New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-08-16
"U4SSES" AND "CLASSES."

'ulNSEN AM 'tLiSNEN.
Mr.. Bryan for himself and his partisans in
his behalf assume that he bears commission
as champion of the "Tong Millions and that
the Presidential contest of 1896 is a fight be-
tween the masses and the classes 1t is no:
strange that shallowpated demagogues
should do this, but it is somewhat surprising
to find men doing the same thing who know
how false and misleading the assumption is.
Probably few men know this better than do
Senator Faulkner, chairman of the Democratic
Congressional Committee, and other party man
ayers who until recently posed as conservative
sound money men, and who now seem to he
doing all they can 10 lend responsibility and
strength 10 the new war cry. We do not in the
least believe that this attempt to array those
who are thus designated as The Masses" In
behalf of an unsound and debased currency in
order to punish themselves will succeed. 1t IS
an insult to the common sense of the American
people Who compose the Masses" and who
the Glasses?
Do the wage-earners belong in the former
category? Apparently they do according to
Bryan Do all persons who have accumulated
and saved money which has been invested in
bonds. stocks. mortgages and other forms of
security belong in the latter category? Evident
ly they do according to Bryan. But let lis see
About 100000 persons in the United States,
nearly all of whom are wage-earners have on
deposit in the savings banks nearly S2OO0OO0
600, in good money, every dollar Of which is
now worth one hundred cents everywhere, and
this money they have invested, through their
agents. in stocks, bonds, mortgages and other
securities Evidently, therefore, these 1000
hn A a
also constitute one Of the Glasses" against
which Bryan and his partisans propose to wage
relentless war. There are also in the United
States about 100000 shareholders most OF
whom are wage-earners. in building and loan
associations. They have paid in dues on their
shares more than S500,OOO,O0O in good money,
most OF which has been invested in mortgages
and deeds of trust Evidently. therefore. these
100000 wageearners constitute another one
OF the Glasses against which the Popocratic
candidate for President of the United States
PROPOSES TO wage war There are in the United
States about 2O0OO09 holders OF policies in reg
ular life insurance companies. which represent
a total of more than $4.2000o0000, and upon
which premiums amounting TO several hundred
million dollars have been paid in good money
by the policy holders This money has been in
portion of It in Western bond5 and mortgages.
The policy holders are scattered all over the
country and very large majority of them are
wagcearners. Evidently they constitute an
other one of the Glasses against which the
champion of the Masses has declared war.
Moreover. there are in the United States more
than 100000 members Of mutual benefit, CO.
operative and fraternal associations and com
panies. who have contributed from their earn
ings several hundred million dollars in good
money to provide for themselves and those de-
pendent upon them in case Of sickness and
death The obligations of these companies and
associations to their members AMOUNT to about
SJ200M0,O0. OF course these Wage-earners
constitute another Glass" There are also in
dustrial insurance companies with a total mem
bership of about 7,OO0,OUO- practically all of
whom are wage-eaTners who carry insurance
amounting TO about SS11OOOO00 and the hold
erS Of this insurance constitute another Glass"
Here, then, are more than 100000 persons,
at least nne-tenths of whom are wageearners,
who belong to the Masses whose champion
Bryan assumes to be- and also To the Glasses
whose avowed enemy he Is; and yet the list Ia
by no means complete. DO Mr.. Bryan and his
managers think II wise or eXpedient. on second
thought. TO attempt 20 array what they call the
Masses against those whom they style the
Glasses? DO they not believe that a man
who has invested few hundred dollars of his
savings by depositng them in a savings-banlS
or n building association. or rs premiums in a
life insurance company or benefit association,
feels as much concern in regard TO the security
and integrity Of his investment rs the man who
has invested five or ten times as much!