The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-10-28
THIS MAN WAS COERCED.
When They Wante d His Affidavit ne
Ran Away.

When They Wante d His Affldavlt ne
Ran Away.
Meeting in .Indianapolis-A "Coerceo
Man Escapes on Bicycle after Trying
to.WorIz a Bluff on an Audience.
indianapolis, Oct. 24-There are indi-
cations that there will be moro SOUND
money Democratic votes cast in Indiana
direct for McKinly or Indirectly for
Palmer than will be gained by the silver
| crowd from the Populists and free silver
Republicans. There are a number of
free silver Republicans who yet intend
to vote for MoKinl ey because they be-
lieve in protection and reciprocity. 1t rs
notable thing that nearly all the good
speakers on the stump for silver in this
state were sound money men previous to
the Chicago convention, and still profess
to believe in sound money. This is not
saying much tor the silver propagandists,
because they have.not many good speak
ers. Senator Turpie is probably their
best speaker, and he has been too III
for several weeks to appear on the-stump.
He is only talking three days in the
week now. John W. Kern of this city,
probably the leading talker next to Tur-
pie, pays little attention to the 16 to
idiooy and talks of other things. II with
such condition Indiana can be carried
for Bryan, Ethen silver has hypnotized
the people.
The silverite leaders are in consterna-
ton because Of the announced candidacy
Of d.. @. Rankin, the Populist National
Treasurer, Tor United States Sena tor.
They now recall that they thought it
| strange that Rankin, who had been SO
long Middle of the Reader, should sud-
donly turn up SO strong for fusion. II
by any means the Republican plurality
in Indiana should not be large enough to
thwart fusion on the Legislative ticket,
the balance of power would lie with the
Popuists, and they would have their
way. They are still flushed with their
triumph in bringing the Popooratic
party eight times the Populist size to its
1oAOA0
they believe the Popoorats owe all to
them. 1t was this knowledge that caused
the Popocratio managers to try to get
the chairman of the Populist State COM
mittee last night, after Rankin's caudi-
dacy had been announced, to SECURE from
him a written denial. Its effect was
Ffeared beyond measure. No denial has,
has never tasted an official plum ana Is
not mo lest about the Populist right to
share in the best fruit of the coalition.
From now until election day all sorts
of roorback sensations are expected, and
every trick that can influence any one
will be used to benefit Bryan. One of
the schemes is to show that coercion is
used by employers One such incident
occurred today. The usual crowd was
about the Meridian street sound money
headquarters just after the MONDAY
political meeting. when q workingman,
or one protesting to be employed in q
certain iron working mill, joined in a
discussion. He was wea ring a Bryan
button, and said thatghs chad been Gold
by member of tho firm that he would
be discharged If he did not put on Nc
Kinley button.
The crowd seemed to be iazed for
minute. Then Il. e. Rose of the Gov
eminent Building and Loan Association
challenged the statement and told the
man shat ii he would accompany him to
an attorney and make affidavit TO the
charge, he Rosse) would pay for prose-
outing the hrul; that he would give the
prosecuting witnss 800 if the charge was,
proved, and that he .(Rose) would vote
for Bryan. The man agreed, and the
crowd appointed DR.. Harris and e. S.
r. Seguin to represent iU and 90 along
as witnesses.
Whensthey reached the Lemieket build
ing, here bhe desired notary and at
torney has his office. the man jumped on
the bicycle he had with him and tried to
get away. But three or fourSScolored men
who had followed caught him and in
sisted that he keep his agreement. This
brought on farther parleying, and finally
he got started up stairs; but, noticing
that the colored men bad stepped awng,
he ran down again Eand Escaped ON his
wheel.
There are half dozen or more paid ad-
vocates of silver who boar d at the Grad
Hotel and do nothing nut argue silver
with any one who wilI@talk with then.
One is a young man of the boy orator
ty pc, very black eyes and sallow skin,
W no says his name is David r. Smith,
and that he travels for New Yoik
man "pure as the sainted Christ" and
seems oallous to blasphemy. Another Is
DR.. Bogardns. the export shot, who seems
to have nothing to do except to pose As
a free silver Republican who will vote
for Bryan. 1t is the business of thee
silver fakirs to rush into every crowd On
the street and take the side Of silver.
The professed workingInan referred 10
above was no doubt one of these hirelirg
who essayed bluff On the wrong crowd.