The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-10-29
CANNOT VOTE FOR BRYAN.
Mennonites AND Duni<ards VIII Supper
Mckinley.


Mennonites and Dunkards VIII Support
Mckinley.
CHAMBERSBURG, PA, October 10
"Will the Dunkards and Mennonites
vote this year, and, if so, how will
they vote?" is question which puz-
zles those interested in sound money
and the maintenance of the national
credit and a question of much mo-
ment, for upon its answer may hinge
the result of the election in the Middle
Western states, now regarded as so
full of uncertainty, and it may ulti-
mately decide the result of the natio-
nal election.
The attitude which these devout
people may take in campaign is al
ways matter of concern to the poll
ticians, especially in presidential
years. AS body they are well to do,
influential and sufficiently numerous
to make their support much desired
by any party fighting for a great
principle. They have made them
selves felt in politics here and in other
states, but only at remote intervals
They are slow to exercise the fran
chise, but when they do their votes
are always cast for the right, and as
they are cast in a solid body at time
and in year when they are not eX-
pected, their influence, taking into
consideration their comparatively
small number, is simply tremendous.
Here in Pennsylvania the Dunkards
and Mennonites are regarded as non
voters. AS rule, they do not regis
ter, even in presidential years. When
ever the total registration shows that
they have come out to register the
politicians know that something is up,
and begin to wonder what is coming.
Several times they have made their
powerful influence felt in Pennsyl-
vania-once in recent years when the
constitutional amendment for pro-
hibition was before the people. Al
though they are the most temperate
of people, yet they voted almost sol
idly against the amendment as they
regarded it an attack upon personal
liberty. They have time and again
taken a hand in judicial elections for
the reason that they think that upon
the judiciary they must depend for
the preservation Of their rights, and
for this reason they are particularly
aroused by the attack of the Chicago
platform on the United States Su-
preme Court. In Kansas and other
Western states they have always
fought Populism, and the fact that
they have done SO is most significant
this year when Populism has taken
hold of one Of the great parties and is
trying to overthrow the national
credit.
During the last week of May the
General Conference Of the River
Brethren, q branch of the Mennonites,
met near Greencastle, eleven miles
from Chambersburg. Lay and min
isterial delegates were present from
all over the West, as far as Oregon
and Washington, and thousands took
part in the deliberations. Some of
The delegates remained here visiting
until after the two rational cOnven-
tions, and it is known that they told
their Eastern brethren what POpu-
lism had done for the West, suggest
ing that time had again come when
they must exercise their right to vote.
1t is known, too, that the Kansas
delegates told how they had been
badly treated by the POpulists at
Abilene and other points in that state
last year.
1t has also been learned that letters
have come here and to other parts of
Pennsylvania from the ministers and
leaders of the branches of the Men
monte and Dunkard churches in the
West telling of the situation of affairs
out there, saying that they were com
ing out to vote against Organism and
urging their Eastern brethren to do
likewise. The brethren here are
averse to talking about the matter
but it is certain that such letters have
been received, and they point unmis-
! takably to the fact that the members