The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1896-10-15
LAB0R'S TRUE FRIEND.
He is a Man Who Does Not Much
Resemble the Popocratic
Nominee.
NO SUCH TITLE FOR BRYAN.
An Examination of the Nebraska
Mans Record While He was
in Congress.

In the speech delivered to the work
ingmen of Omaha at Syndicate park
on Labor day, Sidney j. Kent, who
claims to voice the sentiment of the toll
ers in the workshops, extolled Will
liam J. Bryan as the great friend OF
labor"
1t is truly said that he who makes
two blades of grass. grow where but
one blade grew before is a human bene-
factor We ask in all candOr what
William J. Bryan has ever done that
would entitle him to be classed as
benefactor of labor? When and where
has he ever given employment to la
boring man? When has he ever con-
tributed in any way to the wage tuna
out of which the workingman is paid!
Has he ever built house of his own
Has he ever invested a dollar in a fac
tory or a mill? Has he ever hired a
man to till the soil or produce anything
that men eat, drink or wear!
If Mr.. Bryan has not contributed dl-
rectly to the employment of labor or as
sisted in the building up of any industry,
has he done anything that would lndl-
rectly promote the welfare OF LABOR or
ameliorate the condition of the lab0rer
Does Mr.. Bryan's congressional record
show a single bill or Il single vote by
which the condition of the working
classes has been bettered or their op-
portunities for employment at living
wages been multiplied? Six years ago
Mr.. Bryan made his first congressional
canvass on free trade lines. Ills great
nightmare was the surplus in the treas
ury, which he said must be reduced by
the abolition of the protective tariff and
the free opening of our markets to tor
eign competition His great cry was
that the American laborer was out
ragpously imposed upon by the factory
lords, who were enriching themselves at
the expense of the producer. He wanted
the laborer to have the opportunity to
buy cheaper clothes, cheaper shoes,
cheaper hats. cheaper blankets, cheaper
tinware. cheaper crockery and cheaper
everything.
In the turmoil of the campaign against
prohibition the workingmen overlooked
their interests in the tariff, and Mr..
| Bryan slipped into Congress-. There he
| had the opportunity to show his friend
| shin for labor and put his theories into
practice What did he accomplish?
| Did he get an appropriation for single
public building, or any public work on
| which laboring man might find en-
ployment? Did he encourage the erec-
ton of more factories and the patron
age of home industry that would enlarge
| the demand for American made goods
Did he not deliberately and persistently
| stab every American industry that re-
quired protection against the competition
of goods made by low-paid foreign labor
Did he not glory i'll shutting up American
cordage works and American wooden
mills? Did he not declare that the
United States would be better off with
out a single tin factory in it, and did he
not scout at the idea that America was
| able to work it's own raw materials up
into manufactured articles without the
aid or consent of any other nation on
| earth?
The great friend of labor. indeed!
! What has labor to thank William j.
| Bryan for? Is it because he voted for
free-silver bills intended to debase the
currency and reduce the value of the
wage-earner's savings? Is it because he
has made himself the advocate of the sill
ver-mine milionaires, who care nothing
| for the wagcwOrker or the farmer, eX-
cept to use him to bolster up their own
fortunes? If William J. Bryan has a
right to pose as "the great friend of
labor" on what ground does his title
| rest?-Omaha Bee.