Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1896-10-29
Special to the Register.

! woe over his blunderlng SedltlOh clI-
cular. in which he admitted that wages
would be reduced if Mckinley is elect
ed, is really pitiable, and he is entitled
to sympathy. 1t should be understood
that Mr.. Hanna has devoted lifetime
to the reduction of wages, and he sees
nothing wrong in advocating the SAME
as a political issue. On the labor mar
ket Hanna has ever been a bear and
with him McKinley's election is only
a means TO the end that wages go down.
There is no case on record where a
committee ever waited on Mark Hanna
and petitioned for an increase in
wages. His workmen knew better. He
has ever regarded them with openly
expressed contempt. 1t would not be
surprising if before the campaign closes
Hanna issues a manifesto denouncing
on general principles every man who
is compelled to work for living.
Since Mr.. Hanna issued his now fa-
nous "sedition" circular there is a
well-grounded suspicion abroad that
he wrote the equally famous Gentle
man" letters which appeared in a New
York paper. They so well express his
peculiar views, and the ones he has put
into actual practice, that extracts from
them are worth noting at this time.
The fact that Gentleman" frequently
refers to Mr.. Hanna in terms of en-
dorsement and adulation is suspicious
in itself. by reason of the fact that his
letters constitute the only published
defense of Hanna's labor record. Here
are some extracts which much resemble
in literary style and sentiment Mr..
Hanna's sedition circular, which denies
to workmen the right to petition
against a reduction in wages:
Permit me to say that I enjoy the
honor of Mr. Mark Hanna's personal
acquaintance, and do admire him un-
reservedly both as a man and a states
man. Notwithstanding the rancorous
and ill-bred detraction of which he is
the victim throughout the republic,
unhesitatingly declare my conviction
that he is the best friend of labor low
ing to-day. But for his mastery pre-
cautions-and he has the brains as well
as the means thank God, to include
the entire continent in his grasp-who
can doubt that the drudging masses
would have been stampeded for that
intolerable disturber Of settled condi-
tions and stimulater of greed in the
lowly, Bryan, of Nebraska? To Mr..
Hanna first, and after him to the pa
triotic men of wealth who have gen
erously opened their purses to his or
| der, the reputable, conservative and
well-tO-do people of the United States,
! the elite of the nation, owe their rescue
from that appalling calamity. Will
! lam Mckinley will be elected, and as
! the representative of the property-own-
! ing. intellectual and socially we'll
placed elements, and with such an ad-
wiser as Mark Hanna always near him,
! there is no danger that he will ever
pander to the passions or supposed in
terests Of the mob
This mindless 'COmmoner' marvels
! at my 'frankness in justifying what
! he terms corruption. l cannot see that
my written words are franker than the
! action of the better classes generally
! in supplying money to be used for the
| political guidance of the lower orders
/ of society. 1t is a time for oandor.
! Property is threatened, and, therefore,
the peace of the nation challenged
! for | suppose that not even your Com
mOner is such a simpletOn as to believe
/ that we should submit TO being de-
/ priyed Of our place and privileges by
/ the mere majority of the proletariat.
! Surely every man capable of reflection,
and who is not inflamed with desire
! to despOil his more prosperous neigh
! bors. will admit that it is far better to
! purchase the mob than to fight it and
| spill its blOod-tha- II wiser and
more merciful to apply gentle coercion
! to the ignorant voter than to have re-
| course to the military arm. 1t may
come to that if the Bryans are per-
/ mitted to go freely up and down the
land preaching the wicked idiocy of
! free silver coinage and rOusing the
insensate crowd to attack the vested
rights of their superiors.
"I repeat that the workingman who. at
crisis such as this listens TO dema-
! gogues and ranting newspapers rather
than to his employer, richly deserves to
/ be DISCHARGED"
Up 90 the present time DR.. Jameson and
Secretary Dick have restrained Mr.. Han
/ na from issuing any more manifestos.
which is quite a political triumph in view
! Of the fact that Mr.. Hanna publicly an
nounced his intention of publishing at
least one a day.
in an editorial commenting on the Han
ma blunder. the New York Journal says:
chairman Jones has replied TO Mr..
! Uanna's intimation that the circular is
a preface TO a concerted strike movement
is rubbish of the worst sort. He has an
/ rouuced that Mr.. Mckinley will be elect
ad nv an overwhelming majority He has
,raacbed through the campaign that Mr..
J NrcKinlev's election means protection
.o,,,d money. increase Of industry and
+ advance of wages. Now. in the name Of
IN tbat is logical. how can the silly fel-
,o,,. have the enrontery to talk about
! tennis Of workmen 10 coerce their en-
,-,o,.ers when the workmen are simply ad-
,.arc,np the argument known throughout