ingalls,
condemn me for. telling them to vote as they
please, they virtually condemn the Australian
ballot. In fact they condemn all secret bal
lots and tell the citizen that he ought to
announce in advance how he is going to
vote. There are some who can announce
their position In advance, and when citizen
Is in a position to act with Independence I
am glad to see him do so, but when an en-
ployer violates the rights of his employees by
demanding that they shall march in parades
or wear certain badges, the employee has a
right to take advantage Of the secret ballot,
l am willing to let the public sit in judg-
ment upon the advice which have given to
employees, II Mr.. Ingalls, and Mr. Harrison
are willing to submit their advice to the pub
nc | am willing that the public shall decide
whether it is immoral for people to vote
according to their conscience IL Mr. Harrison
and Mr.. Ingalls, are willing to risk the YER
dict of the people on the position they have
taken. namely, that employees must vote the
republican ticket on election day, because
they had worn republican badges during the
campaign.
A freight train had trouble south of
Ladd, and the special on which Mr..
Bryan was travelling, was delayed at
that place for a few moments, and the
time was utilized by the nominee in
making a speech to a few hundred peo-
pie about the rear of the train. 1t was
ar enthusiastic little crowd and cheered
him repeatedly.
Notwithstanding the fact that Henry
county yields a Republican majority
every election as large as that Of any
county of the state, an immense gath
ertng awaited Mr.. Bryan, and the nomi-
nee talked to an audience that num-
bered UP into thousands. He was cheer-
ed repeatedly, and once in g. while a
wearer of a yellow badge would shoot
In cheer for the Republican nominee.
There were quite few gold badges in
the crowd, but the greater number of
them were on the streets and not at
the meeting.
At the little town of Galva, the train
stopped for few moments and ming
led with the cheers for Mr.. Bryan came
those for his opponent
Rock Island and Moline Joined in a
demonstration to the triple nominee
this afternoon and the result was a
crowd, which was great in numbers
and enthusiasm, assembled in the park
to listen to the candidate. Vice Presi-
dent Stevenson was also an attraction
and shared the honors. At Moline there
was a continual storm of applause and
cheering and when Mr.. Bryan gained