The morning times., 1896-11-01
Opinions of All Glasses Sc
cured on the Question of
Greatest Moment Just Now.
Many Democrats Have Re-
nOulced Their Allegiance
To Their Farty.

What do you think would be the
effect on your business in the event
of the election OF Mr.. Bryan?
The answers are given below. and the
attention Of the public is called TO this
notable expression of the Judgment Of the
business men of this comnunity upon the
merits of the pending political coniro'
yersy. viewed from the business standpoint.
30 LARGE MANUFACTURERS.
There 1re no establishments in the city
employing large numbers Of men, but the
answers of the proprietors Of such manu-
factories rs there are have been sought.
In no case was there the least intention
shown of coercing any Of the employees.
IL fact. there are but few mechanics IN the
city who have the right of suffrage
The inquiry of Tie Times was responded
TO in most eases heartily and readily. A
large number of merchants while privately
expressing the opinion that Bryan's elcc
ton would meanrun to their business. were
avrrse to ~ wing Tor publication. Their
reasons ca readily be understood.
The attitude of the ma jority of employers
oflabor. as TIE Times gathers is this:
We know the conditions under which we
are now doing business. We know what has
brought about the embarrassmeuts from
which we suffer. We know that ourmen can
not vote, but we believe 1t is our duty To let
every one who can vote know that we view
this present crisis as one fraught with great
consequences 10 ourselves
THEIR JUDGMENT VALUABLE.
/? the judgment OF these business men is
not to he regarded as or first Importance,
whose IS?
Is itthat OF Mr.. Bryan-a man withoUtany
business experience whatever?
Is 1t that of tic chief bcncficiarics of the
free coinage OF silver mine owners?
When the president Of any company, or
lie head Of any firm engaged in any in
duslrial enterprise, as, for example, the
manufacture uf machinery, wishes TO know
anything about any process Of manufacture
in hls works; does he ask his bookkccrcr?
Or does lie 90 out OF the street and ask the
first man he meets? or does he so TO the
forelnan Of the Shup ana ASK him? Ger
tainly the latter The foreman is tie man
who has had experience. who is depended
upon To lie the director Of the establishment
IN that particular, and his opinion is the
one considered. 1t is the one upon which
the establishment depends and acts, and
no institution could lie succc ssful which
wuuld adopt any other principle.
AFFECTS ALL.
Here is question which affects the sue
cess OF every such establishment. but Which
does not pertain to principles II mechanics
or depend upon anybody, skill il the arts.
of finance. To whom then shall the insti-
euu1n ana ali connected with it turn for
advice and guidance if not to the man
whose duty it is to provide the means nee
essarv To buy the materials, meet the pay
rolls and pay the debts Of the concern.
The prrsidcn: might, if he saw fit. dis
regard the advice of his superintendent
ard adopt any policy that his fancy Sug-
gcsted but be must accept the consc-
quengcs.
II ASSUME that the judgment and counsel
Of TIE business men aud employers of this
city is At this time unworthy of considcra-
ticu would be on 4 par witt the assumption
that the employers might safely disregard
tie skin and experience q their employees
when tie question is one OF mechanical
skill or experience.
II is for these rcasuus that The Times has
secured these interviews from the business
men Of the city. While not able to vctr
themselves they can still be affected by
the vote Oh Tuesday. That the majority of
tie business men Of the city irrespective of
party favor the election of Mckinley is
something that should cause those who
can vote To pause aud think.
An answer to the question was asked
from the prcsidents OF the following banks:
Citizens Bunk, on Fifteenth street; Riggs
National Bank, Fifteenth and Pennsyl-
yunia avenue: West End Bank, street;
American Security and Trust Company, u
street; Central National Bank. Loan and
Trust Company, Lincoln Bank, Central Ma
tiunal, and two others Not one of these
would give an opinion for publication, either
with or without the publication of their
names.
President Wilson, Of the Lincoln Bank,
vino is sad to be favorable TO the election
of Bryan, said:
Il don't know what the effect of the
election Will be; nor does anybody else. i
cana project myself into the future.''
The opinion Of all tie other bank prcsi-
idcnts and two cashiers was that present
agitation would do more harm than good
If Mr.. Bryan were elected the situation
would have to lie met III business way
and there was little doubt but that the
country would meet II. The time for the
discussion of the question had passed.
and what was said now could not affect
the election.
only one president talked on the merits
of the question. He said that the elec
ton of Mr.. Bryan was rs sure to bring
on panic and the diminution by half OF
the value OF the proposed dollar as the
depreciation Of the Confederate States dol
lar was an historical fact. The proposed
silver dollar was only a metallic fiat
dollar, and would take The same course
as all other fiat money. As for lnboring
men, he was confident that they would
nave TO work twice as hard for the same
money value as they now receive for n
Similar period of time. The farmer would
Dc beoefited temporarily but in the end