The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-11-29
REnPED PRESERVE THEIR HONOR
How One Large Employer Induced
His Men to Vote for Mckinley.

good post-elect,on story. writes Will
lam z. Curtis in the Chicago Record. is
told OF Isaac c. Johnson, the proprietor
OF steel plant at Spuyten Duyvil, Ny.
he employs about 1860 men, and has al
W-ES bsea on the most confidential re-
lations with them, politically and other
wise his whole force has usually voted
tho same ticket as himself, and for the
same reasons Last month his foreman,
who was brought up in the works and
was never employed anywhere else, came
TO Mr. Johnson and told him that the
boys mad been discussing the situation,
hc1 decided 10 vote for Bryan and free
silver and wanted him to vote with them.
Nj. johnson was a little startled a this
proposition and concluded to try diplo-
macy He asked the foreman how their
CONCLUSION had been reached. The latter
replied that times were very hard, and
they did not see how they could be any
worse while a change in the financial
system of the government might result
IN improvement and return TO prosperity.
The government had been running on the
gold basis thus far. and it was only fair
to try the silver basis for while, at
least long enough to see what the effect
world be.
IAN right" said Mr.. johnson. Il think
J. understand you, but I would like lit
tie time to consider the matter. l al
ways have voted with the boys, and l
would like to continue to do SO. 1 will
give you my answer in a week.
IRE next Saturday the foreman came
around again. and Mr.. johnson SAID:
We'll, Tom, l have concluded TO go with
yoE and the boys as usual. Your argu-
ments have convinced me, and we will
vote for Bryan and free silver and a
new system OF currency Tor the govern
ment. In fact, your arguments have
made such an impression upon me that
I have concluded to apply them to my
private business. | have been running
these works for nearly three years with
out making cent; l have actually lost
mn hfff II laar~ -ar1f hon
going -ith the hope that good times
would revive because have got a thou
SaEd good men and their families de-
pendent upon me- But have concluded
that l had better have a change. Times
are hard, as you say, and l don't see how
they could be any worse, while a change
in the management of this establishment
might result in improvement and a return
of prosperity. I have been running with
you and the boys thus far. and you will
admit that it is only fair for me to try
a change for a while. 1t least long
enough to see what the effect win be.
50 on the 1st of November l shall get q
now foreman and new set of hands all
around and run this plant on an en-
tirely new system. You and the boys
can find something else to do Perhaps
9. change will be just as beneficial to you
a. 1t is to me. l am going out to Ne
braska to find new foreman and new
gang OF men VINO are up on TINS silver
business and know how to run a factory
on a silver basis. Tell the boys, how
ever, that 1 will vote with them and we
VII see what effect a change will have
in politics as well as in business"
The foreman went off with an impress
sion that his employer had gone crazy.
and called a meeting of the men. He
gave them the message, and they sep
arated to discuss the news. In the mean
time Mr.. Johnson left town ostensibly to
go to Nebraska to engage a new fore
man ana gang of men. He returned
within a week, and the next morning the
fHFn an mo in RI .
had changed their minds and had con-
Guided that it was better all around for
them to vote for Mckinley and stick to
the old system, which they did.