Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-28
. POINTER FOR wAGE-wORKERs.

A POINTER FOR WAGE-WONAHNo.
Dollar Mark Hanna is furiously IN
dignant at the request Of some bold
workingmen. who want to know If
wages will be raised if Mckinley is
elected. Failing to get a reply to this
query they asked if wages would be
maintained at their present level if
Mckinley we're elected.
These queries were put to Hanna
some time ago and have since been put
to other prominent goldbugs. And
since then they have been circulating
among the lesser lights.
At first Hanna paid no attention to
the matter, but its prominence has
since frightened him and he has issued
a circular, which purports TO be an an
swer to a circular issued by Chairman
Jones. Of the Democratic National Com
mittee. It is nothing of the kind. Here
is a sketch of what led up to the Hanna
"sedition manifesto:
October p an article was published
in several papers throughout the coun-
try calling attention to the significant
fact that not an employer in the United
States had publicly or privately offered
to raise wages if Mckinley were
elected. The dispatch continued with
the following statement, which called
forth the Hanna manifesto:
They viii not even promise to main
tain wages at their present scale. They
know that it cannot be done. They know
that the gold standard makes a wage re-
duction imperative. and they are anxious
ly awaiting the close of the campaign so
as to Doe able TO put a lower scale into eff
feet without endangering Mark Hanna
cause.
"If the workmen of any great factory,
or of any great industry. are in doubt as
10 the absolute accuracy Of this assertion.
they can easily prove or disprove it. Let
them appoint committee and authorize
10 20 confer with the employers or employ
os. Let this committee ask for an agree
ment I'm writing. either that wages shall
bee raised i'm the event of the election of
Mckinley or that the present rate Of
wages shall be maintained. or finally de-
maud an absolute guaranty that no cut
in wages shall follow the triumph Of the
single gold standard. This will settle the
whole business. DO not take any ones
word for it, Have q contract made and
signed. and let it specify at least two
years i'm which there shall be no material
wage reduction.
This Is not an unreasonable demand.
NIr. Mckinley is announced as the 'ad-
vance agent Of prosperity Employers
are asking their men-and even threaten
ing them-in an attempt to perpetuate the
gold standard. which thus far has been
a failure. II these factory owners and
business men have any confidence in their
political sagacity if they really believe
that Nr. Mckinley is the advance agent
of prosperity if they really believe the
gold standard is a good thing, they Ger
tauly should be willing not to cut down
wages just the moment the people have
voted 70 have four more years OF a gold
regime. Their confidence should 20 TO the
extent of making a legal contract with the
men they are now urging TO vote for Nc
Einley and prosperity.
"Workmen are advised to put their en-
ployers to this test. 1t will cost them
nothing. and may settle a disputed point"
This is the matter. first preached by
some shrewd workingman. who wanted
10 know, in Mark Hanna's presence.
and which has since gotten into type
all over the country that is just now
worrying the lover of labor who is
managing the gold campaign.
It is a matter which it is worth while
for workingmen to study, whether they
act on the suggestion or not.