The San Francisco call., 1896-10-24
Men Who Labor for a Living
Are Neither Fools Nor
Slaves.
ATTEMPT TO FcMENT TROUBLE
Those Who Seek to Destroy Peaceful
Relations Between Employer and
Employe Are Dishonest,

CHICAGO. ILL, Oct. 23.-Chairman
Hanna of the Republican National Com
mittee to-day issued statement in reply
to yesterdays bulletin from Democratic
headquarters, in whica workmen were
requested to ask their employers for con-
tracts insnring them against reduction
of wages IN the event of McKinley's elec-
ton. Mr.. Hanna said:
at is suggested that employers bribe
their workmen to vote for Mckinley by
promising them higher wages or con-
tinuance of their present wages. In the
event that the employers will not be CO.
creed, then the employe is to vote for
Bryan; not because he believes Bryan Is
best fitted for the Presidency OF repre-
sents principles that will advance the in
terests of the American people, but be-
cause his employer may not deem 1t q
wise business policy to sign contract in
the matter of wages. This is simply in
citing the workingman to exact bribe
before he will vote. 1t is. not suggested
that he be governed by any principle.
Plainly speaking, they are advised to in-
form him that he must bribe them in the
matter of wages or they will vote against
his interest.
."It has always been my opinion that
the interests of the employees and their
employer are identical. AS said in a re-
cent statement, do not believe working
men are foolish enough or slavish enough
TO be coerced, nor do l believe they are
despotic enough to attempt to coerce their
EN- pioyers.
kr1 1ots 10 snf dad 10
foment trouble between capital and labor.
would advise the workingmen to vote
according to their conscientious opinions.
Ii they have any business TO transact with
their EN- ployers they can do it better upon
business than npon political grounds.
But l am not surprised at this develop
ment in the Bryan campaign. 1t has
been evident for some time that it was the
intention OF the Bryan managers to create
labor troubles as part OF their plan of
cam paign. And this is an open step in
that direction. They would preoipltate
general strike before the election. Men
who would connive to destroy peaceful
relations existing between capital and
labor are none too good to do even worse"
CHICAGO, Ill. Oct. 23.-The press de-
campaign headquarters tonight issued a
long reply to the statement which eman-
ated earlier in the day from Republican
Chairman Hanna as an answer to the
Democratic advice to workmen to insist
on an agreement with employers not to
reduce wages at least within the next TWO
years as trust of the latter's belief in the
claim that Mckinley was the advance
agent of prosperity" The Democratic
reply in part states:
Hanna has killed the Republican party
and committed political suicide. His bull
letin issued this afternoon destroys the
last chance of McKinley's election. 1t
proves every charge made against Hannas
labor record. 1t is the most stupendous
piece of folly ever committed in the name
OF politics. The chairman OF the Repub-
lican National Committee practically ad-
mits that McKinley's election will be
followed by a general reduction in wages.
Mark Hanna is the official representative
of Mckinley and prosperity
"His form of prosperity seems to consist
in a general reduction of wages and the
denial of the right of contract or of hum BILE
petition. Mr.. Hanna's 'sedition circular
purports to be an answer to a circular
issued by Chairman Jones of the Demo-
cratic National Com mittee. 1t is nothing
of the kind. It is a manifesto launched
against newspaper clipping, which is
part of daily service supplied to papers
by the press bureau of the Democratic
National Committee. 1t shows that Mark
Hanna has finally introduced into politics
his private methods of subjugating labor.
''In making this statement Mr.. Hanna
tacitly admits that no honest employer
with ordinary business sagacity will bind
himself to pay the present scale of wages
after election. He knows that wages must
fall. He knows that they would have
been reduced before this had not an cleo
tion been pending. Much as Mr.. Hanna
and his associates Mr.. Payne, would like
strike at this time, with an opportunity
to call out the army and militia, they will
he dOomed to odisapp0infmant -