The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-10-25
IN THE THICK OF IT.
Bryan's Uttsrances Call Forth the
Greatest Demonstrations.
EVERY ONE EAGER TO HEAR
He Answers the Charge That He
Gave Dangerous Advice to Rail-
road employes-lh he Crowds
Are Large and interested.

Buda, ILL.,. Oct. 24.-Bryan spoke at
Ottawa before 8 a. m. to-day. A good
sized crowd cheered his arraignment
of the gold democrats. The speech was
devoted In the main to a general shak-
ing up Of the men, who. he said. nomi-
mated a ticket In order to elect re-
publican.
Ex-President Harrison and NJ. z. In
gals, president of the Big Four Rail-
road company. were given few words
not of complimentary nature at La
Sale, where Bryan spoke from HAT
car to a large crowd of enthusiastic
admirers of himself and Governor Alt
geld. Bryan said:
1.-Two distinguished men have called
me to account because of the advice 1
gave railroad employees. In speaking
Of the attempt of the railroads to
coerce their employees. l said In these
hard times, when employment Is SO
difficult to find. i did not want to ad-
wise the laboring men TO do anything
which would lose them their employ
ment and added they should wear re-
publican buttons II necessary. march
In republican parades II they were COM
manded to do SO. and even contribute
to the republican campaign fund. II
t.idl NuS itQuuto NhPipy ~
but that they should vote according to
their convictions on election day. Mr..
ingalls,, president Of the railroad. In
his speech at Cincinnati denounced me
for advising the employees to deceive
their employers. Ex-President Harrt-
son has charged me with teaching Inn
morality In giving the advice which
have quoted.
"Now. / desire to justify my position.
The right to vote according to ones
conscience Is a law-given right. Coer-
cion Is a violation OF the law and when
advise the employees to vote as they
please. even though they must wear
republican buttons and march In re-
publican parades. am taking higher
moral grounds and giving more pa
triotic advice than those who counte-
nance coercion and appeal to the em-
ployes to vote the republican ticket on
election day merely because they have
been compelled to wear republican
badges during the campaign. When
Mr.. Harrison and Mr.. ingalls, condemn
me for telling the men to vote as they
please they virtually condemn the Aus
tralian ballot. In fact, they condemn
all secret ballots. and tell the citizen
he ought to announce In advance how
he II going to vote. rnere are Some
who announce their positions In ad-
vance. and when a citizen is in posi-
tion to aot with independence. i am
glad to see him do so. but when the
employer violates the rights OF his EN-
ployes by demanding that they shall
march In parades or wear certain
badges the employe has the right to
take advantage Of the secret ballot.
II am willing to let the public sit In
judgment upon the advice which I
have given the employees II Mr.. ingalls,
and Mr.. Harrison are willing to submit
their advice to the public. I am will
ing the public shall decide whether 1t
is immoral for the people to vote ac-
cording to their conscience. II Mr.. Har-
rison and Mr.. ingalls, are willing to risk
verdict OF the people on the position
they have taken. namely. that en-
ployes must vote the republican ticket
on election day because they had worn
republican badges during the cam
paign."