The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-09-22

many of our western states who are now
shouting for Bryan were then bitterly de-
nouncing the platform which they now
profess TO believe In. 1t is not so much
the money question as the work question
which we are to settle. for II We settle the
work question by opening our mines, mills
and shops the money question Will settle
itself. In this campaign. as In others. TO
little mud is being thrown, but up to. the
present time none OF 1t has been aimed at
the standard bearer of the Republican
party, William Mckinley. The attempt IS
made to show that some OF those who Ia
vor him have been oppressors OF labor.
but how about Mr.. Mckinley himself?
Let me read to you a letter received from
n neighbor of his. and then judge:
~ have been recording secretary OF
Chapman Local assembly 16i. knights CT
Labor, for the past sixteen years. That
assembly was organized twenty years ago
and has never left or ceased to work dur
ing all of that time. l read with great in.
terest your Cooper's union address. and
inasmuch as you have champloned the
sound money principle in behalf of labor:
| deem 1t Mt and proper that you should
be informed OF the true connection Will
lam Mckinley has with'labor. for am
resident of the same county with him, and
/ have had the pleasure of his acquaint-
ance since boyhood. In 1876. when the coal
miners of the Massillon district Were
struggling for justice. trouble arose and
in one of the mines where blacklegs were
employed 1t resulted I'm what some people
were pleased to call a riot A large num-
ber of miners, myself among them, was
arrested for riot. We were then without
q. cent to secure legal advice to assist us
in our hour of distress.
M'KINLEY A FRIEND.
Major Mckinley. then a practicing at
torney at Canton, our county seat. was
formed Of our true condition financially
and other wise. He at once said: i will
take charge of your case and do the best
l can for you The result was he had us
while sentenced for one year. was par
doned after serving four months through
the direct influence of Major Mckinley.
When we resumed work and had con-
tributed what money We could spare from
our first pay to make a part payment to
Mckinley for his excellent legal services
In our behalf, he inquired Of our commit
tee If they had called on his associates In
formed in the negative, he said: Boys.
take what money you have and pay them
as far as it will go. and my services. know
ing your circumstances. will cost you
nothing.
ut was then that Major Mckinley was
given Il mortgage on the friendship of the
Missillon miners, that continues to re-
main on record. His respect for laboring-
men has been practical for he has got into
our mines and selected men from our
ranks to appoint to responsible positions.
thereby proving that he is not the man
to forget his laboring friends. Remember
In this connection that am not one OF
his appointees to Office, directly or indi-
rectly. glory In Mckinley from the fact
that he never desplsed an honest labor
ing man, no matter how or where he finds
him. ] have proven this to be true to my
full satisfaction. and the proof Of the pud-
ding Is In the eating thereof. (SignedD
william Finley"
have received scores of letters approv-
ing OF my course, but that one seems to
describe the friendship of laboringmen
for Mckinley so well that I give 1t to you
just as It came to me.
Questions which every honest farmer.
every laboring man and every wage
Garner should consider before casting his
vote are, did the fall In the commercial
price Of silver change the price Of arti-
clcs entering into use in every home,
or did the wizard invention through i'm
proved machinery simplify methods Cf
production and competition so far as to
bring about these results? Let me COM
pare the prices Of articles In use in 1870
and today.