New-York tribune., 1896-10-18
FACTS VERSUS SILVERlTES.
HOW BRYAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE
TRYING TO DELUDE THE PEOPLE.
THEIR CONTENTION THAT ALL LEGISLATION IN
TINS COUNTRY HAS BEEN ~ THE INTEEEsT
or CAPITAL AND AGAINST TIE WORK
INGyt;N EEFUTED EY AN OVER
wHCLMiNG ARRAY OF
fny TELEGRAPH TO TH.; TEIBuNE)
EVIDENCE.

wHELMiNG ARRAY OF
EVIDENCE.
rny TELEGRAPH TO TH; TEIBuNE.]
Washington oct l7-John l.. Thomas. ASSISTANT
At,orney-General Cor the Postoflce Department.
gives a bad setback TO the ailverites. Ee mas '"".'
tho trouble TO inquire into tho charge perss.e'i's
made Iy The advocates Of free coinage that all es-
slction OF this country In the past ana espec'Hi'
for the last twenty-five years has been III Tue ~
teree; OF capital and against the masses "e
result Of his investigation presents reinarhapi'
arrav of facts This showing must convince Work
inanen that they are being sadly imposed upon Wy
BRYAN and those OF his followers Who are preaching
the doctrine Of Socialism and appealing 10 t'e
passions Of voters.
To write the history of the legislation for the as
fifty years for the anelioration OF the condition oil
tho poorer and laborins classes would require 'o
uInes. bu; it may be summarized az follows:
Imprisonment for debt has been abolishcd' laws
have been passed exenpting homesteaus anu -
large amount OF personal property from execution
against debtors who are heads OF families their
widows and orphans; liens have been given by law
TO mechanics and laborers on the land or thing on
which they bestow labor for their wages poor per-
sons are allowed 10 sue IN tie courts State ana
National, without the payment OF costs or the CIV
Ing OF security for costs: the courts State and Ma
tional. appoint attorneys 10 defend. without COM
pensation poor persons In the criminal courts and
In instances in the civil courts the courts In
many instances directed 10 enter Judgment III
favor of laborer who has 10 bring suit to recover
his wages or enforce his rights against corpora-
tion for Z. stated his attorney feei:
hours, in cases, and eight or nine In
others have been declared by law a days labor for
public service or public works; In the admins
tration OF nsovent estates the wages OF labor are
preferred claims. and in cases wages are
made preferred claims generally.
Laws have been passed regulating passenger ana
freight charges railroads and other transporta-
ton lines and also of public warehouses and ele-
vators. and National and State commissions have
beer created 10 supervise railway traffic by whch
charges have been reduced two-thirds more:
laws reducing the rate Of interest have been passed
IN nearly all OF the States and extending the ime
for redemption after the foreclosure Of mortgages
or deeds Of trust; railroads required TO fence
their roads or pay double damages resulting frcrn
failure TO fence; ,hey are also required to furnish
safe places ard appliances for their worKnien;
manufacturers and mine operators are required 10
provide places and machinery for the safety and
comfort OF their employees: the incorporation OF Ia
Dor organizations has hecn authorized hv 'Hw' ~
Dor Day has been made 4 National holiday Com
missoncfs OF Labor. State aaG National, are "t-
pointed to gather statistics and. so far as posi-
bic, aineoratc tho condition of the working
classes: the Department OF Agriculture has been
established and the head thereof made a cabine;
officer; seeds costing si.p,vcO annually arc dstflb-
uted free TO the people
IL Is made a misdcrneanor IL many OF the States
TO blacklist a poor who has been discharged
from service or has failed to pay his debts. ana IL
f. made a misdemcanor 10 threaten 10y postal
card through the mails TO sue d. btor. or by the
use OF any device rcioc, Him: IN order TO pro
tect the mpruGent and unwary. the use OF the
mails is denied TO those who would operate fraudu-
lent or lottery schemes through this medum posi-
ages have been reduced entall!ng IA loss 10 the
Government OF $4,000 annually IN carrying tho
mails. under the operation OK which the people get
the country newspapers free Of postage. and tnc
bes; MAGAZINES and periodicals have been made 90
cheap as to pat them within reich ol mo poor
policies II life insurance and shares IN building and
loan ASSOCIATIONS made Don-for.e!ta0ie Tor nom
payment OF premiums dues after limited time.
Banks whether State National. are subject 10
public super,tron and their accounts 10 public
inspection; the employees In the public service are
allowed leave OF absence WITH pay FOR thirty days
IN some Instances, and nftocn days In Others ana
an additional thirty days for sickness OF them
selves or families; the coolle trade. the imporia-
ton of Iaborers under contract. tho labor OF con-
vcts OF the United States tho further imm'Sfa-
tlon OF Chinese the importation OF convict-labor-
made goods. and tho peonagc system have been
forbidden By law: Boards OF Arbitration. State and
National for the settlement OF labor disputes have
been created: those employed In the public service
are allowed pay for the Nat9nai lolidays-the
nrst day OF Janua.y, tine 22d OF February. Dccora-
ton Day the 4th Of July. Labor Day. Trnnksglv-
INK Day. apd the 23th day of December; home,
stcad3 have been given 10 those who would 80 ana
settle on them aud other lands have been given 10
those who would plant and grow trees thereon
The Australian ballot ana other laws for the
protection OF the people In their right 10 vote unno-
Tested and unawed have been passed. 4OoWD OF
slaves have been freed by which hundreds OF thou
sands of prOpcrt were impoverished; public
libraries have been established at public EXPENSE:
public hospitals have been multiplied for the care OK
the sic; and poor: s4pVD.UJo are annually paid out
OF the public Treasury 10 the soldiers OF our wars.
their WIDOWS and orphans.
Last. though not least. public schools have been
tuition alone In them is than $50 600 900 and
for buildings interest loans. and other EXPENSES
proba bly, the further sum Of SiO.VOUlO or more.
Innumerablc other laws OF less Importance, look
inP in the direction as the above. and extend
Ing into the minuest details of the rotations be-
tween employers o. labor. whether corporations.
partnerships individuals. ard employees, have
been passed by Congress and by the Legislatures
Of the various States.
All ihcsc laws passed and these bcncfac-
tions granted by the rich well as the poor. In
deed the history Of this country for the last quar-.
ter OF century shows that men aud women OF all
classes alike have taxed their ingenuity To the ut
most limit devise laws for the benefit education
and elevation Of the Of the people and this
has been carried so far that many thoughtful men
fear that II will, II tho present course continues.
land ir state Socialism There Is no question that
the trend Of public opinion among the people has
been for many years in that direction. and IL is
d.rnagogc for any assert, for the purpose OF
inhaming the minds Of the poor hga!ns. the rich.
that legislation has all been against the former ard