The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1896-09-30
WICKED COERCION.
pRAcTICED UPON EMPLOYEES By BIG
CORPORATIONS.
Compelled to Work for Mckinley or Lose
Their Jobs-An Agent of the Mccormick
Harvesting Machine Company Who
Would Not BE Bulldozed.

Would Not 1e Dui1uOLeu. |
The wholesale bulldozing of their
employees by the railroads and other
great COZ operations, 10 compel them to
vote for Mckinley, is a new feature of
American politics, and is as Infamous
as it Is new. Weak attempts are occa-
sionally made by the Republican man
ayers to deny that such outrageous
methods are being used to secure
votes; but the proof is so plain and
overwhelming that successful denial is
impossible.
The Chicago Record, itself a strong
advocate Of the gold standard. and.
therefore, not disposed to misrepre-
sent its own side, contained the follow
ing dispatch or the morning Of the
18th. from Golden. Ills, amply con-
firming this charge:
''CQbden, Ills, Sept. 1S.-James Da-
Wis, william Wilker, Thomas Smith
and Charles Fuller, residents Of this
place, employed La track layers by
the contractors laying the steel Of the
e double track Of the Illinois Gen.
trail between Makanda and Dongola,
were notified this morning by their
foreman, Mccoy, to report to him and
receive checks for their time. Twelve
nonresident laborers received the
same notice. Mccoy informed them
that the only reason nat he could
give for their dismissal was that they
were advocating the Of Bryan
and free silver too freely. Their places
were promptly filled by italians AS
soon as the news reached this place
the Bryan followers became very angry
and excitement is at fever heat to-
night
on Sept. 10 the Mccormick Harvest
ing Machine company Of Chicago sent
the following circular to all its agents
throughout the country:
Dear Sir: We sent you by express
yesterday q package OF sound money
literature. We want by return mail
an estimate from you as to how much
Of this can be used in your territory
and an enumeration Of the kind that
will be most effective. We will then
send you another supply by express
and will request in advance that you
supply it to your travellers and in.
struct them to use 1t just the same ~
though it were advertising matter To-
the sale of our machinery.
I'VE surely have a right to expect lbs
all Mccormick employees have the ineeres
of the company ut heart, and will TAX
up this matter ami carry IL out N EC
quested. Yours truly,
"M'CORMICK HARVESTING MACHINl
COMPANY"
The idea that a corporation has tn
right to the votes of it's agents and EN-
ployes, and to make mere politica
servants of them, has not heretofore
we believe, been advanced in TIL
country. Men who sell their labo
~- 4
sell their votes with it. They hav
still been American rreeLuen, at lit
erty to affiliate with any party al
cast their votes as they might pleas
But the encroachments of modern col
porations, organized to promote part
selfish interests do not now. 1t seemi
stop short of attempts to make politt
cal serfs of their employees. Upon re
ceipt of the above circular the agent
the Mccormick Harvesting Machin
company at Carthage, Mo-, who seer
to have an idea that he Is still a FIRE
and Independent citizen, in matte,
political, at least. replied in the 70
lowing spirited manner
Mccormick Harvesting Machir
company: Dear Sir-I beg to acknow
edge the receipt of your favor of II
l0the inst. You are on a cold ira
Missouri will give Bryan go, 600 majo
ity. If these letters are written /
authority of your company, every Mi
souri, farmer who uses a McCormit
harvester. deserves to sell his whe,
for 40 cents bushel.
tSigned.l j. H. WILSON"
This Is a most appropriate reply
such a circular. 1t is strange beyor
comprehension that the McCormit
Harvester company. of all the corpor
finns In Vie IA aL-,Il
coerce its agents and employees to SUI
port the existing gold standard syste
of finance. 1t has grown enormous
rich from the sale of it's machines
the farmers of the country. 1t has
business relations with any 9th
class of people. One would THU
II would naturally oppose L
gold standard. Under the oper
tions of which agriculture h
suffered most and the prices Of all far
products have fallen even below t
cost of production: and that it wou
favor the reconciliation Of silver. {
immediate result of which would be
make agriculture once more prospero
and profitable. But ii has as little r
gard for its customers as for it's er
ployes. 1t will excite no wonder tn
the agent at Carthage. Mo, should or
test against farmers harvesting 4O-ce
wheat on Mccormick machines.
Other instances Of the attempts
corporations to coerce their EMPLOY
are numerous. A few days ago Ma
tin Spangler, an expert electrical
called at National Democratic hea
quarters and stated that he, with I,
other employees of the General Elect
Light company Of Chicago, had be
discharged because they refused
Join the Mckinley club. According
Mr.. Spangler's statement. the forem
Of the company approached them l,
Friday and asked them to Join a n
kinley club. Spangler and two OF
fellow employees refused to do
Nothing more WIS said at the time a
they were paid off as usual on Sat,
day night. On Monday morning VIII
they returned to work they were
formed by the foreman that their SO,
ices were nc longer needed. Mr.. spa,
Ter has worked at his trade throu.